---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back then, we didn't know we were poor…"
description: "\"Back then, we didn't know we were poor, and people were more proud then.\" — Loretta Lynn"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/loretta-lynn-6414_back_back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-an_1376199.png"
---

#  Back then, we didn't know we were poor, and people were…

![“Back then, we didn't know we were poor, and people were more proud then.” quote by Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/loretta-lynn-6414_back_back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-an_1376199.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/loretta-lynn-6414_back_back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-an_1376199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/loretta-lynn-6414_back_back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-an_1376199.png)

> “Back then, we didn't know we were poor, and people were more proud then.”

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

## About This Quote

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

People often overlook their own poverty until they compare themselves to others.

**In simple terms:** We may not realize our lack until we see others.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address hidden struggles.

Themes

poverty pride selfawareness

Mood

thoughtful empathetic

Type

sociological motivational

When to use this quote

- family life
- career
- community involvement

Key Concepts

social comparison humility economic status

Questions to Reflect On

- What signs show you’re overlooking a need?
- How does pride affect seeking help?

A Different Perspective

Pride can blind us to needed help.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/)

## Related quotes

> [I was shocked when I came to New Orleans. I never knew there were beggars on the streets here. I didn't know that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/i-was-shocked-when-i-came-to-new-orleans-i-never-knew-there-were/)

[Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/)

> [Do we know our poor people? Do we know the poor in our house, in our family? Perhaps they are not hungry for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/do-we-know-our-poor-people-do-we-know-the-poor-in-our-house-in-our/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [“I take from the poor and give to the rich. They just happen to be the same individuals. Poor and stupid before they learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/i-take-from-the-poor-and-give-to-the-rich-they-just-happen-to-be-the/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [Tell people who you are, be proud of what you are!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-cast/tell-people-who-you-are-be-proud-of-what-you-are/)

Gee Cast

> [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/)

> [“What was unfolding in Mumbai was unfolding elsewhere, too. In the age of global market capitalism, hopes and grievances were narrowly conceived, which blunted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/what-was-unfolding-in-mumbai-was-unfolding-elsewhere-too-in-the-age/)

[Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/)

> [Rich people believe "You can have your cake and eat it too." Middle-class people believe "Cake is too rich, so I'll only have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/rich-people-believe-you-can-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too-middle/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [There are more differences between poor people than between middle-class people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/there-are-more-differences-between-poor-people-than-between-middle/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [I didn't say one negative word about poor people or about middle-class people or anything else. All I said was that the rich deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-goldberg/i-didn-t-say-one-negative-word-about-poor-people-or-about-middle/)

[Bernard Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-goldberg/)

> [Donald Trump, when he gives his speeches, talks like a populist. And he talks to middle class and working America and poor people. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/donald-trump-when-he-gives-his-speeches-talks-like-a-populist-and-he/)

[Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/)

> [We who are liberal and progressive know that the poor are our equals in every sense except that of being equal to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/we-who-are-liberal-and-progressive-know-that-the-poor-are-our-equals/)

[Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/)

> [Whats my mission please debrief me on that information/All I know-the poor is hurtin while the rich is on vacation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/whats-my-mission-please-debrief-me-on-that-information-all-i-know-the/)

C-DASH

> [“When everyone is poor you don't know you're poor. My father worked so some of the boys thought I was actually rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-grant/when-everyone-is-poor-you-don-t-know-you-re-poor-my-father-worked-so/)

Stan Grant

> [Get to know the poor in your country. Love them. Serve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/get-to-know-the-poor-in-your-country-love-them-serve-them/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

## More by Loretta Lynn

> [Really, I don't know what I'd do with myself if I retire. Wash dishes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/really-i-don-t-know-what-i-d-do-with-myself-if-i-retire-wash-dishes/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [Sometimes I think our problems are made worse by the kind of business we're in. Playing these road shows is a weird experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/sometimes-i-think-our-problems-are-made-worse-by-the-kind-of-business/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [All music is based on country music. And that's why so many different kinds of people relate to it. There are more country music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/all-music-is-based-on-country-music-and-that-s-why-so-many-different/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [I've been married to the same man for all this time. The way we fight sometimes, you can tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/i-ve-been-married-to-the-same-man-for-all-this-time-the-way-we-fight/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [If I had a chance to do things over again, I might not start singing. It was my husband Doolittle's idea. He pushed me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/if-i-had-a-chance-to-do-things-over-again-i-might-not-start-singing/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [“You've got to continue to grow, or you're just like last night's corn bread-stale and dry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/you-ve-got-to-continue-to-grow-or-you-re-just-like-last-night-s-corn/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [You have to be the first, best or different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/you-have-to-be-the-first-best-or-different/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [I don't know what it's like for a book writer or a doctor or a teacher as they work to get established in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/i-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-for-a-book-writer-or-a-doctor-or-a/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [Being on stage is the best part of my career. I just say whatever comes into my head. It's the only time I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/being-on-stage-is-the-best-part-of-my-career-i-just-say-whatever/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [Doolittle looked just like a little toy soldier the first time I ever saw him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/doolittle-looked-just-like-a-little-toy-soldier-the-first-time-i-ever/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [It's important that you take care of yourself and blow off steam in the right way. Don't let some woman walk in and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/it-s-important-that-you-take-care-of-yourself-and-blow-off-steam-in/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [I believe in education and wish I had a better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/i-believe-in-education-and-wish-i-had-a-better-one/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [My attitude toward men who mess around is simple: If you find 'em, kill 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/my-attitude-toward-men-who-mess-around-is-simple-if-you-find-em-kill/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [Why leave the nut you got for one you don't know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/why-leave-the-nut-you-got-for-one-you-don-t-know/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

> [I know what it's like to be pregnant and nervous and poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-pregnant-and-nervous-and-poor/)

[Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

[Explore all 99 Loretta Lynn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/)

## More Back quotes

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/)

[Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/)

[Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/)

> [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/)

[George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/)

> [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/)

[Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/)

> [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/)

[Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/)

> [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/)

[Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/)

[Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/)

> [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/)

[Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/)

Browse all 9,709 Back quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Back then, we didn't know we were poor, and people were more proud then.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Loretta Lynn"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-and-people-were-more-proud-then/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Back"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-and-people-were-more-proud-then/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/loretta-lynn-6414_back_back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-an_1376199.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/loretta-lynn-6414_back_back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-an_1376199.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/loretta-lynn-6414_back_back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-an_1376199.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Back then, we didn't know we were poor, and people were more proud then.” — Loretta Lynn",
                "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": "Loretta Lynn",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Back then, we didn't know we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-and-people-were-more-proud-then/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/back-then-we-didn-t-know-we-were-poor-and-people-were-more-proud-then/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
