--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We definitely weren't poor growing up…" description: "\"We definitely weren't poor growing up, but we weren't rich.\" — Matt Kemp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/matt-kemp-14010_definitely_we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-bu_1861190.jpg" --- # We definitely weren't poor growing up, but we weren't rich. ![“We definitely weren't poor growing up, but we weren't rich.” quote by Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/matt-kemp-14010_definitely_we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-bu_1861190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/matt-kemp-14010_definitely_we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-bu_1861190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/matt-kemp-14010_definitely_we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-bu_1861190.jpg) > “We definitely weren't poor growing up, but we weren't rich.” [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) ## 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 on a middle‑class upbringing, noting neither poverty nor wealth, highlighting a modest socioeconomic background. **In simple terms:** Middle‑class upbringing. Key Takeaway Appreciate the balance of modest means. Themes socioeconomics upbringing moderation identity reflection Mood reflective neutral Type personal sociological When to use this quote - budgeting - career planning - family background - social mobility Key Concepts class consciousness financial stability personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does this background shape your values? - What opportunities do you seek? A Different Perspective Middle class can still face financial insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) ## Related quotes > [At home, growing up, we weren't really poor. We had everything we needed, we just didn't have what we wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/at-home-growing-up-we-weren-t-really-poor-we-had-everything-we-needed/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I didn't really know many girls, growing up, because there weren't many other people living around where I lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/i-didn-t-really-know-many-girls-growing-up-because-there-weren-t-many/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [The gap between the rich and the poor cannot keep growing without nothing being done about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-gap-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-cannot-keep-growing-without/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [That difference between the rich and poor is growing every month.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/that-difference-between-the-rich-and-poor-is-growing-every-month/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I was so poor growing up...if I wasn't a boy...I'd have nothing to play with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-was-so-poor-growing-up-if-i-wasn-t-a-boy-i-d-have-nothing-to-play/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [Like so many families, we were dealing with limited means. We weren't poor at all, but we had some challenging times financially. When my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/like-so-many-families-we-were-dealing-with-limited-means-we-weren-t/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [We weren't wealthy but we definitely weren't poor. We were incredibly rich because there was a wonderful community in Shepherd's Bush, where I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/we-weren-t-wealthy-but-we-definitely-weren-t-poor-we-were-incredibly/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [We weren't poor growing up on Long Island, but it wasn't lavish - just a regular middle-class house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/we-weren-t-poor-growing-up-on-long-island-but-it-wasn-t-lavish-just-a/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [We weren't wealthy but we weren't poor either. My mum was a teacher and my dad, Chris, was an England international cricketer. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-broad/we-weren-t-wealthy-but-we-weren-t-poor-either-my-mum-was-a-teacher/) [Stuart Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-broad/) > [I don't think I can tell any stories about how I lived in a van in Alaska. I grew up in the suburbs, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-don-t-think-i-can-tell-any-stories-about-how-i-lived-in-a-van-in/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [“Negroes were drafted, white men weren’t; the poor were hauled off to war, the rich weren’t; the stupid were shot at, the bright boys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/negroes-were-drafted-white-men-weren-t-the-poor-were-hauled-off-to/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [My dad always supported me. Sometimes we didn't have anything to eat for breakfast, but if we could eat lunch and dinner, we weren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pujols/my-dad-always-supported-me-sometimes-we-didn-t-have-anything-to-eat/) [Albert Pujols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pujols/) > [Growing up, we weren't poor, but we didn't have money to spare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/growing-up-we-weren-t-poor-but-we-didn-t-have-money-to-spare/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [Growing up in Charlestown, we didn't have money, but we weren't poor either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/growing-up-in-charlestown-we-didn-t-have-money-but-we-weren-t-poor/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [I didn't have much but my mum and grandma gave me as much as they could, but we weren't a rich family and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalvin-phillips/i-didn-t-have-much-but-my-mum-and-grandma-gave-me-as-much-as-they/) [Kalvin Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalvin-phillips/) ## More by Matt Kemp > [I didn't know if I could make it to the big leagues without going through Triple-A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-didn-t-know-if-i-could-make-it-to-the-big-leagues-without-going/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I'm just going to live my life the way I want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-m-just-going-to-live-my-life-the-way-i-want-to/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I've always liked shoes. I peep everybody's shoes out to see what they're rocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-ve-always-liked-shoes-i-peep-everybody-s-shoes-out-to-see-what-they/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I feel like you can tell a lot by a person's shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-feel-like-you-can-tell-a-lot-by-a-person-s-shoes/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [Everything is repetition in baseball. When you get all out of whack and do something different, you feel weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/everything-is-repetition-in-baseball-when-you-get-all-out-of-whack/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [If I could do it over, I'd want to come up to the big leagues like Mike Trout. He's exciting and I like watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/if-i-could-do-it-over-i-d-want-to-come-up-to-the-big-leagues-like/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [In Hollywood, for me, it's all about the movie stars and the singers. Baseball players don't draw too much attention; we're low key. