--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I left school at 14, I thought I had…" description: "\"When I left school at 14, I thought I had better get a job. I got one in a factory where I sewed on buttons. It was so boring and we weren't allowed to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/vera-lynn-5643_better_when-i-left-school-at-14-i-thought-i-had_512880.jpg" --- # When I left school at 14, I thought I had better get a… ![“When I left school at 14, I thought I had better get a job. I got one in a factory where I sewed on buttons. It was so boring and we weren't allowed to talk or sing. I lasted a day.” quote by Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/vera-lynn-5643_better_when-i-left-school-at-14-i-thought-i-had_512880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/vera-lynn-5643_better_when-i-left-school-at-14-i-thought-i-had_512880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/vera-lynn-5643_better_when-i-left-school-at-14-i-thought-i-had_512880.jpg) > “When I left school at 14, I thought I had better get a job. I got one in a factory where I sewed on buttons. It was so boring and we weren't allowed to talk or sing. I lasted a day.” [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes early factory work as oppressive, leading her to leave quickly, underscoring the need for personal fulfillment over monotonous labor. **In simple terms:** Factory work felt suffocating. Key Takeaway Seek work that aligns with your values. Themes work freedom young adulthood monotony self‑discovery Mood reflective determined Type personal motivational When to use this quote - job search - career counseling - skill training - creative pursuits Key Concepts Labor rights personal agency career choice Questions to Reflect On - What would you change about your early work experience? - How can societies better support youth employment? A Different Perspective Not all jobs are suitable for everyone; economic necessity may limit choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I think my high-school acting career lasted a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/i-think-my-high-school-acting-career-lasted-a-day/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [Today started out with a headache that lasted the whole day!!:/ On a brighter note my aunt and one of my cousins came over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/today-started-out-with-a-headache-that-lasted-the-whole-day-on-a/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [“It was paradise, and it lasted until the day that Ettolrahc disappeared, which was a Saturday. "Where”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cross/it-was-paradise-and-it-lasted-until-the-day-that-ettolrahc/) [Amy Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cross/) > [I've never been on a diet that lasted more than a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-woodward/i-ve-never-been-on-a-diet-that-lasted-more-than-a-day/) [Keren Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-woodward/) > [“You were a boy scout?''Lasted a day.But it's the truth about food. I just broke my breakfast virginity with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/you-were-a-boy-scout-lasted-a-day-but-it-s-the-truth-about-food-i/) [Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/) > [In some hotels they give you a little sewing kit. You know what I do? I sew the towels together. One time I sewed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/in-some-hotels-they-give-you-a-little-sewing-kit-you-know-what-i-do-i/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [When I first came out, I was a film student, and my mom sewed clothes. I was already doing a million things then, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/when-i-first-came-out-i-was-a-film-student-and-my-mom-sewed-clothes-i/) M.I.A > [“She tried to fake a smile, but the corners of her mouth were sewed in place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-richardson/she-tried-to-fake-a-smile-but-the-corners-of-her-mouth-were-sewed-in/) Kim Richardson > [Mama sewed the rags together, sewing every piece with love. She made my coat of many colors that I was proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/mama-sewed-the-rags-together-sewing-every-piece-with-love-she-made-my/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I remember very vividly a little plaid dress on which my father sewed all these hanging beads, little horses and stuff. It was my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/i-remember-very-vividly-a-little-plaid-dress-on-which-my-father-sewed/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [“Yet sometimes it still feels as if I’m sewed up in my own skin, as if I’m living in an invisible box that keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-george/yet-sometimes-it-still-feels-as-if-i-m-sewed-up-in-my-own-skin-as-if/) [Nina George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-george/) > [I sewed good wishes and thoughts into my garments, especially so if they were wedding or graduation dresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ellis/i-sewed-good-wishes-and-thoughts-into-my-garments-especially-so-if/) [Anne Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ellis/) > [I like doing stuff like, for instance, in the 'Leave the Night On' video, I had on a plain white T-shirt. I just wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-like-doing-stuff-like-for-instance-in-the-leave-the-night-on-video/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I actually sewed my own wedding dress and I sewed my flower girl dresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wunmi-mosaku/i-actually-sewed-my-own-wedding-dress-and-i-sewed-my-flower-girl/) [Wunmi Mosaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wunmi-mosaku/) > [Parents know how to push your buttons because, hey, they sewed them on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camryn-manheim/parents-know-how-to-push-your-buttons-because-hey-they-sewed-them-on/) [Camryn Manheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camryn-manheim/) ## More by Vera Lynn > [It is so important that British children are taught about the World Wars that their great grandparents fought in and lived through. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/it-is-so-important-that-british-children-are-taught-about-the-world/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I am exceptionally fond of all the brave servicemen and women who have worked, and continue to work, to keep us safe and secure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-am-exceptionally-fond-of-all-the-brave-servicemen-and-women-who/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [You never know what's going to happen en route to the airport or station and the last thing you want is to get there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/you-never-know-what-s-going-to-happen-en-route-to-the-airport-or/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I have always managed to combine my family life and my career, but there came a point when I had to choose between a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-have-always-managed-to-combine-my-family-life-and-my-career-but/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I've liked country music for as long as I can remember, especially the songs of Dolly Parton. Her lyrics are similar to mine: simple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-ve-liked-country-music-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-especially-the/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [So many go into the business just to be famous, not because they are passionate about their craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/so-many-go-into-the-business-just-to-be-famous-not-because-they-are/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Seeing photographs of my dad, Bert, on the beach with a knotted handkerchief on his head to avoid getting sunburn still brings a smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/seeing-photographs-of-my-dad-bert-on-the-beach-with-a-knotted/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I did an audition for Henry Hall, a well-known dance man at the BBC, when I was about 15. I have lost the letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-did-an-audition-for-henry-hall-a-well-known-dance-man-at-the-bbc/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [The journey to Burma is etched in my brain, full of all sorts of intense memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/the-journey-to-burma-is-etched-in-my-brain-full-of-all-sorts-of/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Ordinary British people don't on the whole find it easy to express their feelings, even to those closest to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/ordinary-british-people-don-t-on-the-whole-find-it-easy-to-express/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Perhaps it is no surprise I became an entertainer because many of my relatives were natural performers. Dad, who had a fine pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/perhaps-it-is-no-surprise-i-became-an-entertainer-because-many-of-my/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I try not to worry too much about anything any more, and enjoy every day as it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-try-not-to-worry-too-much-about-anything-any-more-and-enjoy-every/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Remember to stand tall and tuck your tummy in - very important as you get older!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/remember-to-stand-tall-and-tuck-your-tummy-in-very-important-as-you/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I didn't have any more children because I couldn't have continued working - and I was the main breadwinner. But although we are small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-didn-t-have-any-more-children-because-i-couldn-t-have-continued/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [The white cliffs of Dover are a significant landmark and it is so encouraging to know that they will now be protected for future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/the-white-cliffs-of-dover-are-a-significant-landmark-and-it-is-so/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) [Explore all 100 Vera Lynn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) ## More Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. 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I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I left school at 14, I thought I had better get a job. I got one in a factory where I sewed on buttons. It was so boring and we weren't allowed to talk or sing. 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