---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was not a particularly small child. I…"
description: "\"“I was not a particularly small child. I was the one who always got picked to play Bethlehem in the school play.”\" — Jo Brand"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/jo-brand-1915_bethlehem_i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-w_2097474.png"
---

#  I was not a particularly small child. I was the one who…

![“I was not a particularly small child. I was the one who always got picked to play Bethlehem in the school play.” quote by Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/jo-brand-1915_bethlehem_i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-w_2097474.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/jo-brand-1915_bethlehem_i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-w_2097474.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/jo-brand-1915_bethlehem_i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-w_2097474.png)

> ““I was not a particularly small child. I was the one who always got picked to play Bethlehem in the school play.””

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Being different in childhood can become a source of pride.

**In simple terms:** Unique childhood experiences shape identity.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your uniqueness.

Themes

identity confidence childhood humor

Mood

lighthearted reflective

Type

humorous inspirational

When to use this quote

- school performances
- personal narratives
- team building

Key Concepts

self‑acceptance social belonging

Questions to Reflect On

- How did this experience affect your self‑esteem?
- Do you still feel different?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone feels comfortable standing out.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bethlehem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bethlehem/) [Bethlehem School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bethlehem-school-4175439/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Got Picked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-picked-1439457/) [Play Bethlehem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-bethlehem-4175440/) [School Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-play/)

## Related quotes

> [I got picked on a lot. I was a complete geek in school. I had braces. I didn't have the hot girlfriend. I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-brolin/i-got-picked-on-a-lot-i-was-a-complete-geek-in-school-i-had-braces-i/)

[Josh Brolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-brolin/)

> [Well... Actually I got picked because I was the only one who fit the wedding gown - they had my size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcdonald/well-actually-i-got-picked-because-i-was-the-only-one-who-fit-the/)

[Kevin McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mcdonald/)

> [People tell me that Senator Edwards got picked for his good looks, his sex appeal, and his great hair. I say to them: How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/people-tell-me-that-senator-edwards-got-picked-for-his-good-looks-his/)

[Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/)

> [Growing up as a little kid, I wasn't always this size. I got picked on a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/growing-up-as-a-little-kid-i-wasn-t-always-this-size-i-got-picked-on/)

[Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/)

> [They determined who got the first question by a coin toss, to which Sarah Palin said, 'Oh, what a coincidence, that's how I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/they-determined-who-got-the-first-question-by-a-coin-toss-to-which/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [To be honest, when I got picked into the Test squad or played my first match, I never ever thought about what I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-agarwal/to-be-honest-when-i-got-picked-into-the-test-squad-or-played-my-first/)

[Mayank Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-agarwal/)

> [I'll put it like this: When I was in high school, I would never win a popularity contest back then... it was always somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/i-ll-put-it-like-this-when-i-was-in-high-school-i-would-never-win-a/)

[Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/)

> [A coach was managing the Newbury team, and he wanted me to play for his local team, and from there, I did it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-walcott/a-coach-was-managing-the-newbury-team-and-he-wanted-me-to-play-for/)

[Theo Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-walcott/)

> [I got picked by the Lakers, but I was told the Celtics were going to take me at 28. If it wasn't there, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/i-got-picked-by-the-lakers-but-i-was-told-the-celtics-were-going-to/)

[Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/)

> [“I wanted to believe that he came because he liked me, because he saw something in me that he didn't see in any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-loveless/i-wanted-to-believe-that-he-came-because-he-liked-me-because-he-saw/)

[Ryan Loveless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-loveless/)

> [Being a big kid, I was kind of fat and chubby, and I got picked on quite a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-freedia/being-a-big-kid-i-was-kind-of-fat-and-chubby-and-i-got-picked-on/)

[Big Freedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-freedia/)

> [I mean, I gotta say one of the greatest victories on that show was when we got picked up for the back nine of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-arnett/i-mean-i-gotta-say-one-of-the-greatest-victories-on-that-show-was/)

[Will Arnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-arnett/)

> [My high school experience was pretty good, but my middle school experience was god awful. It was horrible. I got picked on like no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/my-high-school-experience-was-pretty-good-but-my-middle-school/)

[Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/)

> [Jeff Wachtel, who was the main reason our show came back, and also got picked up to begin with, is from the New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennon-parham/jeff-wachtel-who-was-the-main-reason-our-show-came-back-and-also-got/)

[Lennon Parham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennon-parham/)

> [In high school, I got picked on. It's funny that I got tormented for what I'm doing now - the acting thing. People would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-biggs/in-high-school-i-got-picked-on-it-s-funny-that-i-got-tormented-for/)

[Jason Biggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-biggs/)

