--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father was a carpenter, a very good…" description: "\"My father was a carpenter, a very good carpenter. He also worked for the Jones boys. They were not family members, we weren't related at all. They star..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/quincy-jones-2731_carpenter_my-father-was-a-carpenter-a-very-good-ca_2266141.jpg" --- # My father was a carpenter, a very good carpenter. He also… ![“My father was a carpenter, a very good carpenter. He also worked for the Jones boys. They were not family members, we weren't related at all. They started the policy racket in Chicago, and they had the five and dime store.” quote by Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/quincy-jones-2731_carpenter_my-father-was-a-carpenter-a-very-good-ca_2266141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/quincy-jones-2731_carpenter_my-father-was-a-carpenter-a-very-good-ca_2266141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/quincy-jones-2731_carpenter_my-father-was-a-carpenter-a-very-good-ca_2266141.jpg) > “My father was a carpenter, a very good carpenter. He also worked for the Jones boys. They were not family members, we weren't related at all. They started the policy racket in Chicago, and they had the five and dime store.” [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A personal anecdote highlighting a father's skilled trade and his involvement with a non-family group running a policy racket and store. **In simple terms:** Father was a skilled carpenter linked to a policy racket. Key Takeaway Recognize complex family and business ties. Themes family trade crime identity history Mood reflective intrigued Type anecdotal historical When to use this quote - genealogy research - urban history - crime studies - sociology - oral storytelling Key Concepts social dynamics ethical ambiguity personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How do personal histories shape our view of community? - What moral complexities arise from family and crime? A Different Perspective The quote mixes factual detail with ambiguous context, making verification difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carpenter/) [Carpenter Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carpenter-good-3139603/) [Carpenter Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carpenter-worked-357087/) [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-members/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-carpenter-5233568/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-carpenter-2964299/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [My daddy was a carpenter that worked with the Jones boys, who are the most notorious in America. The black gangsters, you know, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/my-daddy-was-a-carpenter-that-worked-with-the-jones-boys-who-are-the/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [If you think of the guys that I was in the ring with, when I looked across the ring at the other guy, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-steamboat/if-you-think-of-the-guys-that-i-was-in-the-ring-with-when-i-looked/) [Ricky Steamboat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-steamboat/) > [You don't need a college degree to be a good carpenter, welder, plumber, auto mechanic, member of the armed forces, or firefighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-szeliga/you-don-t-need-a-college-degree-to-be-a-good-carpenter-welder-plumber/) [Kathy Szeliga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-szeliga/) > [Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/any-jackass-can-kick-down-a-barn-but-it-takes-a-good-carpenter-to/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [When I was a carpenter, I once worked with this Russian lady architect. I would tell her, ‘Look, I’m terribly sorry, but I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/when-i-was-a-carpenter-i-once-worked-with-this-russian-lady-architect/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [My dad was a trained carpenter and worked for Vauxhall Motors. We had money, though not a great deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/my-dad-was-a-trained-carpenter-and-worked-for-vauxhall-motors-we-had/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [It's the ones that deal with the inner fear, the unknown realms and the mysticisms that are scary. You had that in the Carpenter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/it-s-the-ones-that-deal-with-the-inner-fear-the-unknown-realms-and/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [This, more than anything else, is what I have never understood about your people. You can roll dice, and understand that the whole game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/this-more-than-anything-else-is-what-i-have-never-understood-about/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [As I've gotten old I've really listened to a wide spectrum of music, whether it's The Carpenters, Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z or Lauryn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-sudano/as-i-ve-gotten-old-i-ve-really-listened-to-a-wide-spectrum-of-music/) [Brooklyn Sudano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-sudano/) > [There's a devil inside me which cries, "You're not the son of the Carpenter, you're the son of King David! You are not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/there-s-a-devil-inside-me-which-cries-you-re-not-the-son-of-the/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/he-came-not-as-a-flash-of-light-or-as-an-unapproachable-conqueror-but/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. He is quiet because the multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/as-regards-the-quietude-of-the-sage-he-is-not-quiet-because-quietness/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Raise high the roof beam, carpenters. Like Ares comes the bridegroom, taller far than a tall man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho/raise-high-the-roof-beam-carpenters-like-ares-comes-the-bridegroom/) [Sappho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho/) > [Even if I wasn't in music, even if my father was a carpenter, some guy in Jamaica would go 'You're just like Bob. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/even-if-i-wasn-t-in-music-even-if-my-father-was-a-carpenter-some-guy/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [An axe at home saves hiring a carpenter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/an-axe-at-home-saves-hiring-a-carpenter/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) ## More by Quincy Jones > [It's amazing how much trouble you can get in when you don't have anything else to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/it-s-amazing-how-much-trouble-you-can-get-in-when-you-don-t-have/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [It's easy to get next to music theory, especially between your peers and music classes and so forth. You just pay attention. