--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: know. I’ve been in classes with her…" description: "\"“know. I’ve been in classes with her. She’s bright, but she’s screwed up. Jesus, they’re so miserable, those kids, always so goddamn unhappy about raci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/robert-b-parker-2608_miserable_know-i-ve-been-in-classes-with-her-she-s_2718778.jpg" --- # know. I’ve been in classes with her. She’s bright, but… ![“know. I’ve been in classes with her. She’s bright, but she’s screwed up. Jesus, they’re so miserable, those kids, always so goddamn unhappy about racism and sexism and imperialism and militarism and capitalism. Man, I grew up in a tarpaper house in Fayette, Mississippi, with ten other kids. We…” quote by Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/robert-b-parker-2608_miserable_know-i-ve-been-in-classes-with-her-she-s_2718778.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/robert-b-parker-2608_miserable_know-i-ve-been-in-classes-with-her-she-s_2718778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/robert-b-parker-2608_miserable_know-i-ve-been-in-classes-with-her-she-s_2718778.jpg) > ““know. I’ve been in classes with her. She’s bright, but she’s screwed up. Jesus, they’re so miserable, those kids, always so goddamn unhappy about racism and sexism and imperialism and militarism and capitalism. Man, I grew up in a tarpaper house in Fayette, Mississippi, with ten other kids. We were trying to stay alive; we didn’t have time to be that goddamn unhappy.”” [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A narrator reflects on systemic oppression and personal hardship, noting that constant focus on injustice can be overwhelming. **In simple terms:** Systemic issues cause deep unhappiness. Key Takeaway Balance awareness with self‑care. Themes racism sexism imperialism militarism capitalism poverty mental health Mood somber determined Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - education - community organizing - personal healing Key Concepts sociology psychology activism Questions to Reflect On - How to stay engaged without despair? - What self‑care practices help activists? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on oppression can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kids Goddamn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-goddamn-2865832/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Miserable Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable-kids-891017/) [Mississippi Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mississippi-kids-2865831/) [Stay Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-alive/) [Unhappy Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-racism-2865830/) ## Related quotes > [Misery is when grown-ups don't realize how miserable kids can feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-heller/misery-is-when-grown-ups-don-t-realize-how-miserable-kids-can-feel/) [Suzanne Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-heller/) > [I would have liked having children to some degree, but frankly I haven't got the time to take the kids to the goddamn ballgame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-would-have-liked-having-children-to-some-degree-but-frankly-i-haven-2/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I would have liked having children to some degree, but frankly I haven't got the time to take the kids to the goddamn ballgame.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-would-have-liked-having-children-to-some-degree-but-frankly-i-haven/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“Us in the graveyard, we wants you to stay alive. We wants you to surprise us and disappoint us and impress us and amaze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/us-in-the-graveyard-we-wants-you-to-stay-alive-we-wants-you-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“I can't stop thinking about dying the way humans do it. Imagine! If at any moment, you could just stop existing. How different everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-turgeon/i-can-t-stop-thinking-about-dying-the-way-humans-do-it-imagine-if-at/) [Carolyn Turgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-turgeon/) > [Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/love-is-how-you-stay-alive-even-after-you-are-gone/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“You know what I think?" she says. "That people's memories are maybe the fuel they burn to stay alive. Whether those memories have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/you-know-what-i-think-she-says-that-people-s-memories-are-maybe-the/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Jules turned off the faucet and the room became silent except for the ticking clock. “Promise me one thing.” She picked up the dishtowel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-abshire/jules-turned-off-the-faucet-and-the-room-became-silent-except-for-the/) [Mary Abshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-abshire/) > [“As long as I keep moving, I should be OK. As long as I keep the notebook with me, I should stay alive. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-goeglein/as-long-as-i-keep-moving-i-should-be-ok-as-long-as-i-keep-the/) [T.M. Goeglein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-goeglein/) > [“But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/but-poetry-romance-love-beauty-these-are-what-we-stay-alive-for/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [Many a man has decided to stay alive not because of the will to live but because of the determination not to give assorted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-behan/many-a-man-has-decided-to-stay-alive-not-because-of-the-will-to-live/) [Brendan Behan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-behan/) > [“Just another case of sometimes. Sometimes fates plans are different from your own. Sometimes the beautiful things are right in your reach but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everance-caiser/just-another-case-of-sometimes-sometimes-fates-plans-are-different/) [Everance Caiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everance-caiser/) > [“Don't matter if you're rich and strong Don't matter if you're weak Don't matter if you write a song The nightingales repeat Don't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/don-t-matter-if-you-re-rich-and-strong-don-t-matter-if-you-re-weak/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [Did he just say--?" "Yes," Claire said, smiling. "Yes, he did." "Whoa. Guess I'd better stay alive, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/did-he-just-say-yes-claire-said-smiling-yes-he-did-whoa-guess-i-d/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## More by Robert B. Parker > [“I always loved it when I had a story to tell her, because her attention was complete and felt like