--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents, both of whom came from…" description: "\"“My parents, both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/j-k-rowling-86_creativity_my-parents-both-of-whom-came-from-impove_2154670.jpg" --- # My parents, both of whom came from impoverished… ![“My parents, both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension.” quote by J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/j-k-rowling-86_creativity_my-parents-both-of-whom-came-from-impove_2154670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/j-k-rowling-86_creativity_my-parents-both-of-whom-came-from-impove_2154670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/j-k-rowling-86_creativity_my-parents-both-of-whom-came-from-impove_2154670.jpg) > ““My parents, both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension.”” [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects on how her parents dismissed her imagination as impractical, yet it became her career’s foundation. **In simple terms:** Imagination was once seen as useless. Key Takeaway Value creative thinking despite doubt. Themes family imagination education Mood nostalgic inspirational Type personal reflective When to use this quote - career development - writing - self‑belief Key Concepts social mobility creativity Questions to Reflect On - Did you ever doubt your own imagination? - How can we support unconventional talents? A Different Perspective Family expectations can limit potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Overactive imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overactive-imagination/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [However my parents - both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/however-my-parents-both-of-whom-came-from-impoverished-backgrounds/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Lilly says I have an overactive imagination and a pathological need to invent drama in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/lilly-says-i-have-an-overactive-imagination-and-a-pathological-need/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [When your parents regulate everything you hear and everything you intake, it forces you to get creative in other ways. It sparked the writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/when-your-parents-regulate-everything-you-hear-and-everything-you-2/) [SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/) > [I've always had a slightly overactive imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-ve-always-had-a-slightly-overactive-imagination/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I didn't like Barbie dolls, so I used to have this overactive imagination, and I used to pretend to be all these different things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/i-didn-t-like-barbie-dolls-so-i-used-to-have-this-overactive/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [Ok, soooo I really have an overactive imagination, lol! Here is just an excerpt of sorts haha you tell me what you think…:) So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treasure-heroine-actress-princess/ok-soooo-i-really-have-an-overactive-imagination-lol-here-is-just-an/) Treasure/Heroine/Actress/Princess > [I don't believe my house was haunted. I think I had an overactive imagination, and I was so convinced that those around me became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-don-t-believe-my-house-was-haunted-i-think-i-had-an-overactive/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [“In the absence of sleep, my restless nights have been fueled by my overactive imagination, weaving waking dreams onto the canvas of conception. Filling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaeda-dewalt/in-the-absence-of-sleep-my-restless-nights-have-been-fueled-by-my/) [Jaeda DeWalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaeda-dewalt/) > [I was a weird little kid who just had this wild overactive imagination. I don't even think I realised that I loved performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-was-a-weird-little-kid-who-just-had-this-wild-overactive/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [“The trouble was that Itzy had what her mother had always called an ‘overactive imagination’. Even if she wanted to stop the stories from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vrinda-pendred/the-trouble-was-that-itzy-had-what-her-mother-had-always-called-an/) [Vrinda Pendred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vrinda-pendred/) > [And me? I'd just have the biggest smile :D cause I was hanging out with my fav guys hehe:):) At some moments I'd do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treasure-heroine-actress-princess/and-me-i-d-just-have-the-biggest-smile-d-cause-i-was-hanging-out-with/) Treasure/Heroine/Actress/Princess > [“Your imagination is one of the most powerful tools available to the human mind. Encourage imagination, embrace it, and utilize it. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-alden/your-imagination-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-available-to-the/) [Michael Alden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-alden/) > [“A game like sardines is scary, not so much for the hider but for the seekers. It's scary because you lose your companions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/a-game-like-sardines-is-scary-not-so-much-for-the-hider-but-for-the/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [I've got an overactive brain. I enjoy work, I enjoy life, and I'm not good at relaxing. I've also never slept very much due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wakeman/i-ve-got-an-overactive-brain-i-enjoy-work-i-enjoy-life-and-i-m-not/) [Rick Wakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wakeman/) > [I was writing short stories aged seven or eight. I had a vivid, overactive imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/i-was-writing-short-stories-aged-seven-or-eight-i-had-a-vivid/) [Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/) ## More by J.K. Rowling > [“Our Chasers Aren’t Cheating! That was the stunned reaction of Quidditch fans across Britain last night when the so-called “Stooging Penalty” was announced by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/our-chasers-aren-t-cheating-that-was-the-stunned-reaction-of/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs were still shining.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/snape-pointed-at-the-parchment-on-which-the-words-of-messrs-moony/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [ “Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus \[ never tickle a sleeping dragon \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/draco-dormiens-nunquam-titillandus-never-tickle-a-sleeping-dragon/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“An intense cold swept over them all. Harry felt his own breath catch in his chest. The cold went deeper than his skin. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/an-intense-cold-swept-over-them-all-harry-felt-his-own-breath-catch/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“If you're not Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you," said Ron, "but no pressure." "Ron!" Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn. "He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/if-you-re-not-gryffindor-we-ll-disinherit-you-said-ron-but-no/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“You want to give it a look, Xeno is printing all the stuff the Prophet’s ignoring, not a single mention of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/you-want-to-give-it-a-look-xeno-is-printing-all-the-stuff-the-prophet/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Sellotape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/he-wore-round-glasses-held-together-with-a-lot-of-sellotape-because/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Sybill Trelawney, Divination teacher,’” Harry read. “How’re we supposed to get up there?” As though in answer to his question, the trapdoor suddenly opened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/sybill-trelawney-divination-teacher-harry-read-how-re-we-supposed-to/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Harry et Ron furent enchantés d’entendre Hagrid qualifier Rusard de « vieille ganache ».”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/harry-et-ron-furent-enchant-s-d-entendre-hagrid-qualifier-rusard-de/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Well, I can certainly see why we’re trying to keep them alive,” said Malfoy sarcastically. “Who wouldn’t want pets that can burn, sting, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/well-i-can-certainly-see-why-we-re-trying-to-keep-them-alive-said/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“There was no waking from this nightmare, no comforting whisper in the dark that he was safe really, that it was all in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/there-was-no-waking-from-this-nightmare-no-comforting-whisper-in-the/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Well, I reckon you should --" Ron began, but he was interrupted by the Fat Lady, who had been watching them sleepily and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/well-i-reckon-you-should-ron-began-but-he-was-interrupted-by-the-fat/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“LOOK AT THIS SNAKE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/look-at-this-snake/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?” It was Professor McGonagall, and her mouth was the thinnest of thin lines. “We were — we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/potter-weasley-what-are-you-doing-it-was-professor-mcgonagall-and-her/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Psst!” said a voice, and he looked around to see a wispy little witch and the ferrety wizard from Magical Maintenance gesturing to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/psst-said-a-voice-and-he-looked-around-to-see-a-wispy-little-witch/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) [Explore all 1,347 J.K. Rowling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) ## More Creativity quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“The Soviet “creative intelligentsia” - that is, people accustomed to thinking one thing, saying another and doing a third - is as a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-amalrik/the-soviet-creative-intelligentsia-that-is-people-accustomed-to/) Andrei Amalrik > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“You are the end of beauty and creativity one must have created so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-the-end-of-beauty-and-creativity-one-must-have-created-so-far/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/) [Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/) > [“I believe in magic. As a writer, I create them on blank paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonnia-kemmer/i-believe-in-magic-as-a-writer-i-create-them-on-blank-paper/) [Sonnia Kemmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonnia-kemmer/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) Christoph Niemann > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 13,625 Creativity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My parents, both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.K. 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