--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never thought I'd be anything, coming…" description: "\"I never thought I'd be anything, coming from a rough neighborhood. So my character was built on the street. I had to know how to carry myself; I had to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/george-hill-5368_character_i-never-thought-i-d-be-anything-coming-f_278975.jpg" --- # I never thought I'd be anything, coming from a rough… ![“I never thought I'd be anything, coming from a rough neighborhood. So my character was built on the street. I had to know how to carry myself; I had to act like I was older than I was.” quote by George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/george-hill-5368_character_i-never-thought-i-d-be-anything-coming-f_278975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/george-hill-5368_character_i-never-thought-i-d-be-anything-coming-f_278975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/george-hill-5368_character_i-never-thought-i-d-be-anything-coming-f_278975.jpg) > “I never thought I'd be anything, coming from a rough neighborhood. So my character was built on the street. I had to know how to carry myself; I had to act like I was older than I was.” [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adversity shapes character, prompting early maturity and self‑presentation skills. **In simple terms:** Hardship forces early maturity. Key Takeaway Learn from adversity to build resilience. Themes resilience identity growth Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - leadership - mentoring Key Concepts socio‑economic challenges personal development Questions to Reflect On - How have challenges shaped your identity? - What balance of toughness and vulnerability serves you? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on toughness can mask vulnerability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood, Paramount, California, outside of L.A., like near Compton, that's where I'm from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-basco/i-grew-up-in-a-pretty-rough-neighborhood-paramount-california-outside/) [Dante Basco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-basco/) > [When I read, you know, a rough neighborhood of Portland, I'm like - what? - they didn't have kombucha bars there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/when-i-read-you-know-a-rough-neighborhood-of-portland-i-m-like-what/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [I was an only child, a hard-case kid, in a rough neighborhood. But I always fought my battles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-briggs/i-was-an-only-child-a-hard-case-kid-in-a-rough-neighborhood-but-i/) [Shannon Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-briggs/) > [I did grow up in a rough neighborhood in Portland, which is an abstract concept for anybody who's rolled through Portland because now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esperanza-spalding/i-did-grow-up-in-a-rough-neighborhood-in-portland-which-is-an/) [Esperanza Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esperanza-spalding/) > [I loved it, but had to forget about acting after elementary school because it was the sort of thing you just didn't do in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-hemsley/i-loved-it-but-had-to-forget-about-acting-after-elementary-school/) [Sherman Hemsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-hemsley/) > [I'm from the hood. You put me in a rough neighborhood and believe me, I'm OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-vargas/i-m-from-the-hood-you-put-me-in-a-rough-neighborhood-and-believe-me-i/) [Jessie Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-vargas/) > [I grew up in New York, in a rough neighborhood where our biggest concern was not getting beat up. I was always far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-klein/i-grew-up-in-new-york-in-a-rough-neighborhood-where-our-biggest/) [William Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-klein/) > [In the neighborhood where I grew up, it was a rough neighborhood - well, not rough, but it certainly wasn't upper class or anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/in-the-neighborhood-where-i-grew-up-it-was-a-rough-neighborhood-well/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [It was a pretty rough neighborhood where I grew up The really tough places were over around Third Avenue where it ran into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/it-was-a-pretty-rough-neighborhood-where-i-grew-up-the-really-tough/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [When I grew up on the south side of Chicago, it was kind of a rough neighborhood, and when my parents saw the prospect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/when-i-grew-up-on-the-south-side-of-chicago-it-was-kind-of-a-rough/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I grew up in a rough neighborhood, so I fought a lot. Even when I was wrestling, if I lost a match, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-grew-up-in-a-rough-neighborhood-so-i-fought-a-lot-even-when-i-was/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [I grew up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. At the time I was growing up with my father - before it was gentrified - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-grew-up-in-east-flatbush-brooklyn-at-the-time-i-was-growing-up-with/) [Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/) > [“Character built out of restrictions and boundaries can be deceiving.Be aware!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehnaz-ansari/character-built-out-of-restrictions-and-boundaries-can-be-deceiving/) Mehnaz Ansari > [I don't slot actors into the image of a character that's already built. I build characters by listening to the voice and the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/i-don-t-slot-actors-into-the-image-of-a-character-that-s-already/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) > [Language is the ticket to plot and character, after all, because both are built out of language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/language-is-the-ticket-to-plot-and-character-after-all-because-both/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) ## More by George Hill > [I have a son and daughter and wife that need me not in basketball mode when I'm home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/i-have-a-son-and-daughter-and-wife-that-need-me-not-in-basketball/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [If you're sitting for more of the majority of the game and you really don't get a lot of touches, maybe every once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/if-you-re-sitting-for-more-of-the-majority-of-the-game-and-you-really/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [I just go out and try to do my job the best I can. If that's playing defense as hard as I can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/i-just-go-out-and-try-to-do-my-job-the-best-i-can-if-that-s-playing/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [Everything that allowed me to come here to Utah has been great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/everything-that-allowed-me-to-come-here-to-utah-has-been-great/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [Everything could be taken away at the snap of a finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/everything-could-be-taken-away-at-the-snap-of-a-finger/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [I feel like every teacher out there has a teacher that impacted them in their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/i-feel-like-every-teacher-out-there-has-a-teacher-that-impacted-them/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [It's always a big accomplishment to graduate from a university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/it-s-always-a-big-accomplishment-to-graduate-from-a-university/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [Indiana is always home to me. It holds a special place in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/indiana-is-always-home-to-me-it-holds-a-special-place-in-my-heart/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [I have a voice and I have a platform for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/i-have-a-voice-and-i-have-a-platform-for-a-reason/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [Everyone has a dog or a cat... I just choose other animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/everyone-has-a-dog-or-a-cat-i-just-choose-other-animals/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [It's not about scoring, it's having that presence out there and managing the game and getting everyone involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/it-s-not-about-scoring-it-s-having-that-presence-out-there-and/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [It's all about what I can do to help the team win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/it-s-all-about-what-i-can-do-to-help-the-team-win/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [I'm a grown man. I'm gonna do what I want to do. If I want to go see my family, I'm going to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/i-m-a-grown-man-i-m-gonna-do-what-i-want-to-do-if-i-want-to-go-see-my/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [You know, the fans, the city have embraced me. The Jazz culture and family have welcomed me with open arms. Any time you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/you-know-the-fans-the-city-have-embraced-me-the-jazz-culture-and/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [Don't be afraid to take risks. Create a vision for you life. Be a leader in your own life. Give of yourself selflessly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/don-t-be-afraid-to-take-risks-create-a-vision-for-you-life-be-a/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) [Explore all 101 George Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never thought I'd be anything, coming from a rough neighborhood. 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