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/it-s-easy-to-get-next-to-music-theory-especially-between-your-peers/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [It slaps your dignity just right. I loved the idea of these proud, dignified black men, and I saw the older ones wounded, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/it-slaps-your-dignity-just-right-i-loved-the-idea-of-these-proud/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I was inspired by a lot of people when I was young. Every band that came through town, to the theater, or the dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-was-inspired-by-a-lot-of-people-when-i-was-young-every-band-that/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [“The tragedy of Tupac is that his untimely passing is representative of too many young black men in this country…If we had lost Oprah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/the-tragedy-of-tupac-is-that-his-untimely-passing-is-representative/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [When you're over the hill, that's when you pick up speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/when-you-re-over-the-hill-that-s-when-you-pick-up-speed/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Imagine what a harmonious world it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/imagine-what-a-harmonious-world-it/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Thank God, 50 years ago I learned that our entire business is all based on two things; a great song and a great story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/thank-god-50-years-ago-i-learned-that-our-entire-business-is-all/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Sidney Poitier and Sidney Lumet were instrumental in helping me get started as the first black composer to get name credit for movie scores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/sidney-poitier-and-sidney-lumet-were-instrumental-in-helping-me-get/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [A person's age can be determined by the degree of pain he experiences when he comes in contact with a new idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/a-person-s-age-can-be-determined-by-the-degree-of-pain-he-experiences/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I met Ray Charles at 14, and he was 16. But he was like a hundred years older than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-met-ray-charles-at-14-and-he-was-16-but-he-was-like-a-hundred-years/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [ I got to trumpet, finally. That's why I love to write for brass, and \[Count\] Basie and \[Frank\] Sinatra and all that stuff, 'cause… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-got-to-trumpet-finally-that-s-why-i-love-to-write-for-brass-and/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I'm never in my life going to do a record that's a tribute to myself. I don't need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-m-never-in-my-life-going-to-do-a-record-that-s-a-tribute-to-myself/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I look back and say, "This must have been somebody else." I am not going to tell you that when I was 4, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-look-back-and-say-this-must-have-been-somebody-else-i-am-not-going/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I was reading Omar Khayyam, Kahlil Gibran, Rumi, L. Ron Hubbard, all sorts of philosophy. Bebop cats are like that. Curious. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-was-reading-omar-khayyam-kahlil-gibran-rumi-l-ron-hubbard-all-sorts/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) [Explore all 151 Quincy Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) ## More Carpenter quotes > [An axe at home saves hiring a carpenter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/an-axe-at-home-saves-hiring-a-carpenter/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Even if I wasn't in music, even if my father was a carpenter, some guy in Jamaica would go 'You're just like Bob. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/even-if-i-wasn-t-in-music-even-if-my-father-was-a-carpenter-some-guy/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [Raise high the roof beam, carpenters. Like Ares comes the bridegroom, taller far than a tall man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sappho/raise-high-the-roof-beam-carpenters-like-ares-comes-the-bridegroom/) [Sappho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sappho/) > [As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. He is quiet because the multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/as-regards-the-quietude-of-the-sage-he-is-not-quiet-because-quietness/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/he-came-not-as-a-flash-of-light-or-as-an-unapproachable-conqueror-but/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There's a devil inside me which cries, "You're not the son of the Carpenter, you're the son of King David! You are not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/there-s-a-devil-inside-me-which-cries-you-re-not-the-son-of-the/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [As I've gotten old I've really listened to a wide spectrum of music, whether it's The Carpenters, Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z or Lauryn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-sudano/as-i-ve-gotten-old-i-ve-really-listened-to-a-wide-spectrum-of-music/) [Brooklyn Sudano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-sudano/) > [This, more than anything else, is what I have never understood about your people. You can roll dice, and understand that the whole game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/this-more-than-anything-else-is-what-i-have-never-understood-about/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [It's the ones that deal with the inner fear, the unknown realms and the mysticisms that are scary. You had that in the Carpenter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/it-s-the-ones-that-deal-with-the-inner-fear-the-unknown-realms-and/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/read-read-read-read-everything-trash-classics-good-and-bad-and-see/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“The Carpenter Shop”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-carpenter-shop/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I'd rather spend half an hour in the company of a top carpenter, than three hours in the company of an average brain surgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-d-rather-spend-half-an-hour-in-the-company-of-a-top-carpenter-than/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You may abuse a tragedy, though you cannot write one. You may scold a carpenter who has made you a bad table, though you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-may-abuse-a-tragedy-though-you-cannot-write-one-you-may-scold-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [But suicides have a special language. Like carpenters they want to know which tools. They never ask why build. Twice I have so simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/but-suicides-have-a-special-language-like-carpenters-they-want-to/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [An ancient gnarled tree: Too fibrous for a logger's saw, Too twisted to fit a carpenter's square, Outlasts the whole forest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ming-dao-deng/an-ancient-gnarled-tree-too-fibrous-for-a-logger-s-saw-too-twisted-to/) [Ming-Dao Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ming-dao-deng/) [Browse all 249 Carpenter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carpenter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father was a carpenter, a very good carpenter. He also worked for the Jones boys. They were not family members, we weren't related at all. 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