--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never knew a regular childhood, but I…" description: "\"I never knew a regular childhood, but I was always surrounded by love.\" — Luol Deng" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/luol-deng-4848_always_i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-w_2024355.jpg" --- # I never knew a regular childhood, but I was always… ![“I never knew a regular childhood, but I was always surrounded by love.” quote by Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/luol-deng-4848_always_i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-w_2024355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/luol-deng-4848_always_i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-w_2024355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/luol-deng-4848_always_i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-w_2024355.jpg) > “I never knew a regular childhood, but I was always surrounded by love.” [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects that, despite an unconventional upbringing, love was a constant presence throughout childhood. **In simple terms:** Love was always present despite an unusual childhood. Key Takeaway Cherish supportive relationships. Themes family love childhood resilience Mood reflective grateful Type personal emotional When to use this quote - growing up in non‑traditional families - overcoming early instability - building supportive networks Key Concepts emotional intelligence attachment theory Questions to Reflect On - How did love shape your identity? - What challenges did you face without a regular routine? A Different Perspective Love alone may not address material or educational gaps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Childhood Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-surrounded-846619/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Regular Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regular-childhood-981432/) [Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded/) [Surrounded by love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded-by-love/) [Surrounded Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded-love-1751739/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I just want to be surrounded by love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livefree2dream44/sometimes-i-just-want-to-be-surrounded-by-love/) [Livefree2dream44](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livefree2dream44/) > [Being surrounded by love and people that care about your heart is the dream. That's what I would like on my last day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-boston/being-surrounded-by-love-and-people-that-care-about-your-heart-is-the/) [Rachel Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-boston/) > [Sometimes the answers are not there until we stand still and listen. But they are there and they are usually surrounded by love. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-hellriegel/sometimes-the-answers-are-not-there-until-we-stand-still-and-listen/) [Jan Hellriegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-hellriegel/) > [Roy, you left the girls and I surrounded by love. Our families and friends have been amazing. We love you and we miss you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wallace/roy-you-left-the-girls-and-i-surrounded-by-love-our-families-and/) [Susan Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wallace/) > [“Remember...you are safe...you are surrounded by love...and you are never alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joellyn-st-pierre/remember-you-are-safe-you-are-surrounded-by-love-and-you-are-never/) [Joellyn St. Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joellyn-st-pierre/) > [I think the world is surrounded by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaya-prada/i-think-the-world-is-surrounded-by-love/) [Jaya Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaya-prada/) > [We ain't got a lot, but we don't need anything. Covered in kisses, surrounded by love, showered with blessings from up above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/we-ain-t-got-a-lot-but-we-don-t-need-anything-covered-in-kisses/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [Every one of us gets to find our way, hopefully surrounded by love, but we still have to pick out our own way through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/every-one-of-us-gets-to-find-our-way-hopefully-surrounded-by-love-but/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [I've always been surrounded by love. My parents recognized when I was happy. Parents know when their children are happy. And I was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-consani/i-ve-always-been-surrounded-by-love-my-parents-recognized-when-i-was/) [Alex Consani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-consani/) > [I feel very fortunate to go surrounded by love. I'm proud of the life I lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-maynard/i-feel-very-fortunate-to-go-surrounded-by-love-i-m-proud-of-the-life/) [Brittany Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-maynard/) > [I have been surrounded by love letters you two have built each other for years, encased in tents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-have-been-surrounded-by-love-letters-you-two-have-built-each-other/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [Right after any kind of procedure you want to be surrounded by love and you need good healing vibes and positive energy around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-grammer/right-after-any-kind-of-procedure-you-want-to-be-surrounded-by-love/) [Camille Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-grammer/) > [My childhood was surrounded by books and writing. From a very early age I was fascinated by storytelling, by the printed word, by language,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/my-childhood-was-surrounded-by-books-and-writing-from-a-very-early/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [It was a very idyllic childhood, surrounded by utterly beautiful landscapes that I got very, very bored of when I hit my teens. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-raine/it-was-a-very-idyllic-childhood-surrounded-by-utterly-beautiful/) [Jessica Raine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-raine/) > [To have a childhood surrounded by people like Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh sounds glitzy, but for years I wanted to repress it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/to-have-a-childhood-surrounded-by-people-like-sir-laurence-olivier/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) ## More by Luol Deng > [As much as I want to stay on the team -- I love Chicago, I love the Bulls -- at the same time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-much-as-i-want-to-stay-on-the-team-i-love-chicago-i-love-the-bulls/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I really didn't want to play basketball for the longest time, but I just wouldn't stop growing. But I always wanted to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-really-didn-t-want-to-play-basketball-for-the-longest-time-but-i/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [When I started playing basketball, I hated it because football had always been my sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-started-playing-basketball-i-hated-it-because-football-had/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [Egypt was tough without our parents. My brothers and sisters had to work day by day, and every time they collected a pay cheque,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/egypt-was-tough-without-our-parents-my-brothers-and-sisters-had-to/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I wouldn't like to be invisible for a day. But if I was... I'd probably be up to no good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-wouldn-t-like-to-be-invisible-for-a-day-but-if-i-was-i-d-probably/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [South Sudan is my home, and I am humbled to be in a position to help those suffering from lack of access to basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/south-sudan-is-my-home-and-i-am-humbled-to-be-in-a-position-to-help/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [What I try to do is to look ahead of me and not look back. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/what-i-try-to-do-is-to-look-ahead-of-me-and-not-look-back-whether/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [As good as Miami is, we'd rather go to Miami.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-good-as-miami-is-we-d-rather-go-to-miami/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [When I go out there, I try to do everything I can to win. That doesn't mean I have to score more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-go-out-there-i-try-to-do-everything-i-can-to-win-that-doesn-t/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [A lot of basketball players have tendinitis. It's known as jumper's knee, and it just comes from all the pounding our knees take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/a-lot-of-basketball-players-have-tendinitis-it-s-known-as-jumper-s/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [Chicago is where I have always wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/chicago-is-where-i-have-always-wanted-to-be/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [When I look back at 19, coming here to Chicago, some of the things that were said, some of the stuff that you deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/when-i-look-back-at-19-coming-here-to-chicago-some-of-the-things-that/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [It's not easy not to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/it-s-not-easy-not-to-play/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I always believe every team that wins has to go through some things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-always-believe-every-team-that-wins-has-to-go-through-some-things/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [I think everyone in this league should aim to become good enough to shoot for the MVP. Not everyone can do it, but you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-think-everyone-in-this-league-should-aim-to-become-good-enough-to/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) [Explore all 106 Luol Deng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [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've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never knew a regular childhood, but I was always surrounded by love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luol Deng" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-was-always-surrounded-by-love/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-was-always-surrounded-by-love/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/luol-deng-4848_always_i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-w_2024355.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/luol-deng-4848_always_i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-w_2024355.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/luol-deng-4848_always_i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-w_2024355.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never knew a regular childhood, but I was always surrounded by love.” — Luol Deng", "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": "Luol Deng", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never knew a regular childhood,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-was-always-surrounded-by-love/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-never-knew-a-regular-childhood-but-i-was-always-surrounded-by-love/#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 } } ] } ```