--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd grown up poor; I had no idea what it…" description: "\"I'd grown up poor; I had no idea what it was like to be comfortable.\" — Zoe Leonard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/zoe-leonard-19708_comfortable_i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it_3000249.jpg" --- # I'd grown up poor; I had no idea what it was like to be… ![“I'd grown up poor; I had no idea what it was like to be comfortable.” quote by Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/zoe-leonard-19708_comfortable_i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it_3000249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/zoe-leonard-19708_comfortable_i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it_3000249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/zoe-leonard-19708_comfortable_i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it_3000249.jpg) > “I'd grown up poor; I had no idea what it was like to be comfortable.” [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up poor limits understanding of comfort, highlighting socioeconomic blind spots. **In simple terms:** I never knew comfort because I was poor. Key Takeaway Acknowledge privilege gaps. Themes poverty comfort awareness Mood reflective empathetic Type poetic social When to use this quote - social work - policy advocacy - educational programs - self‑reflection Key Concepts socioeconomic disparity personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does poverty shape perception of comfort? - What can bridge comfort gaps? A Different Perspective May generalize experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Grown Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown-poor-4490072/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Like Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-comfortable-510609/) [No idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-idea/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-idea-1527758/) ## Related quotes > [You may have grown up poor, but don't make poor life decisions. Change your surrounds & those who surround you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-angela-chester/you-may-have-grown-up-poor-but-don-t-make-poor-life-decisions-change/) [Dr Angela Chester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-angela-chester/) > [Bill O'Reilly is like a comfortable pair of shimmeringly angry slippers, but you know every night what you're going to get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-morgan/bill-o-reilly-is-like-a-comfortable-pair-of-shimmeringly-angry/) [Piers Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-morgan/) > [I really like being home. I like being comfortable, and I'm not a very dramatic person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-really-like-being-home-i-like-being-comfortable-and-i-m-not-a-very/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [A poor idea well written is more likely to be accepted than a good idea poorly written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac/a-poor-idea-well-written-is-more-likely-to-be-accepted-than-a-good/) [Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac/) > [“Personally, I believe it's a poor idea to tell a seven-year-old girl that God's tremendous plan is to incinerate her lungs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/personally-i-believe-it-s-a-poor-idea-to-tell-a-seven-year-old-girl/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [“personally I think mattering is a piss-poor idea. I just want to fly under the radar, because when you start to make yourself into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/personally-i-think-mattering-is-a-piss-poor-idea-i-just-want-to-fly/) [john green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I like to be comfortable but I also like to look put together all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-like-to-be-comfortable-but-i-also-like-to-look-put-together-all-the/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [In my day-to-day life, I'm kind of a tomboy. I like being comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-dobrev/in-my-day-to-day-life-i-m-kind-of-a-tomboy-i-like-being-comfortable/) [Nina Dobrev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-dobrev/) > [“Dream about things that envelop your being like a comfortable blanket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/dream-about-things-that-envelop-your-being-like-a-comfortable-blanket/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [I am still comfortable with my body, because I'm like, What's not to be comfortable with? I mean, it's just my nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-am-still-comfortable-with-my-body-because-i-m-like-what-s-not-to-be/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [I like to be comfortable, and don't like to be cold, and I don't like to wear anything I'm not in the mood for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-bilson/i-like-to-be-comfortable-and-don-t-like-to-be-cold-and-i-don-t-like/) [Rachel Bilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-bilson/) > [I guess my style’s a little edgy but comfortable. I like being comfortable, for sure, and kind of casual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendall-jenner/i-guess-my-style-s-a-little-edgy-but-comfortable-i-like-being/) [Kendall Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendall-jenner/) > [If I like it and I'm comfortable and confident in it, then I'm wearing it. It's that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/if-i-like-it-and-i-m-comfortable-and-confident-in-it-then-i-m-wearing/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I like to be comfortable. Luckily for me, I'm completely comfortable in six-inch heels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-like-to-be-comfortable-luckily-for-me-i-m-completely-comfortable-in/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [I like to be comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-like-to-be-comfortable/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) ## More by Zoe Leonard > [I was really poor for most of my adult life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-was-really-poor-for-most-of-my-adult-life/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [I really loved music and went to a lot of clubs to see bands and dance. I loved going out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-really-loved-music-and-went-to-a-lot-of-clubs-to-see-bands-and/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [Progress is always an exchange. We gain something, we give something else up. I'm interested in looking at some of what we are losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/progress-is-always-an-exchange-we-gain-something-we-give-something/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [There's a desire for me in the work, even when I'm looking at the past, to be looking from the present. It's