The greatest thing my dad taught me came from when I called him from a phone booth and said, 'Hungry. No bus token. Please. Out of options.' He said, 'Pfft, get a job.
Robert Downey, Jr.Read
I have a really interesting political point of view, and its not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here, but you cant go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out a liberal. You cant. I wouldnt wish that experience on anyone else, but it was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics every since.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Experiencing contrasting lifestyles can significantly shape one's perspective on politics and society.
In this quote, Robert Downey Jr. reflects on the profound impact that experiencing both wealth and incarceration had on his understanding of societal issues. He suggests that such extreme contrasts in lifestyle and circumstance lead to a deeper comprehension of politics, indicating that true awareness and empathy arise from personal experiences that challenge one's preconceived notions.
Themes
PoliticsExperienceUnderstandingWealthIncarcerationEducationPerspective
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about the disparity between the wealthy and the incarcerated in society.
More from Robert Downey, Jr.
All quotes →Growing up is something that you do your whole life. I want to always feel that I can be a kid if I want. Growing up has some negative connotations. Like, you're not supposed to roll around on the ground anymore. You're not supposed to make fun of yourself. You're not supposed to ride a bicycle. But I'm a Toys-R-Us kid.
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I always think part of success is being able to replicate results, taking what is interesting or viable about yourself as a professional person and seeing if you bring it into different situations with similar results.
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It's interesting when you're old enough to take a new, objective approach looking at your parents, frame them in a way where you are actually taking yourself out of the equation and just look at the things that are true about their life.
Robert Downey, Jr.Read
All I want, and I think all any parent with a semblance of a moral psychology wants, is for my kid to have his own experience, uninhibited.
Robert Downey, Jr.Read
I grew up with a lot of people whose whole prime mover was dad rage. I never really had it - it always seemed so empty. It always seemed to be masking something else, which was really their own lack of initiative.
Robert Downey, Jr.Read
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