sunlight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/i-always-loved-it-when-i-had-a-story-to-tell-her-because-her/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/writer-s-block-i-ve-never-heard-of-a-plumber-complain-about-plumber-s/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [I had achieved the most important things in my life when I married Joan and had the sons. Given the choice between Joan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/i-had-achieved-the-most-important-things-in-my-life-when-i-married/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Joan organizes our social life, and on weekends I follow her around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/joan-organizes-our-social-life-and-on-weekends-i-follow-her-around/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“Sandy’s face was very close to mine in the crowded room. She had a wide mouth and a lot of teeth. She had turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/sandy-s-face-was-very-close-to-mine-in-the-crowded-room-she-had-a/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“And Quirk’s a captain now,” he said. “Captain Quirk?” The motorcycle cop grinned. “Captain Quirk,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/and-quirk-s-a-captain-now-he-said-captain-quirk-the-motorcycle-cop/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Both our opinions are rooted in our experience," I said. "Both of them are true, it's just that we've had different experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/both-our-opinions-are-rooted-in-our-experience-i-said-both-of-them/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“I think you’ve never quite altogether forgiven yourself for that woman in Los Angeles all that time ago.” “Candy Sloan,” I said. Susan nodded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/i-think-you-ve-never-quite-altogether-forgiven-yourself-for-that/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [If you want to write, write it. That's the first rule. And send it in, and send it in to someone who can publish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/if-you-want-to-write-write-it-that-s-the-first-rule-and-send-it-in/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“Susan had decided to sit by the pool at the hotel with a copy of a book by Alice Miller called The Drama of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/susan-had-decided-to-sit-by-the-pool-at-the-hotel-with-a-copy-of-a/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“called Evan Malone at the number Epstein had given me and got his wife, and made an appointment to come up to his place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/called-evan-malone-at-the-number-epstein-had-given-me-and-got-his/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [I have reached the point where I know that as long as I sit down to write, the ideas will come. What they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/i-have-reached-the-point-where-i-know-that-as-long-as-i-sit-down-to/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“Can you analyze our relationship in the light of Silvermanian pragmatism?” I said. “I love you because I find it compelling to be loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/can-you-analyze-our-relationship-in-the-light-of-silvermanian/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“Pearl eyed a man and woman walking by in funny hats. Her whole body stiffened with the desire to bark at them. Mine too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/pearl-eyed-a-man-and-woman-walking-by-in-funny-hats-her-whole-body/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“I’m sleeping with a Harvard grad,” I said. “The Emory of the North,” Becker said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/i-m-sleeping-with-a-harvard-grad-i-said-the-emory-of-the-north-becker/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) [Explore all 151 Robert B. Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) ## More Miserable quotes > [If it was making me miserable, I'd get out, but it doesn't! It fuels me! That's why I'm taking on more things, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/if-it-was-making-me-miserable-i-d-get-out-but-it-doesn-t-it-fuels-me/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is such unutterable hell, solely because it is sometimes beautiful. If we could only be miserable all the time, if there could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-such-unutterable-hell-solely-because-it-is-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“As has been said, the truth will set you free - but first it will make you miserable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-watts/as-has-been-said-the-truth-will-set-you-free-but-first-it-will-make/) [Malcolm Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-watts/) > [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I didn't fit into the Christian college my parents sent me to. I felt tarnished by tragedy, between my brother's death and Escuela Caribe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-didn-t-fit-into-the-christian-college-my-parents-sent-me-to-i-felt/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Miserable being must find more miserable being, then he is happy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/miserable-being-must-find-more-miserable-being-then-he-is-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've got to make a person aware of how miserable they really are and show them how happy they can be. Otherwise, why should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-ve-got-to-make-a-person-aware-of-how-miserable-they-really-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [A lover goes toward his beloved as enthusiastically as a schoolboy leaving his books, but when he leaves his girlfriend, he feels as miserable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-lover-goes-toward-his-beloved-as-enthusiastically-as-a-schoolboy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) [Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/) > [If I were to be stuck in New York, I would be miserable. I love N.Y.C. but it's not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-morgan/if-i-were-to-be-stuck-in-new-york-i-would-be-miserable-i-love-n-y-c/) [Sonja Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-morgan/) [Browse all 1,983 Miserable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“know. I’ve been in classes with her. She’s bright, but she’s screwed up. Jesus, they’re so miserable, those kids, always so goddamn unhappy about racism and sexism and imperialism and militarism and capitalism. Man, I grew up in a tarpaper house in Fayette, Mississippi, with ten other kids. We were trying to stay alive; we didn’t have time to be that goddamn unhappy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert B. 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