--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people were raised to think they are…" description: "\"“Most people were raised to think they are not worthy. School is a process of taking beautiful kids who are filled with life and beating them into happ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/studs-terkel-3020_quote_most-people-were-raised-to-think-they-ar_522455.jpg" --- # Most people were raised to think they are not worthy… ![“Most people were raised to think they are not worthy. School is a process of taking beautiful kids who are filled with life and beating them into happy slavery. That's as true of a twenty-five-thousand-dollar-a-year executive as it is for the poorest." Bill Talcott - Organizer” quote by Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/studs-terkel-3020_quote_most-people-were-raised-to-think-they-ar_522455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/studs-terkel-3020_quote_most-people-were-raised-to-think-they-ar_522455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/studs-terkel-3020_quote_most-people-were-raised-to-think-they-ar_522455.jpg) > ““Most people were raised to think they are not worthy. School is a process of taking beautiful kids who are filled with life and beating them into happy slavery. That's as true of a twenty-five-thousand-dollar-a-year executive as it is for the poorest." Bill Talcott - Organizer”” [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society often conditions individuals to doubt their worth, turning vibrant youth into compliant workers regardless of status. **In simple terms:** People are taught they aren't worthy, becoming obedient workers. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture intrinsic worth. Themes self‑esteem education power dynamics Mood reflective critical hopeful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - schools - workplaces - family dynamics - mental health - career development Key Concepts psychology social conditioning class Questions to Reflect On - How does early schooling affect self‑worth? - What can break the cycle of compliance? A Different Perspective Not all individuals internalize this; some resist and thrive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I certainly think I've given people a lot to think about as to whether I'm worthy of standing next to the greats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/i-certainly-think-i-ve-given-people-a-lot-to-think-about-as-to/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [We pride ourselves on our democracy, but when you see the way it actually works, I think it is worthy of contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lucas/we-pride-ourselves-on-our-democracy-but-when-you-see-the-way-it/) [Caroline Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lucas/) > [Most actors on most days don't think they're worthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/most-actors-on-most-days-don-t-think-they-re-worthy/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [I'm pretty moral about what I do. If I didn't think I was worthy of doing something, I wouldn't do it. I ain't gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-pretty-moral-about-what-i-do-if-i-didn-t-think-i-was-worthy-of/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [You have to be the one promoting yourself. If you don't think that you're worthy, you're never going to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/you-have-to-be-the-one-promoting-yourself-if-you-don-t-think-that-you/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I don't ever look past anyone or think that they're not worthy. Of course they're worthy, they're warriors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urijah-faber/i-don-t-ever-look-past-anyone-or-think-that-they-re-not-worthy-of/) [Urijah Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urijah-faber/) > [She doesn’t think she’s worthy to live. But she doesn’t realize, she is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-raymond/she-doesn-t-think-she-s-worthy-to-live-but-she-doesn-t-realize-she-is/) [Derek Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-raymond/) > [You’re worthy because the Great Spirit, or Universe, or God, or whatever you want to call a higher power, has put you on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/you-re-worthy-because-the-great-spirit-or-universe-or-god-or-whatever/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [“I guess i never analyzed it. I didn't think i was worthy, but yes, i've been in love with her for...ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlen-aymes/i-guess-i-never-analyzed-it-i-didn-t-think-i-was-worthy-but-yes-i-ve/) [Kahlen Aymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlen-aymes/) > [If you think you are WORTHY to achieve, you are RIGHT. If you think you lack and are NOT WORTHY to achieve, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/if-you-think-you-are-worthy-to-achieve-you-are-right-if-you-think-you/) Senoraroy > [“Should we not think ourselves worthy of contempt to dote upon a perishing glory, to expect support from an arm of flesh, when there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-symington/should-we-not-think-ourselves-worthy-of-contempt-to-dote-upon-a/) [William Symington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-symington/) > [I am a simple girl. My clothes are not fancy, my intelligence is not noteworthy, my talents are not many, and my looks are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-am-a-simple-girl-my-clothes-are-not-fancy-my-intelligence-is-not/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [When I first got two stars, I didn't think I deserved it. Now I have three I think I am worthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/when-i-first-got-two-stars-i-didn-t-think-i-deserved-it-now-i-have/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [You never want to hurt the people that raised you; you don't want to disappoint them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-brat/you-never-want-to-hurt-the-people-that-raised-you-you-don-t-want-to/) [Da Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-brat/) > [“We are all products of the failures of the people who raised us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/we-are-all-products-of-the-failures-of-the-people-who-raised-us/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Studs Terkel > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“It was in ’35—we had this campaign to raise a million tax dollars. In the town of Phillips, one evening, during a blizzard, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/it-was-in-35-we-had-this-campaign-to-raise-a-million-tax-dollars-in/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-read-somewhere-that-when-a-person-takes-part-in-community-action/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/don-t-be-an-examiner-be-the-interested-inquirer/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Hope never trickles down. It always springs up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/hope-never-trickles-down-it-always-springs-up/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I never drove a car. I'm hopeless that way. I press the wrong buttons on the tape recorder. But if the person I'm interviewing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-never-drove-a-car-i-m-hopeless-that-way-i-press-the-wrong-buttons/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [To survive the day is triumph enough for the walking wounded among the great many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/to-survive-the-day-is-triumph-enough-for-the-walking-wounded-among/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“I’ll never forget that Depression Easter Sunday. Our son was four years old. I bought ten or fifteen cents’ worth of eggs. You didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-ll-never-forget-that-depression-easter-sunday-our-son-was-four/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [All you need in life is truth and beauty and you can find both at the Public Library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/all-you-need-in-life-is-truth-and-beauty-and-you-can-find-both-at-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Reading a book should not be a passive exercise, but rather a raucous conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/reading-a-book-should-not-be-a-passive-exercise-but-rather-a-raucous/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-hope-for-peace-and-sanity-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“The total cost of the Federal Arts Project was only $23 million. Many of these paintings, sculptures and prints were given to museums, courthouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-total-cost-of-the-federal-arts-project-was-only-23-million-many/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I find labels "liberal" and "conservative" of little meaning. Our language has become perverted along with the thoughts of many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-of-little-meaning-our-language/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Who knows Bob’s name in this outfit—let alone his lame child’s? (“The last place I worked for, I was let go,” recalls the bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/who-knows-bob-s-name-in-this-outfit-let-alone-his-lame-child-s-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [The trouble with censorship is that once it starts it is hard to stop. Just about every book contains something that someone objects to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-trouble-with-censorship-is-that-once-it-starts-it-is-hard-to-stop/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) [Explore all 142 Studs Terkel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most people were raised to think they are not worthy. 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