to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/there-s-a-desire-for-me-in-the-work-even-when-i-m-looking-at-the-past/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [I don't quite understand how a generation and a half after the Second World War we've gotten where we are now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-don-t-quite-understand-how-a-generation-and-a-half-after-the-second/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [I choose to work behind the camera. And I kind of want to make the work and then run away. The presentation of myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-choose-to-work-behind-the-camera-and-i-kind-of-want-to-make-the/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [I'm in all of my work, and there's nowhere to hide when you make work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-m-in-all-of-my-work-and-there-s-nowhere-to-hide-when-you-make-work/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [I grew up in Harlem, but I moved to the Lower East Side when I was a teenager and it was ... I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-grew-up-in-harlem-but-i-moved-to-the-lower-east-side-when-i-was-a/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [After the First World War, it was, like, let's form the League of Nations, we have to learn to work together. It's the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/after-the-first-world-war-it-was-like-let-s-form-the-league-of/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [By nature, I'm a little distractible. I get very overwhelmed by the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/by-nature-i-m-a-little-distractible-i-get-very-overwhelmed-by-the/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [Photographers talk about their shoot ratio. Like four to one, six to one, ten to one! Whatever, I'm, like, seven billion to one. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/photographers-talk-about-their-shoot-ratio-like-four-to-one-six-to/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [Something about photography is tied to a very specific relationship with the material world. It doesn't have to be, but the way I practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/something-about-photography-is-tied-to-a-very-specific-relationship/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [What attracts me in photography is not so much a fine arts approach, but rather photographs as documents... All the ways in which human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/what-attracts-me-in-photography-is-not-so-much-a-fine-arts-approach/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [I'm always learning. I can't imagine doing anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-m-always-learning-i-can-t-imagine-doing-anything-else/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [Making work for me is being in the world, but it's also being specific about being in the world. I'm interested in this increasingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/making-work-for-me-is-being-in-the-world-but-it-s-also-being-specific/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) [Explore all 32 Zoe Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) ## More Comfortable quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [How much more comfortable it is to say 'Yes, and...' than 'Yes, but...'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-fagg/how-much-more-comfortable-it-is-to-say-yes-and-than-yes-but/) [Lawrence Fagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-fagg/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [I am comfortable talking about sex scenes and stuff, but to me, when it's physically explicit, I do feel prudish and uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-am-comfortable-talking-about-sex-scenes-and-stuff-but-to-me-when-it/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [There's always gonna be people with a lot of money making film, and the goal is to make profit and carry on. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-howard/there-s-always-gonna-be-people-with-a-lot-of-money-making-film-and/) [Clint Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-howard/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [It's like my second home, 'It.' And I would like to return to it, because I feel very comfortable with it, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/it-s-like-my-second-home-it-and-i-would-like-to-return-to-it-because/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [I was a bit overweight as a teenager, which may be why I'm more comfortable playing with clothes than showing my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orla-brady/i-was-a-bit-overweight-as-a-teenager-which-may-be-why-i-m-more/) [Orla Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orla-brady/) > [When you're comfortable with someone you love, the silence is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/when-you-re-comfortable-with-someone-you-love-the-silence-is-the-best/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [Our families and our homes are the center of American life, Everything we do is to make those homes-and the lives in them-more beautiful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/our-families-and-our-homes-are-the-center-of-american-life-everything/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [You build the bonds through the community and police force, build bonds of understanding, and then when people feel comfortable in their communities, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/you-build-the-bonds-through-the-community-and-police-force-build/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) [Browse all 4,560 Comfortable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd grown up poor; I had no idea what it was like to be comfortable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zoe Leonard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it-was-like-to-be-comfortable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comfortable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it-was-like-to-be-comfortable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/zoe-leonard-19708_comfortable_i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it_3000249.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/zoe-leonard-19708_comfortable_i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it_3000249.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/zoe-leonard-19708_comfortable_i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it_3000249.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd grown up poor; I had no idea what it was like to be comfortable.” — Zoe Leonard", "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": "Zoe Leonard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd grown up poor; I had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it-was-like-to-be-comfortable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-d-grown-up-poor-i-had-no-idea-what-it-was-like-to-be-comfortable/#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 } } ] } ```