--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we've been programmed from birth…" description: "\"I think we've been programmed from birth to be a certain way - to be demure, to be polite, and to be nice and to not be boastful or braggadocios in all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/lauren-ash-9444_be-nice_i-think-we-ve-been-programmed-from-birth_772490.jpg" --- # I think we've been programmed from birth to be a certain… ![“I think we've been programmed from birth to be a certain way - to be demure, to be polite, and to be nice and to not be boastful or braggadocios in all of these things - and it leads to this kind of tragedy. Women spend so much time hating what they look like.” quote by Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/lauren-ash-9444_be-nice_i-think-we-ve-been-programmed-from-birth_772490.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/lauren-ash-9444_be-nice_i-think-we-ve-been-programmed-from-birth_772490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/lauren-ash-9444_be-nice_i-think-we-ve-been-programmed-from-birth_772490.jpg) > “I think we've been programmed from birth to be a certain way - to be demure, to be polite, and to be nice and to not be boastful or braggadocios in all of these things - and it leads to this kind of tragedy. Women spend so much time hating what they look like.” [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal expectations pressure women to be modest, leading to self‑criticism and tragedy. **In simple terms:** Society forces women to hide confidence. Key Takeaway Challenge limiting norms. Themes gender self‑image societal pressure Mood thoughtful empathetic Type comedic social commentary When to use this quote - media representation - self‑esteem work Key Concepts feminist critique psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you support women’s confidence? - What steps break these expectations? A Different Perspective Changing norms is slow and faces backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-nice/) [Hating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hating/) [Hating Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hating-look-5668112/) [Kind Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-tragedy-5967308/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Tragedy Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy-women-245664/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > ['Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' and Paula are alternatives to what we, as plus-size women in America, have been told is our narrative, which is, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynne-champlin/crazy-ex-girlfriend-and-paula-are-alternatives-to-what-we-as-plus/) [Donna Lynne Champlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynne-champlin/) > [The tragedy is that women so committed to survival cannot recognize that they are committing suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/the-tragedy-is-that-women-so-committed-to-survival-cannot-recognize/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [“My dear Mr FitzGeorge!' cried Lady Slane. 'You really mustn't talk as though my life had been a tragedy. I had everything that most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/my-dear-mr-fitzgeorge-cried-lady-slane-you-really-mustn-t-talk-as/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [The tragedy is women of color have made more progress in basketball than they have in broadcasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-hughes/the-tragedy-is-women-of-color-have-made-more-progress-in-basketball/) [Cathy Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-hughes/) > [What a denial of our humanity that at the centers of power, where decisions are made, there is no room for nurturing, for love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/what-a-denial-of-our-humanity-that-at-the-centers-of-power-where/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [When men are oppressed, it's a tragedy. When women are oppressed, it's tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letty-cottin-pogrebin/when-men-are-oppressed-it-s-a-tragedy-when-women-are-oppressed-it-s/) [Letty Cottin Pogrebin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letty-cottin-pogrebin/) > [I really miss having a routine because now I've been on the road constantly for several months. I like routines, so it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-really-miss-having-a-routine-because-now-i-ve-been-on-the-road/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Sometimes I feel it would be nice to have a bit more privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sugg/sometimes-i-feel-it-would-be-nice-to-have-a-bit-more-privacy/) [Zoe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sugg/) > [I do have to take care of myself, not only because I'm in the movies, just for mental health reasons. I exercise for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-do-have-to-take-care-of-myself-not-only-because-i-m-in-the-movies/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I know if I'm nervous or excited to do something before I'm doing it that there's gonna be nice energy there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-know-if-i-m-nervous-or-excited-to-do-something-before-i-m-doing-it/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [Obama can't change his cool disposition, though it would be nice if he lost the vaguely grudging air he gives off that problems of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/obama-can-t-change-his-cool-disposition-though-it-would-be-nice-if-he/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [I seem to find different material every four to six months and I frequently forget it which is a shame because it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/i-seem-to-find-different-material-every-four-to-six-months-and-i/) [Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/) > [People have said to me, 'It must be nice to prove so many people wrong,' but I've never really cared about proving anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bryan/people-have-said-to-me-it-must-be-nice-to-prove-so-many-people-wrong/) [Daniel Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bryan/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I don't think they need to be nice to reporters, but the White House seems to