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/in-hollywood-for-me-it-s-all-about-the-movie-stars-and-the-singers/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [One of the things I've done is tell myself I can't let bad things that happen to me on the field, off the field,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/one-of-the-things-i-ve-done-is-tell-myself-i-can-t-let-bad-things/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [If you do a full-on workout and then eat McDonald's or Wendy's, you're defeating the purpose. If you put good things into your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/if-you-do-a-full-on-workout-and-then-eat-mcdonald-s-or-wendy-s-you-re/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I don't think people understand what microfracture surgery is. It's pretty serious. A lot of basketball players get it in their knees, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-don-t-think-people-understand-what-microfracture-surgery-is-it-s/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [More money gives me the chance to help more people, to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/more-money-gives-me-the-chance-to-help-more-people-to-give-something/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [Everybody used to say that baseball players can't dress and athletes can't dress. You know, a lot of athletes now are trying to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/everybody-used-to-say-that-baseball-players-can-t-dress-and-athletes/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [That's what we all play for, is to play in the postseason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/that-s-what-we-all-play-for-is-to-play-in-the-postseason/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [Beast Mode doesn't make excuses. It doesn't complain. Whatever you're doing, go out there and get it done. Keep pushing. If I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/beast-mode-doesn-t-make-excuses-it-doesn-t-complain-whatever-you-re/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [L.A. has always been home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/l-a-has-always-been-home/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) [Explore all 48 Matt Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) ## More Definitely quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [Jail is definitely not cool. Education is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-rule/jail-is-definitely-not-cool-education-is/) [Ja Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-rule/) > [My dad's quite a conservative person, and he brought me up to be very questioning of the commercial world. He looked down on pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/my-dad-s-quite-a-conservative-person-and-he-brought-me-up-to-be-very/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [I'm definitely not opposed to adopting. I think that would be marvellous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/i-m-definitely-not-opposed-to-adopting-i-think-that-would-be/) [Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/) > [You know, I definitely believe that I can beat Manny. There's so many advantages I have against him that people are overlooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/you-know-i-definitely-believe-that-i-can-beat-manny-there-s-so-many/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [People used to say my son looked like a Mexican Biggie. And when he was first born, memories of Biggie... you know, we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-evans/people-used-to-say-my-son-looked-like-a-mexican-biggie-and-when-he/) [Faith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-evans/) > [I definitely want to be with somebody who doesn't feel lost or in my shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-definitely-want-to-be-with-somebody-who-doesn-t-feel-lost-or-in-my/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [My dad worked for different companies that made whiskey for a long time, so we were definitely whiskey drinkers. Growing up, my friends would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krieger/my-dad-worked-for-different-companies-that-made-whiskey-for-a-long/) [Mike Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krieger/) > [Marco Reus is definitely an interesting player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-heinz-rummenigge/marco-reus-is-definitely-an-interesting-player/) [Karl-Heinz Rummenigge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-heinz-rummenigge/) > [I haven't talked to any young artists for a long time. But if we did sit down, I'd definitely tell them my viewpoint. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-haven-t-talked-to-any-young-artists-for-a-long-time-but-if-we-did/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I've definitely learned that if you want to have power as a woman in Shakespeare's time, and it's still relevant today, that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-ve-definitely-learned-that-if-you-want-to-have-power-as-a-woman-in/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I just like guys who have an edge to them. But it could go either way. Like, I have been into the surfer blond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/i-just-like-guys-who-have-an-edge-to-them-but-it-could-go-either-way/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [I've definitely become smuttier. When I first started out, I had these aspirations: 'I'm not going to do jokes about anything crude because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/i-ve-definitely-become-smuttier-when-i-first-started-out-i-had-these/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) Browse all 2,050 Definitely quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We definitely weren't poor growing up, but we weren't rich.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Kemp" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-but-we-weren-t-rich/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Definitely" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-but-we-weren-t-rich/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/matt-kemp-14010_definitely_we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-bu_1861190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/matt-kemp-14010_definitely_we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-bu_1861190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/370/matt-kemp-14010_definitely_we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-bu_1861190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We definitely weren't poor growing up, but we weren't rich.” — Matt Kemp", "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": "Matt Kemp", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We definitely weren't poor growing up,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-but-we-weren-t-rich/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/we-definitely-weren-t-poor-growing-up-but-we-weren-t-rich/#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 } } ] } ```