Perhaps people, and kids especially, are spoiled today, because all the kids today have cars, it seems. When I was young you were lucky to have a bike.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that young people today have things much easier than when the speaker, James Cagney, was young. He explains that while many kids today have their own cars, when he was young, people were lucky to even have a simple bicycle. This implies that kids today are "spoiled" or have been given too many luxuries, compared to the more modest lifestyle the speaker experienced in his youth.
About James Cagney
James Cagney was an acclaimed American actor known for his energetic performances, distinctive voice, and deadpan comedy. He won an Oscar for his role in the musical Yankee Doodle Dandy and was known for playing tough guy roles in films like The Public Enemy and White Heat. Cagney was also an accomplished dancer who often incorporated dance into his acting.
More quotes from James Cagney
Perhaps people, and kids especially, are spoiled today, because all the kids today have cars, it seems. When I was young you were lucky to have a bike.
American actor and dancer (1899-1986)
My father was totally Irish, and so I went to Ireland once. I found it to be very much like New York, for it was a beautiful country, and both the women and men were good-looking.
American actor and dancer (1899-1986)
You know, the period of World War I and the Roaring Twenties were really just about the same as today. You worked, and you made a living if you could, and you tired to make the best of things. For an actor or a dancer, it was no different then than today. It was a struggle.
American actor and dancer (1899-1986)
I got a part as a chorus girl in a show called Every Sailor and I had fun doing it. Mother didn’t really approve of it, through.
American actor and dancer (1899-1986)
You dirty, double-crossing rat.
American actor and dancer (1899-1986)