--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started life in a poor family and could…" description: "\"I started life in a poor family and could not even afford a proper tertiary education.\" — Vincent Tan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/vincent-tan-29460_afford_i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-coul_3117200.png" --- # I started life in a poor family and could not even afford… ![“I started life in a poor family and could not even afford a proper tertiary education.” quote by Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/vincent-tan-29460_afford_i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-coul_3117200.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/vincent-tan-29460_afford_i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-coul_3117200.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/vincent-tan-29460_afford_i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-coul_3117200.png) > “I started life in a poor family and could not even afford a proper tertiary education.” [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despite a disadvantaged background and lack of formal higher education, success can be achieved through perseverance and alternative learning paths. **In simple terms:** Success isn’t limited to formal schooling. Key Takeaway Leverage experience and self‑education. Themes resilience self‑education entrepreneurship Mood determined optimistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career advancement - skill development - networking - mentorship Key Concepts social mobility learning strategies Questions to Reflect On - How can you supplement missing credentials? - What non‑traditional skills can you develop? A Different Perspective Formal education still provides networks and credentials that can be hard to replace. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-afford-1124816/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-poor-375802/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-family/) [Proper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proper/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-life-457996/) ## Related quotes > [“My mother wasn’t much into politics, but I’m sure she would have assumed that fifty years later, the minimum wage would be a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/my-mother-wasn-t-much-into-politics-but-i-m-sure-she-would-have/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I can perfectly well afford to buy food. 'Freeganism' for me is a protest, demonstrating that much of this food should not be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristram-stuart/i-can-perfectly-well-afford-to-buy-food-freeganism-for-me-is-a/) [Tristram Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristram-stuart/) > [I started out life as a writer, and writers write in part because they don't want to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-started-out-life-as-a-writer-and-writers-write-in-part-because-they/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I'd only been out for, like, six months before I booked 'Insurgent'. It was my first role in America, and it was a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-d-only-been-out-for-like-six-months-before-i-booked-insurgent-it/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [So, anyway, I think the format of love songs for me stopped becoming about people and started becoming about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/so-anyway-i-think-the-format-of-love-songs-for-me-stopped-becoming/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [For every character, I think about who they are, their story, what they are, and who they were before their game started. What was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-schafer/for-every-character-i-think-about-who-they-are-their-story-what-they/) [Tim Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-schafer/) > [I went on my first chicken shop date when I was 17 years old. The show started life in 2011 as a column in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/i-went-on-my-first-chicken-shop-date-when-i-was-17-years-old-the-show/) [Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/) > [When I started out in life I wanted to teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-spinetti/when-i-started-out-in-life-i-wanted-to-teach/) [Victor Spinetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-spinetti/) > [I had little or no opportunity when I started out in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-had-little-or-no-opportunity-when-i-started-out-in-life/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I started my life with Rs 5,000.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/i-started-my-life-with-rs-5-000/) [Rakesh Jhunjhunwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/) > [This is where I started life. This is where I went to uni. This is where the people I know are. This is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/this-is-where-i-started-life-this-is-where-i-went-to-uni-this-is/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [I think I have started to take life as it comes and quite uninhibitedly, without being repressed by the expectations of the society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/i-think-i-have-started-to-take-life-as-it-comes-and-quite/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [God bless my mother - she's long gone now, but she'd work all day and go to school at night. She started out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-banks/god-bless-my-mother-she-s-long-gone-now-but-she-d-work-all-day-and-go/) [Jonathan Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-banks/) > [I started out in life with two great advantages: No money and good parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-started-out-in-life-with-two-great-advantages-no-money-and-good/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I started life washing cars in Canada before moving on to selling life insurance and vacuum cleaners. Later, I went through a programme by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-khera/i-started-life-washing-cars-in-canada-before-moving-on-to-selling/) [Shiv Khera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-khera/) ## More by Vincent Tan > [One day we are a hero, another day we are a zero. Without me, Cardiff would have gone bust. Because of my investment, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/one-day-we-are-a-hero-another-day-we-are-a-zero-without-me-cardiff/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [You look at Man United and Liverpool, and they are red - they are much more successful and have a bigger fan base than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/you-look-at-man-united-and-liverpool-and-they-are-red-they-are-much/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [You're a hero one day, you're a villain another day. They say that's football. When a manager does well, they're applauded, when they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/you-re-a-hero-one-day-you-re-a-villain-another-day-they-say-that-s/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [Sometimes the British press is maybe a little bit racist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/sometimes-the-british-press-is-maybe-a-little-bit-racist/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [Much as I would like to