--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went to a Catholic high school, which…" description: "\"I went to a Catholic high school, which, to this day, I could burn down. And I got great revenge because they had their fiftieth anniversary, andThe Ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/john-waters-751_baltimore_i-went-to-a-catholic-high-school-which-t_1406446.jpg" --- # I went to a Catholic high school, which, to this day, I… ![“I went to a Catholic high school, which, to this day, I could burn down. And I got great revenge because they had their fiftieth anniversary, andThe Baltimore Sun called me and said, ‘What did you think of your high school?’ And I said, ‘They discouraged every interest I ever had.’ And I saw that…” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/john-waters-751_baltimore_i-went-to-a-catholic-high-school-which-t_1406446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/john-waters-751_baltimore_i-went-to-a-catholic-high-school-which-t_1406446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/john-waters-751_baltimore_i-went-to-a-catholic-high-school-which-t_1406446.jpg) > “I went to a Catholic high school, which, to this day, I could burn down. And I got great revenge because they had their fiftieth anniversary, andThe Baltimore Sun called me and said, ‘What did you think of your high school?’ And I said, ‘They discouraged every interest I ever had.’ And I saw that in print.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He turned a painful school experience into a satirical revenge by exposing its shortcomings publicly. **In simple terms:** Using humor to critique past trauma. Key Takeaway Channel grievances into creative expression. Themes revenge humor critique Mood cynical defiant Type satirical anecdotal When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - artistic protest Key Concepts media personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - What story from your past could you reframe humorously? - How does public exposure affect personal healing? A Different Perspective Satire can trivialize serious issues, risking misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baltimore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baltimore/) [Baltimore Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baltimore-sun-4944924/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholic High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-high-431882/) [Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Print](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/print/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-said-236216/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Think of you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-of-you/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [This day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-day/) [Went Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-catholic-238286/) ## Related quotes > [My mother was Catholic, my father not. I went to Catholic high school. Every form of education failed me. I was trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/my-mother-was-catholic-my-father-not-i-went-to-catholic-high-school/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I don't pay any attention to what the 'Baltimore Sun' editorial page says about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ehrlich/i-don-t-pay-any-attention-to-what-the-baltimore-sun-editorial-page/) [Bob Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ehrlich/) > [When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-raveling/when-i-went-to-catholic-high-school-in-philadelphia-we-just-had-one/) [George Raveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-raveling/) > [ I went to Catholic high school, so my being in this \[the craft\] is not going to make my grandmother very happy. It's funny,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-tunney/i-went-to-catholic-high-school-so-my-being-in-this-the-craft-is-not/) [Robin Tunney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-tunney/) > [I went to a Catholic high school and it seemed like every time I drew something for a class project, it either got thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-judge/i-went-to-a-catholic-high-school-and-it-seemed-like-every-time-i-drew/) [Mike Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-judge/) > [I went to Catholic high school for half a year and religion wasn't the cool thing to talk about even at a catholic high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-went-to-catholic-high-school-for-half-a-year-and-religion-wasn-t/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [So many limits in Catholic high school! I'm not a bad Catholic, but everything was off-limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-eggold/so-many-limits-in-catholic-high-school-i-m-not-a-bad-catholic-but/) [Ryan Eggold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-eggold/) > [I went to an all-girls Catholic high school. The three things that they focused on were reading, writing, and arithmetic. My goodness, this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-went-to-an-all-girls-catholic-high-school-the-three-things-that/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I was in high school - and I went to an all-boys Catholic high school, a Jesuit high school, where I was focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-high-school-a/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [A lot of kids are moving to Baltimore, because we have a great music scene and we've got edge. Come on down, we've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/a-lot-of-kids-are-moving-to-baltimore-because-we-have-a-great-music/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [People still come to Baltimore and say, "I didn't realize you made documentaries."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/people-still-come-to-baltimore-and-say-i-didn-t-realize-you-made/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I live in San Francisco, I live in Provincetown. They're all the same, apart from Baltimore. Baltimore's the only cheap place left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-live-in-san-francisco-i-live-in-provincetown-they-re-all-the-same/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I couch-surfed for years. But I always wanted to live in Baltimore; I still do. If I had to choose, it would always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-couch-surfed-for-years-but-i-always-wanted-to-live-in-baltimore-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I would never want to live anywhere but Baltimore. You can look far and wide, but you'll never discover a stranger city with such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-would-never-want-to-live-anywhere-but-baltimore-you-can-look-far/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Baltimore never changes much. People aren't impressed by anything. It's great; it's not a trendy town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/baltimore-never-changes-much-people-aren-t-impressed-by-anything-it-s/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More Baltimore quotes > [Baltimore is a great wrestling town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/baltimore-is-a-great-wrestling-town/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [I love Baltimore. This city has made me the man that I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-love-baltimore-this-city-has-made-me-the-man-that-i-am/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [He's the leader on this team, I know when Baltimore let us have him, they thought they were giving us a problem. I'll take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/he-s-the-leader-on-this-team-i-know-when-baltimore-let-us-have-him/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I was devastated. I'm still devastated to this day. When talent like that disappears in a flash, you can't believe it. You deny it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-merrill/i-was-devastated-i-m-still-devastated-to-this-day-when-talent-like/) [Helen Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-merrill/) > [People are proud to be from Baltimore. In any industry you work in, you need support to survive. And this city has that support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-waters/people-are-proud-to-be-from-baltimore-in-any-industry-you-work-in-you/) [Derek Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-waters/) > [It's easy to whip up resentment against anything that smacks with authority. Nobody ever organizes over pan handlers. So even if a cop is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/it-s-easy-to-whip-up-resentment-against-anything-that-smacks-with/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [By the 1970s, pornography had caught up with The Block, where performers were totally in the nude. I wasn't going to do that, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-starr/by-the-1970s-pornography-had-caught-up-with-the-block-where/) [Blaze Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-starr/) > [What I saw in Baltimore was distressing and it tells me we need stronger policies in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-i-saw-in-baltimore-was-distressing-and-it-tells-me-we-need/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [ After we did \[All In The Family\], that ended up being a real love fest all around. Me and Norman, Norman \[Lear\] and me,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/after-we-did-all-in-the-family-that-ended-up-being-a-real-love-fest/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [John is a cottage industry in Baltimore and the city opens its doors for him whenever he is making a new film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mink-stole/john-is-a-cottage-industry-in-baltimore-and-the-city-opens-its-doors/) [Mink Stole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mink-stole/) > [Well I am from Annapolis Maryland. I went to High school in Baltimore, but I grew up in Annapolis. It was a cute town.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/well-i-am-from-annapolis-maryland-i-went-to-high-school-in-baltimore/) [Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/) > [Having secured my Indian actors, I started for Baltimore, where I organized my combination, and which was the largest troupe I had yet had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffalo-bill/having-secured-my-indian-actors-i-started-for-baltimore-where-i/) [Buffalo Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffalo-bill/) > [Red-hot songs were born on the black streets of Baltimore, where I delivered five-gallon cans of kerosene and ten-pound bags of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-leiber/red-hot-songs-were-born-on-the-black-streets-of-baltimore-where-i/) [Jerry Leiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-leiber/) > [I would never want to live anywhere but Baltimore. You can look far and wide, but you'll never discover a stranger city with such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-would-never-want-to-live-anywhere-but-baltimore-you-can-look-far/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Browse all 264 Baltimore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baltimore/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went to a Catholic high school, which, to this day, I could burn down. 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