--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a sharecropper's son. That's as low…" description: "\"I was a sharecropper's son. That's as low as you can get on the totem pole.\" — Hal Needham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/hal-needham-6893_get_i-was-a-sharecropper-s-son-that-s-as-low_2290347.jpg" --- # I was a sharecropper's son. That's as low as you can get… ![“I was a sharecropper's son. That's as low as you can get on the totem pole.” quote by Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/hal-needham-6893_get_i-was-a-sharecropper-s-son-that-s-as-low_2290347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/hal-needham-6893_get_i-was-a-sharecropper-s-son-that-s-as-low_2290347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/hal-needham-6893_get_i-was-a-sharecropper-s-son-that-s-as-low_2290347.jpg) > “I was a sharecropper's son. That's as low as you can get on the totem pole.” [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being born into the lowest social status is the deepest low point. **In simple terms:** Lowest status is the bottom rung. Key Takeaway Recognize and rise beyond origins. Themes social class humility aspiration Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - education - social mobility Key Concepts sociology self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to improve your situation? - How does acknowledging your roots empower you? A Different Perspective Not all low origins define destiny. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Totem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totem/) ## Related quotes > [Look at it this way - a totem pole is just a decorated tree. My work is a confessional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/look-at-it-this-way-a-totem-pole-is-just-a-decorated-tree-my-work-is/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [ “Then there's the pillar statue in the semi-subterranean temple at Tiahuanaco \[Bolivia\]. Like the Totem Pole of Göbekli Tepe, it is anthropomorphic. Like the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/then-there-s-the-pillar-statue-in-the-semi-subterranean-temple-at/) [Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/) > [In America, we have three major sports - baseball, football and basketball. They get the most coverage. Then there's things like golf which mop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-greene/in-america-we-have-three-major-sports-baseball-football-and/) [Maurice Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-greene/) > [When I was in London at NBC, I was the lowest man on the totem pole. I would go to diplomatic receptions to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/when-i-was-in-london-at-nbc-i-was-the-lowest-man-on-the-totem-pole-i/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [Atrial fibrillation has been the low man on the totem pole and so we're just trying to get more visibility about this particular disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-manilow/atrial-fibrillation-has-been-the-low-man-on-the-totem-pole-and-so-we/) [Barry Manilow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-manilow/) > [I've learned a lot about what kind of actor I want or do not want to be while being on set. I sit back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/i-ve-learned-a-lot-about-what-kind-of-actor-i-want-or-do-not-want-to/) [Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/) > [On 'Buffy' I wasn't all that high on the totem pole as far as responsibility and screen time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charisma-carpenter/on-buffy-i-wasn-t-all-that-high-on-the-totem-pole-as-far-as/) [Charisma Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charisma-carpenter/) > [The sharecropper may lower his eyes, but not because he's less of a man. That's just a condition of society that such things exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/the-sharecropper-may-lower-his-eyes-but-not-because-he-s-less-of-a/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [My grandmother was a sharecropper. That wasn't even that long ago! My grandma was a sharecropper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordae/my-grandmother-was-a-sharecropper-that-wasn-t-even-that-long-ago-my/) [Cordae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordae/) > [“If you’re so far down the totem pole that someone considers it a favor to you just to have you in their circle (no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-n-onuorah/if-you-re-so-far-down-the-totem-pole-that-someone-considers-it-a/) [Michelle N. Onuorah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-n-onuorah/) > [I'm usually the last man on the totem pole. Except for the sound effects and the final sound mix, the score is the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-m-usually-the-last-man-on-the-totem-pole-except-for-the-sound/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [“He was the youngest and newest member of a four-man team. Hence, low man on the totem pole. Except that calling a new guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-was-the-youngest-and-newest-member-of-a-four-man-team-hence-low/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [With studio work, I'm always the bottom man on the totem pole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay-abaire/with-studio-work-i-m-always-the-bottom-man-on-the-totem-pole/) [David Lindsay-Abaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay-abaire/) > [“Like a wolf, she lived by instinct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/like-a-wolf-she-lived-by-instinct/) [Nikki rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [Now defined as art, the totem has lost cult, taboo, and custom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/now-defined-as-art-the-totem-has-lost-cult-taboo-and-custom/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by Hal Needham > [If you read books forever and ever, they will never replace what really counts - that's practical experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/if-you-read-books-forever-and-ever-they-will-never-replace-what/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Audiences want Burt, John Wayne and others to go on doing the same thing forever. It's critics and the actors themselves who want actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/audiences-want-burt-john-wayne-and-others-to-go-on-doing-the-same/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [There's a standard pay scale for stunts. The more difficult the stunt, the more money involved. But if I'm the only stuntman who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/there-s-a-standard-pay-scale-for-stunts-the-more-difficult-the-stunt/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Trying to get it together with me as a director was impossible. No one wanted to work with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/trying-to-get-it-together-with-me-as-a-director-was-impossible-no-one/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > ['Death Car' was shot on a freeway that's under construction. It's called 'Chips' Freeway' because it's where they shoot the NBC series. We bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/death-car-was-shot-on-a-freeway-that-s-under-construction-it-s-called/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Hell, if I didn't do stunts, I'd have had to be a bartender, or something else that didn't pay well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/hell-if-i-didn-t-do-stunts-i-d-have-had-to-be-a-bartender-or/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [As far as I know, there is only one other director who was a stuntman - guy named Chuck Bail who directed 'Gumball Rally.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/as-far-as-i-know-there-is-only-one-other-director-who-was-a-stuntman/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I could jump out of this window feet first, which would be the safe way. But the way I'd do it would be to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-could-jump-out-of-this-window-feet-first-which-would-be-the-safe/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [We try to reduce the danger to a minimum, of course. And then we prepare for accidents with alternate plans. For instance, if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/we-try-to-reduce-the-danger-to-a-minimum-of-course-and-then-we/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [You've gotta be careful. People don't want to be reminded of Vietnam and Korea. We lost thousands of fine young men and didn't win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/you-ve-gotta-be-careful-people-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-of-vietnam/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I just knew it would get a big laugh when people saw the 'Flying Nun' throwing the bird to a highway patrolman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-just-knew-it-would-get-a-big-laugh-when-people-saw-the-flying-nun/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [The critics gave me bad reviews on every movie I made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/the-critics-gave-me-bad-reviews-on-every-movie-i-made/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I have a country-boy sense of humor. I come from a poor family, and I have no education. But I am Middle America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-have-a-country-boy-sense-of-humor-i-come-from-a-poor-family-and-i/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Here's the thing that I think really pushed me, was my versatility. Because when I came in to the movie business, all the stunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/here-s-the-thing-that-i-think-really-pushed-me-was-my-versatility/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I hate sequels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-hate-sequels/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) [Explore all 96 Hal Needham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) ## More Get quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) John Whiting > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. 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Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) Browse all 15,894 Get quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a sharecropper's son. 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