---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both my parents were working-class and…"
description: "\"Both my parents were working-class and had dreams of making the world a better place. It's pretty powerful, being able to reflect back their beliefs.\" ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db7/neneh-cherry-11528_able_both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-h_2765624.jpg"
---

#  Both my parents were working-class and had dreams of…

![“Both my parents were working-class and had dreams of making the world a better place. It's pretty powerful, being able to reflect back their beliefs.” quote by Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db7/neneh-cherry-11528_able_both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-h_2765624.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db7/neneh-cherry-11528_able_both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-h_2765624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db7/neneh-cherry-11528_able_both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-h_2765624.jpg)

> “Both my parents were working-class and had dreams of making the world a better place. It's pretty powerful, being able to reflect back their beliefs.”

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

## About This Quote

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

Reflecting on her working‑class parents’ ideals inspires her to pursue meaningful change.

**In simple terms:** Family values shape purpose.

Key Takeaway

Honor and act on inherited ideals.

Themes

heritage social responsibility reflection purpose

Mood

thoughtful inspired

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- activism
- career choices
- personal mission

Key Concepts

sociology intergenerational influence

Questions to Reflect On

- How do your family’s values influence your goals?
- What actions can you take to honor that legacy?

A Different Perspective

May romanticize past struggles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Both my parents are working class and filled me with the things you need to get along; not giving up, working hard, putting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/both-my-parents-are-working-class-and-filled-me-with-the-things-you/)

[Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/)

> [My parents were working class folks. My dad was a bartender for most of his life, my mom was a maid and a cashier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-parents-were-working-class-folks-my-dad-was-a-bartender-for-most/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [I never had those dreams of making the Olympics. Never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/i-never-had-those-dreams-of-making-the-olympics-never/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [I've always wanted to be a very commercial director, or I had dreams of making these movies into blockbusters. And with each movie, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmony-korine/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-very-commercial-director-or-i-had-dreams/)

[Harmony Korine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmony-korine/)

> [I always feel like it's two key ingredients when it comes to following your dreams, making something happen that the average person deems difficult.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-always-feel-like-it-s-two-key-ingredients-when-it-comes-to/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [“You're supposed to live the life of your dreams by making them happen, not by playing make believe inside your head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-macmanus/you-re-supposed-to-live-the-life-of-your-dreams-by-making-them-happen/)

Sarah MacManus

> [Living out my dreams of making a living in the arts and sharing the gift of laughter is made that much sweeter working alongside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/living-out-my-dreams-of-making-a-living-in-the-arts-and-sharing-the/)

[Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/)

> [Creative visualization portraits your imagination &amp; thoughts into a positive outcome of your dreams, making your life for a change in positive way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/creative-visualization-portraits-your-imagination-thoughts-into-a/)

[DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/)

> [I'm not alive to help you fulfill your dreams, but with or without you I'm making mine come to pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-alive-to-help-you-fulfill-your-dreams-but-with-or-without-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Money comes and goes but dreams are forever. Especially when you make them your reality. Never give up on your dreams, and never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-g-ortiz/money-comes-and-goes-but-dreams-are-forever-especially-when-you-make/)

[Kenneth G. Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-g-ortiz/)

> [For one person who dreams of making fifty thousand pounds, a hundred people dream of being left fifty thousand pounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/for-one-person-who-dreams-of-making-fifty-thousand-pounds-a-hundred/)

[A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/)

> [If you know your being, there is no question of becoming. All that you could have ever imagined to become you already are. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-know-your-being-there-is-no-question-of-becoming-all-that-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I could hear my abandoned dreams making a racket in my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-harjo/i-could-hear-my-abandoned-dreams-making-a-racket-in-my-soul/)

[Joy Harjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-harjo/)

> [“In fact, it could be said that our language evolved for the express purpose of allowing us to participate in that interaction with others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gottlieb/in-fact-it-could-be-said-that-our-language-evolved-for-the-express/)

[Larry Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gottlieb/)

> [If politicians were serious about day care for children, instead of just sloganizing about it, nothing they could do would improve the quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/if-politicians-were-serious-about-day-care-for-children-instead-of/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

## More by Neneh Cherry

> [I like Kelela. I like Twigs. I love the more old school; I hate to say old school, but I love Peaches; I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-like-kelela-i-like-twigs-i-love-the-more-old-school-i-hate-to-say/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [A lot of young musicians in Stockholm are about keeping tradition alive and moving it forward at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/a-lot-of-young-musicians-in-stockholm-are-about-keeping-tradition/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [I always found very strong images for my songwriting in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-always-found-very-strong-images-for-my-songwriting-in-new-york/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [I've always worked with my partner, my husband, Cameron, since 'Raw Like Sushi,' and in a way, I feel very free with what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-ve-always-worked-with-my-partner-my-husband-cameron-since-raw-like/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [Being a grandmother is one of the least strange things in my life. It makes more sense than a lot of things... like photo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/being-a-grandmother-is-one-of-the-least-strange-things-in-my-life-it/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [I love collard greens and sweet potatoes. But like, traveling, I'm always just looking for that thing where you feel like there's love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-love-collard-greens-and-sweet-potatoes-but-like-traveling-i-m/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [My kids love Ibiza and we feel committed to it because we keep coming back to the same area. People recognise us in shops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/my-kids-love-ibiza-and-we-feel-committed-to-it-because-we-keep-coming/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [Rhythm, that's an essential part of cooking. The sound of a lovely song and the smell of some dish in the oven are equally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/rhythm-that-s-an-essential-part-of-cooking-the-sound-of-a-lovely-song/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [To save my child, I'd rather go hungry. I got all of Ethiopia inside of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/to-save-my-child-i-d-rather-go-hungry-i-got-all-of-ethiopia-inside-of/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [When I found out I was pregnant, my mother said, 'Don't separate your life, the life that you're going to make with this child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/when-i-found-out-i-was-pregnant-my-mother-said-don-t-separate-your/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [What's sometimes really overwhelming in Sweden is the uniformity. People kind of disappear by all looking the same and wearing the same clothes. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/what-s-sometimes-really-overwhelming-in-sweden-is-the-uniformity/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [When I found out I was pregnant, my mother said, 'Dont separate your life, the life that youre going to make with this child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/when-i-found-out-i-was-pregnant-my-mother-said-dont-separate-your/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [I try not to be superstitious, but, you know, we never put any shoes on the table. That's totally against the law in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-try-not-to-be-superstitious-but-you-know-we-never-put-any-shoes-on/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [I love Robyn, not just because we've worked together. I mean, that's why we've worked together - because I love her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-love-robyn-not-just-because-we-ve-worked-together-i-mean-that-s-why/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [I'm allergic to doing the obvious thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-m-allergic-to-doing-the-obvious-thing/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

[Explore all 59 Neneh Cherry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Both my parents were working-class and had dreams of making the world a better place. It's pretty powerful, being able to reflect back their beliefs.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neneh Cherry"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-had-dreams-of-making-the-world/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-had-dreams-of-making-the-world/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db7/neneh-cherry-11528_able_both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-h_2765624.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db7/neneh-cherry-11528_able_both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-h_2765624.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db7/neneh-cherry-11528_able_both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-h_2765624.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Both my parents were working-class and had dreams of making the world a better place. It's pretty powerful…” — Neneh Cherry",
                "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": "Neneh Cherry",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Both my parents were working-class and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-had-dreams-of-making-the-world/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/both-my-parents-were-working-class-and-had-dreams-of-making-the-world/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
