Eartha Kitt Quotes

We in New York were very poor in the depths of the Depression - but I must say, that was the best time of my life.

I remember back in the days my Mom didn't have enough for Thanksgiving.

You look back and see how hard you worked and how poor you were, and how desperately anxious you were to succeed, and all you can remember is how happy you were.

When I look back I can't believe how my parents managed, but the cliche is true. We didn't have money, but we were rich in so many other ways.

When I was very small, the electricity was turned off because we didn't pay the bill. I remember sitting by the oil lamp listening to my mother playing 'Careless Love' on the piano.

We were very poor, and I entered a talent contest as a young teenager because if you entered, even if you didn't win, they gave you a free blouse.

We were poor, but we didn't know it. There were no government bureaus in those days presuming to determine where poorness begins and ends, but I don't remember ever being hungry.

My mom and dad always tried to make Christmas special for us. We were poor, but it's funny because we had no idea.

We were rather poor, but we always had what we needed.

We couldn't afford anything. Suitcase, clothes, everything, Barellan people bought for me.

Having grown up a trailer park kid on welfare and food stamps, becoming jaded is impossible, although now I make a good living, which I'm not ashamed of; when you've been poor, it never leaves you.

Every time I go home, I look around, and it feels surreal. Like, I'm not living out of my car anymore, I don't have to ask people for money.

Our house was repossessed and we lived in a B&B until we got a council house. It was a struggle, but Mum just got her head down, found cleaning jobs and never complained. I owe her a lot, so I now do everything she says.

I'll never forget where I come from. Especially my humble beginnings.

When you start off broke - and we weren't broke, we were negative broke - you never forget that. You stay appreciative.

We barely had lights, but my mom always made sure we had food on the table and somewhere to sleep.

I didn't have much but my mum and grandma gave me as much as they could, but we weren't a rich family and we had to work hard for what we got.

We grew up probably having as hard a life as anybody. A lot of times, we didn't have any food on the table. At Christmas, everybody else would always get something nice, but we'd get one T-shirt or one shirt... So I want to take care of Mom and Dad... and I'm having a damn good time doing it.

I was just a kid. I had nothing to my name but I was still happy. But I was also given a chance to pursue my dreams, have an education.

I never felt poor. Our family euphemism was that we were broke, which I think psychologically gave you a different feeling. There were people far worse than we were.

There is nothing remotely dignified about sorting through rotting trash to find something to feed your child, or asking someone for money because you have none (anyone who has contrived to give people money before they had to ask will never forget the look of gratitude in their eyes).

I've found out that money is the most important thing in the world and, as God is my witness, I don't ever intend to be without it again. I'll never be hungry again.

My late father used to say that they started out without two nickles to rub together and lived in that little house in Everroad Park West.

Me, Polly Garter, under the washing line, giving the breast in the garden to my bonny new baby. Nothing grows in our garden, only washing. And babies. And where's their fathers live, my love? Over the hills and far away. You're looking up at me now. I know what you're thinking, you poor little milky creature. You're thinking, you're no better than you should be, Polly, and that's good enough for me. Oh, isn't life a terrible thing, thank God?

Poor is a state of mind. Broke is, 'I'm just passing through.'