give out as much as I can, I do recognize that my resources are not unlimited, and therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/much-as-i-would-like-to-give-out-as-much-as-i-can-i-do-recognize-that/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [We can work together to produce better footballers for both FK Sarajevo and maybe Cardiff City and maybe even to play for other clubs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/we-can-work-together-to-produce-better-footballers-for-both-fk/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [I started off with making personal donations and eventually set up my own foundation, VTCY Foundation, now known as Better Malaysia Foundation. My contributions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/i-started-off-with-making-personal-donations-and-eventually-set-up-my/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [Due to my business commitments, I am faced with time constraints and have not been able to personally spend as much time as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/due-to-my-business-commitments-i-am-faced-with-time-constraints-and/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [I love football now. I have a club in Sarajevo, and I love that. The fans are fantastic. The people who run the club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/i-love-football-now-i-have-a-club-in-sarajevo-and-i-love-that-the/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [We want to do what is good for Cardiff and for the long-term survival, and hopefully Cardiff can be around for a long time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/we-want-to-do-what-is-good-for-cardiff-and-for-the-long-term-survival/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [I wear sunglasses because of the glare of spotlights. I wear gloves because it is very cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/i-wear-sunglasses-because-of-the-glare-of-spotlights-i-wear-gloves/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [I pray Cardiff get back to the Premier League. If I sell Cardiff, I will buy another club in the U.K. I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/i-pray-cardiff-get-back-to-the-premier-league-if-i-sell-cardiff-i/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [No matter how much good you do, there will always be a few per cent of people who don't support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/no-matter-how-much-good-you-do-there-will-always-be-a-few-per-cent-of/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [Some people made me out like the villain. I'm supposed to be the Bond villain, but actually I'm James Bond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/some-people-made-me-out-like-the-villain-i-m-supposed-to-be-the-bond/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) > [Every business I don't know, if I spend enough time - a couple of months - I will know a lot. I know quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/every-business-i-don-t-know-if-i-spend-enough-time-a-couple-of-months/) [Vincent Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) [Explore all 18 Vincent Tan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/) ## More Afford quotes > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/just-because-you-can-afford-it-doesn-t-mean-you-should-buy-it/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-am-not-a-ph-d-in-economics-or-a-doctorate-in-literature-that-i-can/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) > [I was lucky because I got so successful so early, and when you get successful early, then you can afford to be a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-was-lucky-because-i-got-so-successful-so-early-and-when-you-get/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-have-crooked-toes-from-wearing-boots-that-didn-t-fit-me-because/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they'd like to is because they can't afford to go without their salaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/the-most-common-reason-new-mothers-return-to-work-sooner-than-they-d/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [This fatigue can not afford to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa-ali/this-fatigue-can-not-afford-to-do/) [ISRAA ALI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa-ali/) > [A good player is a good player, it's just that we cannot afford signings that do not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/a-good-player-is-a-good-player-it-s-just-that-we-cannot-afford/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [Unfortunately, some people go to a restaurant, and they aren't really there to enjoy themselves. They're there because they think they deserve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dinicol/unfortunately-some-people-go-to-a-restaurant-and-they-aren-t-really/) [Joe Dinicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dinicol/) > [Nobody has so many friends that he can afford to lose one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/nobody-has-so-many-friends-that-he-can-afford-to-lose-one/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [My earliest memories were when my mom would put me in the plays that she was in because she couldn't afford a babysitter... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/my-earliest-memories-were-when-my-mom-would-put-me-in-the-plays-that/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [In Washington journalists can afford to live almost as well as people who work for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-washington-journalists-can-afford-to-live-almost-as-well-as-people/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm a little bit tough because I can't afford to get my heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/i-m-a-little-bit-tough-because-i-can-t-afford-to-get-my-heart-broken/) [Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/) [Browse all 784 Afford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started life in a poor family and could not even afford a proper tertiary education.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vincent Tan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-could-not-even-afford-a-proper/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afford" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-could-not-even-afford-a-proper/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/vincent-tan-29460_afford_i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-coul_3117200.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/vincent-tan-29460_afford_i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-coul_3117200.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/vincent-tan-29460_afford_i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-coul_3117200.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started life in a poor family and could not even afford a proper tertiary education.” — Vincent Tan", "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": "Vincent Tan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-tan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started life in a poor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-could-not-even-afford-a-proper/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-tan/i-started-life-in-a-poor-family-and-could-not-even-afford-a-proper/#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 } } ] } ```