--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents grew up working class, but in…" description: "\"My parents grew up working class, but in that way that working class families do, they spent a fortune on education to better me.\" — Graham Norton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/graham-norton-11498_better-me_my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in_2791841.png" --- # My parents grew up working class, but in that way that… ![“My parents grew up working class, but in that way that working class families do, they spent a fortune on education to better me.” quote by Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/graham-norton-11498_better-me_my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in_2791841.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/graham-norton-11498_better-me_my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in_2791841.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/graham-norton-11498_better-me_my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in_2791841.png) > “My parents grew up working class, but in that way that working class families do, they spent a fortune on education to better me.” [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working‑class parents often invest heavily in education to improve their children's future, viewing it as a vital investment despite limited means. **In simple terms:** Parents spend a lot on education to help their kids. Key Takeaway Prioritize education for future success. Themes family education class mobility Mood reflective optimistic Type sociological motivational When to use this quote - college planning - scholarships - career counseling - parental support Key Concepts social capital intergenerational investment Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are families willing to make for education? - How does education change class trajectories? A Different Perspective Financial strain can limit educational opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-me/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-better-671286/) [Families Spent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/families-spent-3384689/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-up/) [Grew Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-working-397664/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-grew-1041041/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/) ## Related quotes > [People like me who grew up in a working-class town, who don't have a college education, you don't usually hear from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/people-like-me-who-grew-up-in-a-working-class-town-who-don-t-have-a/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I grew up in a working-class family, so I guess you could say I write from what I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-grew-up-in-a-working-class-family-so-i-guess-you-could-say-i-write/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [I think somebody ought to do a survey as to how many great, important men have quit to spend time with their families who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-somebody-ought-to-do-a-survey-as-to-how-many-great-important-2/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I think somebody ought to do a survey as to how many great, important men have quit to spend time with their families who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-somebody-ought-to-do-a-survey-as-to-how-many-great-important/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I grew up working in Canada so everything was low budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-grew-up-working-in-canada-so-everything-was-low-budget/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [I grew up in a working-class area, and I stood out - for my voice, my appearance, I did dance and things like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ncuti-gatwa/i-grew-up-in-a-working-class-area-and-i-stood-out-for-my-voice-my/) [Ncuti Gatwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ncuti-gatwa/) > [I grew up working class in Atlanta.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-grew-up-working-class-in-atlanta/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [I grew up in a working class family in South East London with no money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hazell/i-grew-up-in-a-working-class-family-in-south-east-london-with-no-money/) [Keeley Hazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hazell/) > [I grew up in a working class family. 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Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [I grew up working hard to earn everything I had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johny-hendricks/i-grew-up-working-hard-to-earn-everything-i-had/) [Johny Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johny-hendricks/) > [I grew up on a working farm. It was small, a hundred acres, but we had cows and pigs and chickens and sheep and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/i-grew-up-on-a-working-farm-it-was-small-a-hundred-acres-but-we-had/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [I grew up in a working-class Catholic family in south Louisiana. I went to a state university. 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We were like, 'okay, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/my-mobile-rang-around-lunchtime-one-day-and-it-was-george-michael-he/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I've so exceeded what I ever wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-ve-so-exceeded-what-i-ever-wanted-to-do/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I bet Maurice Gibb's heart monitor was singing the tune of Stayin' Alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-bet-maurice-gibb-s-heart-monitor-was-singing-the-tune-of-stayin/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [It sounds deeply shallow, but for brief spells every member of the public can be fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/it-sounds-deeply-shallow-but-for-brief-spells-every-member-of-the/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I think the word is adult!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-think-the-word-is-adult/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [Where I get bored is when I show up for a shoot and they want me to wear a feather boa. 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You have to be the best you can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-cannot-wait-until-everything-becomes-better-before-you-decide-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/the-goal-is-not-to-be-perfect-by-the-end-the-goal-is-to-be-better/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“And now I have my steps for the rest of the afternoon all planned out: 1. Drink wine. 2. Eat crisps. 3. Consume ice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/and-now-i-have-my-steps-for-the-rest-of-the-afternoon-all-planned-out/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I am now in a place where I have to be truer to myself first before anyone else. If you're not real, how can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-benet/i-am-now-in-a-place-where-i-have-to-be-truer-to-myself-first-before/) [Eric Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-benet/) > [If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior. In other words, begin to act the part, as well as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/if-you-want-to-change-attitudes-start-with-a-change-in-behavior-in/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [We are always pregnant with a truer version of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/we-are-always-pregnant-with-a-truer-version-of-ourselves/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We can drop the fundamental hope that there is a better "me" who one day will emerge. We can't just jump over ourselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/we-can-drop-the-fundamental-hope-that-there-is-a-better-me-who-one/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/this-world-would-be-a-whole-lot-better-if-we-just-made-an-effort-to/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [I can be a better me than anyone can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-ross/i-can-be-a-better-me-than-anyone-can/) [Diana Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-ross/) > [We can make this a more peaceful century if we cherish non-violence and concern for others’ well-being. It is possible. 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I survived that, I'm still surviving it, but bring it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-am-mentally-ill-i-can-say-that-i-am-not-ashamed-of-that-i-survived/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) [Browse all 24 Better me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-me/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My parents grew up working class, but in that way that working class families do, they spent a fortune on education to better me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Graham Norton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in-that-way-that-working-class/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better me" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in-that-way-that-working-class/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/graham-norton-11498_better-me_my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in_2791841.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/graham-norton-11498_better-me_my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in_2791841.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/graham-norton-11498_better-me_my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in_2791841.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My parents grew up working class, but in that way that working class families do, they spent a fortune on…” — Graham Norton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Graham Norton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My parents grew up working class,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in-that-way-that-working-class/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/my-parents-grew-up-working-class-but-in-that-way-that-working-class/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```