--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I failed my 11-plus and ended up working…" description: "\"I failed my 11-plus and ended up working in a factory after I left school. But then I passed my audition on 'New Faces' and I was on the telly. Suddenl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/lenny-henry-4682_family_i-failed-my-11-plus-and-ended-up-working_2652502.png" --- # I failed my 11-plus and ended up working in a factory… ![“I failed my 11-plus and ended up working in a factory after I left school. But then I passed my audition on 'New Faces' and I was on the telly. Suddenly, I was living in London, and sending my parents money that they could never have imagined. It was a massive thing for me; I was a 17-year-old kid…” quote by Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/lenny-henry-4682_family_i-failed-my-11-plus-and-ended-up-working_2652502.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/lenny-henry-4682_family_i-failed-my-11-plus-and-ended-up-working_2652502.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/lenny-henry-4682_family_i-failed-my-11-plus-and-ended-up-working_2652502.png) > “I failed my 11-plus and ended up working in a factory after I left school. But then I passed my audition on 'New Faces' and I was on the telly. Suddenly, I was living in London, and sending my parents money that they could never have imagined. It was a massive thing for me; I was a 17-year-old kid who was able to support his family!” [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. From early academic failure to unexpected fame, perseverance can transform hardship into opportunity. **In simple terms:** Failure can lead to success. Key Takeaway Persist and seize chances when they arise. Themes perseverance opportunity social mobility family support Mood inspirational uplifting Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - school dropout - career change - family financial strain - public performance Key Concepts socioeconomic rise talent discovery media influence Questions to Reflect On - How did personal drive overcome early setbacks? - What role did community support play? A Different Perspective Success stories can mask systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [New faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-faces/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [I would like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we’ve passed the audition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-would-like-to-say-thank-you-on-behalf-of-the-group-and-ourselves/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [This is the first time I've ever played the Grammys. I finally passed the audition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/this-is-the-first-time-i-ve-ever-played-the-grammys-i-finally-passed/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [The film industry is like Anne Robinsonalways on the look-out for a new face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dee/the-film-industry-is-like-anne-robinsonalways-on-the-look-out-for-a/) [Jack Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dee/) > [Today it is time to give the government a new lease of life and this new phase which is as demanding as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/today-it-is-time-to-give-the-government-a-new-lease-of-life-and-this/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) > [What a new face courage puts on everything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-a-new-face-courage-puts-on-everything/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I was in New York when Clinton was elected the first time, and everyone I knew was in a state of mad euphoria. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-was-in-new-york-when-clinton-was-elected-the-first-time-and/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Do you know what I'm going to do when I retire? I hope to become the new face of Scientology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/do-you-know-what-i-m-going-to-do-when-i-retire-i-hope-to-become-the/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [What a new face courage puts on everything. - Ralph Waldo Emerson To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/what-a-new-face-courage-puts-on-everything-ralph-waldo-emerson-to-be/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [ It's just that \[the Hawks have made\] a lot of changes. A lot of their great players have moved on. They have a lot… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-modano/it-s-just-that-the-hawks-have-made-a-lot-of-changes-a-lot-of-their/) Mike Modano > [People tell me that Hollywood loves new faces, but I don't know. They're probably just being nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-davenport/people-tell-me-that-hollywood-loves-new-faces-but-i-don-t-know-they/) [Jack Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-davenport/) > [You always have to have new. You have to keep feeding the audience's appetite for new faces and new talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/you-always-have-to-have-new-you-have-to-keep-feeding-the-audience-s/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [Stop settling for the same relationships...with new faces. Raise your standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-settling-for-the-same-relationships-with-new-faces-raise-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People are easily shocked when their routine is disrupted and their ease of travel is restricted. We are dealing with a complete new face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/people-are-easily-shocked-when-their-routine-is-disrupted-and-their/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [Music has got me to see so much of India, so many new faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonita-gandhi/music-has-got-me-to-see-so-much-of-india-so-many-new-faces/) [Jonita Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonita-gandhi/) > [People want new faces. And I don't blame them. It's just getting difficult for us oldsters to get anyone to take notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-murray/people-want-new-faces-and-i-don-t-blame-them-it-s-just-getting/) [Anne Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-murray/) ## More by Lenny Henry > [What a gift it would be if every child in the country could hear a professional orchestra at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/what-a-gift-it-would-be-if-every-child-in-the-country-could-hear-a/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [I lament the passing of 'Play for Today,' 'Armchair Theatre,' 'Screen One and Two' and 'Comedy Playhouse' - because these shows gave a platform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/i-lament-the-passing-of-play-for-today-armchair-theatre-screen-one/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [With every task you think, 'What did I do wrong there? What could I do better?' That's why I've spent my life gravitating towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/with-every-task-you-think-what-did-i-do-wrong-there-what-could-i-do/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [I think tax breaks for diversity is a good thing. In film now, what happens is you get huge tax breaks if you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/i-think-tax-breaks-for-diversity-is-a-good-thing-in-film-now-what/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [Corden's a comedy powerhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/corden-s-a-comedy-powerhouse/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor has opened my eyes in many ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/samuel-coleridge-taylor-has-opened-my-eyes-in-many-ways/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [Wouldn't it be great, if there was a one-stop shop where funny people could take their ideas and have them made?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/wouldn-t-it-be-great-if-there-was-a-one-stop-shop-where-funny-people/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [Stand-up's a lottery - you think it's funny but the audience can disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/stand-up-s-a-lottery-you-think-it-s-funny-but-the-audience-can/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [In the 1970s in black and Asian households up and down the country, there's a familiar story that when we saw a non-white person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/in-the-1970s-in-black-and-asian-households-up-and-down-the-country/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [It's about challenging yourself; wanting to do things that push you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/it-s-about-challenging-yourself-wanting-to-do-things-that-push-you/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [My dad never hugged me, never said he was proud of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/my-dad-never-hugged-me-never-said-he-was-proud-of-me/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [That's where depression hits you most - your home life. It doesn't affect your work. I can't do this zany, wacky, funny thing any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/that-s-where-depression-hits-you-most-your-home-life-it-doesn-t/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [A relationship can only work if you work at it. Marriage is the most difficult thing you will do - you've got to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/a-relationship-can-only-work-if-you-work-at-it-marriage-is-the-most/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [Perfection isn't everything, some mistakes are pretty groovy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/perfection-isn-t-everything-some-mistakes-are-pretty-groovy/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [If you don't know your history, you can't know your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/if-you-don-t-know-your-history-you-can-t-know-your-future/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) [Explore all 107 Lenny Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. 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