--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was taught to believe that the most…" description: "\"I was taught to believe that the most dishonorable thing a Meredith could do was work in a white woman's kitchen and take care of a white man's child. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/james-meredith-18433_believe_i-was-taught-to-believe-that-the-most-di_1509066.png" --- # I was taught to believe that the most dishonorable thing a… ![“I was taught to believe that the most dishonorable thing a Meredith could do was work in a white woman's kitchen and take care of a white man's child. I knew I would starve to death rather than do either.” quote by James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/james-meredith-18433_believe_i-was-taught-to-believe-that-the-most-di_1509066.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/james-meredith-18433_believe_i-was-taught-to-believe-that-the-most-di_1509066.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/james-meredith-18433_believe_i-was-taught-to-believe-that-the-most-di_1509066.png) > “I was taught to believe that the most dishonorable thing a Meredith could do was work in a white woman's kitchen and take care of a white man's child. I knew I would starve to death rather than do either.” [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker was taught that working in a white household was dishonorable, choosing starvation over compliance. **In simple terms:** Rejects imposed dishonor, chooses dignity. Key Takeaway Stand firm in personal principles. Themes dignity racial injustice integrity Mood defiant inspirational Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - activism - career choices - family decisions - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts civil rights moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your toughest choices? - How do you reconcile survival with principle? A Different Perspective Survival needs may pressure compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/give-up-money-give-up-fame-give-up-science-give-the-earth-itself-and-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think there's a dishonorable tradition in Hollywood to give the idea, particularly to children, that evil characters are dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/i-think-there-s-a-dishonorable-tradition-in-hollywood-to-give-the/) [Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/) > [Crimes were committed to punish crimes, and crimes were committed to prevent crimes. The world has been filled with prisons and dungeons, with chains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/crimes-were-committed-to-punish-crimes-and-crimes-were-committed-to/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [If in the past, after every lost war, the unlucky vanquished were divested forever of their honor and their equality of rights, the League…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/if-in-the-past-after-every-lost-war-the-unlucky-vanquished-were/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/one-of-the-common-failings-among-honorable-people-is-a-failure-to/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The Prophet had made dishonorable proposals to my wife... under cover of his asserted 'Revelation.'... Smith told his wife Jane the Lord had commanded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-prophet-had-made-dishonorable-proposals-to-my-wife-under-cover-of/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Poverty is dishonorable, not in itself, but when it is a proof of laziness, intemperance, luxury, and carelessness; whereas in a person that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/poverty-is-dishonorable-not-in-itself-but-when-it-is-a-proof-of/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is not enough to be well-intentioned; one must strive to put those intentions into action in a capable way. One must consider the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/it-is-not-enough-to-be-well-intentioned-one-must-strive-to-put-those/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [I was still closeted, but from the day I decided to run for office, knowing that I was gay, I decided that I would,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/i-was-still-closeted-but-from-the-day-i-decided-to-run-for-office/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [As for vegetables, I do not consider a plot of ground devoted to them worthy of the honorable name of garden. Vegetables are, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-gray-otis-dwight/as-for-vegetables-i-do-not-consider-a-plot-of-ground-devoted-to-them/) [Harrison Gray Otis Dwight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-gray-otis-dwight/) > [The best of lessons, for a good many people, would be to listen at a keyhole. It is a pity for such that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/the-best-of-lessons-for-a-good-many-people-would-be-to-listen-at-a/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Motherhood is so honorable a thing that nothing - no convention - can possibly make it dishonorable; and from the standpoint of the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lindsey/motherhood-is-so-honorable-a-thing-that-nothing-no-convention-can/) [Ben Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lindsey/) > [Have you ever asked yourself why one person is honorable and another dishonorable; why one is honest, another dishonest; why one is moral, another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/have-you-ever-asked-yourself-why-one-person-is-honorable-and-another/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [While the principles of our Constitution give just latitude to inquiry, every citizen faithful to it will deem embodied expressions of discontent and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/while-the-principles-of-our-constitution-give-just-latitude-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is but one pride pardonable; that of being above doing a base or dishonorable action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/there-is-but-one-pride-pardonable-that-of-being-above-doing-a-base-or/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) ## More by James Meredith > [My momma was slick as greased lightning. She knew how to get anybody and everybody to do whatever she wanted 'em to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/my-momma-was-slick-as-greased-lightning-she-knew-how-to-get-anybody/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [Nothing has been more detrimental to me than to be considered a symbol, because I never stood for any of that... The civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/nothing-has-been-more-detrimental-to-me-than-to-be-considered-a/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [There are a million Negroes in Mississippi. I think theyll take care of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/there-are-a-million-negroes-in-mississippi-i-think-theyll-take-care/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [I had developed a specifically calculated plan to break the system of white supremacy. My theory was that since Mississippi was the place, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/i-had-developed-a-specifically-calculated-plan-to-break-the-system-of/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > ['Blacks were too scared to do anything, but they came out to greet James Meredith': That would have been the story in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/blacks-were-too-scared-to-do-anything-but-they-came-out-to-greet/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [I am thankful for the strong, united response of our university community to the desecration of the James Meredith statue last year, confirming our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/i-am-thankful-for-the-strong-united-response-of-our-university/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [Only whites were allowed by law and practice to attend the University of Mississippi - a public institution supported by public dollars. Anything public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/only-whites-were-allowed-by-law-and-practice-to-attend-the-university/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [The day for the Negro man being a coward is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/the-day-for-the-negro-man-being-a-coward-is-over/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [The real problem in Mississippi is almost a complete moral breakdown. In order to move Mississippi from the bottom to the top, all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/the-real-problem-in-mississippi-is-almost-a-complete-moral-breakdown/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [If black people use their resources properly, they can become as competitive as any group in society - take control of our neighborhoods, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/if-black-people-use-their-resources-properly-they-can-become-as/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [Walk Against Fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/walk-against-fear/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [You gotta understand, the state of Mississippi was in rebellion. It had rebelled against the United States...Now that has been a very difficult story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/you-gotta-understand-the-state-of-mississippi-was-in-rebellion-it-had/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [There are a million Negroes in Mississippi. I think they'll take care of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/there-are-a-million-negroes-in-mississippi-i-think-they-ll-take-care/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [Nothing is a bigger waste of time than regretting the past and worrying about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/nothing-is-a-bigger-waste-of-time-than-regretting-the-past-and/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [When it comes to my rights as an American citizen, and yours, I am a triumphalist and an absolutist. Anything less is an insult,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/when-it-comes-to-my-rights-as-an-american-citizen-and-yours-i-am-a/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) [Explore all 35 James Meredith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was taught to believe that the most dishonorable thing a Meredith could do was work in a white woman's kitchen and take care of a white man's child. 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