## More by Jo Brand

> [Regular panelists on shows can be terrifying. They own that space, and many guest comics suspect they are favoured in the edit, while their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/regular-panelists-on-shows-can-be-terrifying-they-own-that-space-and/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [I suspect most politicians feel overwhelmed because people's lives are a real struggle, full of unhappiness, and you would probably feel powerless to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-suspect-most-politicians-feel-overwhelmed-because-people-s-lives/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [When I was at school you got an overall general education on many things, even just basic facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/when-i-was-at-school-you-got-an-overall-general-education-on-many/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [The funny thing is, I don't actually think of myself as fat at all. I don't think I am. Not really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/the-funny-thing-is-i-don-t-actually-think-of-myself-as-fat-at-all-i/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [What could be funnier than a fat person trying to run a marathon?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/what-could-be-funnier-than-a-fat-person-trying-to-run-a-marathon/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [I like men. They are hugely entertaining, but they have a lot of shortcomings and you just have to bear those in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-like-men-they-are-hugely-entertaining-but-they-have-a-lot-of/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [Does anyone really go into nursing intending to be apathetic, cold and removed from suffering? I find that very difficult to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/does-anyone-really-go-into-nursing-intending-to-be-apathetic-cold-and/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [I have such admiration for single mothers. I simply don't comprehend how you'd cope with that intensity, the lack of breaks, ever, on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-have-such-admiration-for-single-mothers-i-simply-don-t-comprehend/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [The reason I used a name was because I was a nurse at the time, and I didn't want my name in Timeout and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/the-reason-i-used-a-name-was-because-i-was-a-nurse-at-the-time-and-i/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [You look across the board at comedy quiz shows, and they are mainly hosted by men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/you-look-across-the-board-at-comedy-quiz-shows-and-they-are-mainly/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [My mum is bright, ambitious, well read, political and very bolshie: when my dad was conscripted into the Army and posted to Libya, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/my-mum-is-bright-ambitious-well-read-political-and-very-bolshie-when/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [I know there are certain men that hate women or don't like women, and in order to make women feel small, they tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-know-there-are-certain-men-that-hate-women-or-don-t-like-women-and/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [Not many women will go out on a limb to make themselves really unattractive and unfeminine so you can get the laughs, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/not-many-women-will-go-out-on-a-limb-to-make-themselves-really/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [When I was a nurse my favourite assignment was the anorexic ward. I sometimes ate as many as seventeen dinners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/when-i-was-a-nurse-my-favourite-assignment-was-the-anorexic-ward-i/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [There are lots of people who believe that caricature of me the tabloids created, so they think they don't like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/there-are-lots-of-people-who-believe-that-caricature-of-me-the/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

[Explore all 198 Jo Brand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

## More Bethlehem quotes

> [“Rachel’s tomb is located a short distance north of Bethlehem, on the road between Jerusalem and Hebron. It consists of a small building with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/rachel-s-tomb-is-located-a-short-distance-north-of-bethlehem-on-the/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-e-stevenson/this-christmas-as-the-spirit-of-the-season-permeates-our-hearts-let/)

[Gary E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-e-stevenson/)

> [And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/and-what-rough-beast-its-hour-come-round-at-last-slouches-toward/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [Force was the factor in the government of the world when Christ was born, and force was the source and exercise of authority both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/force-was-the-factor-in-the-government-of-the-world-when-christ-was/)

[Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/)

> [“Shall we go to Bethlehem, men? Or shall we DANCE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/shall-we-go-to-bethlehem-men-or-shall-we-dance/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [Maybe your life resembles a Bethlehem stable. Crude in some spots, smelly in others. Not much glamour. Not always neat. People in your circle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/maybe-your-life-resembles-a-bethlehem-stable-crude-in-some-spots/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [During the first 13 centuries after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, no one thought of setting up a creche to celebrate Christmas. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/during-the-first-13-centuries-after-the-birth-of-jesus-in-bethlehem/)

[Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/)

> [Bethlehem and Golgotha, the Manger and the Cross, the birth and the death, must always be seen together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sidlow-baxter/bethlehem-and-golgotha-the-manger-and-the-cross-the-birth-and-the/)

[J. Sidlow Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sidlow-baxter/)

> [It is difficult to look at any newborn baby and accept that he or she will necessarily encounter pain, challenges, disappointments, and hardships in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-d-huntsman/it-is-difficult-to-look-at-any-newborn-baby-and-accept-that-he-or-she/)

[Eric D. Huntsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-d-huntsman/)

> [Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-truett/christ-was-born-in-the-first-century-yet-he-belongs-to-all-centuries/)

[George W Truett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-truett/)

> [Let the Bible be the Bible. It's not about science. It's not accurate history. It is a grab bag of religious fantasies written by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/let-the-bible-be-the-bible-it-s-not-about-science-it-s-not-accurate/)

[Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/)

> [Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-franks/christmas-in-bethlehem-the-ancient-dream-a-cold-clear-night-made/)

[Lucinda Franks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-franks/)

> [I am not a believer in large salaries. I hold that every man should be paid for personal production. Our big men at Bethlehem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/i-am-not-a-believer-in-large-salaries-i-hold-that-every-man-should-be/)

[Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/)

> [Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem - but all in vain until He is born in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelus-silesius/christ-could-be-born-a-thousand-times-in-bethlehem-but-all-in-vain/)

[Angelus Silesius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelus-silesius/)

[Browse all 109 Bethlehem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bethlehem/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I was not a particularly small child. I was the one who always got picked to play Bethlehem in the school play.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jo Brand"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-was-the-one-who-always-got/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bethlehem"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-was-the-one-who-always-got/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/jo-brand-1915_bethlehem_i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-w_2097474.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/jo-brand-1915_bethlehem_i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-w_2097474.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/jo-brand-1915_bethlehem_i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-w_2097474.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was not a particularly small child. I was the one who always got picked to play Bethlehem in the school…” — Jo Brand",
                "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": "Jo Brand",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I was not a particularly small...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-was-the-one-who-always-got/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-was-not-a-particularly-small-child-i-was-the-one-who-always-got/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