imagine that releasing information is like a tap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/i-don-t-think-they-need-to-be-nice-to-reporters-but-the-white-house/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) ## More by Lauren Ash > [I can look around a room and tell you if there are hidden cameras or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-can-look-around-a-room-and-tell-you-if-there-are-hidden-cameras-or/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [Usually when it's the holidays and you're gonna be doing a lot of eating, it's because you're celebrating with people. I think that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/usually-when-it-s-the-holidays-and-you-re-gonna-be-doing-a-lot-of/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [Often I feel powerless when I hear stories about animals in shelters across the country whose lives are taken simply because they have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/often-i-feel-powerless-when-i-hear-stories-about-animals-in-shelters/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [I adopted my dog Fox when he was 5 years old. He had been in foster care for months and was passed over at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-adopted-my-dog-fox-when-he-was-5-years-old-he-had-been-in-foster/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [I'm a 12-14. 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I look fabulous and it's important to celebrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/in-20-years-i-m-going-to-i-m-sure-envy-the-body-that-i-have-now-i/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [I've never had a job for six years. It's such an immense amount of time in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-ve-never-had-a-job-for-six-years-it-s-such-an-immense-amount-of/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) [Explore all 72 Lauren Ash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) ## More Be nice quotes > [I don't think they need to be nice to reporters, but the White House seems to imagine that releasing information is like a tap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/i-don-t-think-they-need-to-be-nice-to-reporters-but-the-white-house/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [People have said to me, 'It must be nice to prove so many people wrong,' but I've never really cared about proving anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bryan/people-have-said-to-me-it-must-be-nice-to-prove-so-many-people-wrong/) [Daniel Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bryan/) > [I seem to find different material every four to six months and I frequently forget it which is a shame because it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/i-seem-to-find-different-material-every-four-to-six-months-and-i/) [Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/) > [Obama can't change his cool disposition, though it would be nice if he lost the vaguely grudging air he gives off that problems of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/obama-can-t-change-his-cool-disposition-though-it-would-be-nice-if-he/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [I know if I'm nervous or excited to do something before I'm doing it that there's gonna be nice energy there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-know-if-i-m-nervous-or-excited-to-do-something-before-i-m-doing-it/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [I do have to take care of myself, not only because I'm in the movies, just for mental health reasons. I exercise for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-do-have-to-take-care-of-myself-not-only-because-i-m-in-the-movies/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Sometimes I feel it would be nice to have a bit more privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sugg/sometimes-i-feel-it-would-be-nice-to-have-a-bit-more-privacy/) [Zoe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sugg/) > [I really miss having a routine because now I've been on the road constantly for several months. I like routines, so it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-really-miss-having-a-routine-because-now-i-ve-been-on-the-road/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Grand Slam losses are hard. I treat myself after losses though, I usually go to McDonald's and I have a hamburger and you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/grand-slam-losses-are-hard-i-treat-myself-after-losses-though-i/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [The injunction to be nice is used to deflect criticism and stifle the legitimate anger of dissent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-injunction-to-be-nice-is-used-to-deflect-criticism-and-stifle-the/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [You have to create characters - certainly in series TV - who people engage with. They don't have to be nice; you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/you-have-to-create-characters-certainly-in-series-tv-who-people/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I've won the British title and although it would be nice to win it outright, I want to push on to the next level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-fielding/i-ve-won-the-british-title-and-although-it-would-be-nice-to-win-it/) [Rocky Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-fielding/) > [My best parenting advice would be not to take the job too seriously. Teach your kids to be nice, and everything else falls into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-falcone/my-best-parenting-advice-would-be-not-to-take-the-job-too-seriously/) [Ben Falcone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-falcone/) > [It is a good thing to be nice but to get to a certain level you have to have that bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/it-is-a-good-thing-to-be-nice-but-to-get-to-a-certain-level-you-have/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) [Browse all 274 Be nice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-nice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think we've been programmed from birth to be a certain way - to be demure, to be polite, and to be nice and to not be boastful or braggadocios in all of these things - and it leads to this kind of tragedy. 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