QuoteProject
My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. When I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job, and our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
Jim Carrey
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's passions rather than settling for a 'safe' choice that may lead to regret.

In this quote, Jim Carrey reflects on the life lessons he learned from his father, who chose a conventional career over his true passion for comedy. Carrey suggests that choosing a safe route can lead to failure just as easily as taking risks, thus encouraging individuals to pursue what they genuinely love instead of conforming to expectations. His message is one of empowerment, highlighting that it is worth taking chances in life to fulfill one’s dreams.

Themes

RiskPassionFailureDreamsLife Choices

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about following your dreams.

More from Jim Carrey

Take a chance on faith - not religion, but faith. Not hope, but faith. I don’t believe in hope. Hope is a beggar. Hope walks through the fire. Faith leaps over it.
Jim CarreyRead
50 years: here's a time when you have to separate yourself from what other people expect of you, and do what you love. Because if you find yourself 50 years old and you aren't doing what you love, then what's the point?
Jim CarreyRead
Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up & turn toward the light & that makes them beautiful.
Jim CarreyRead
It was such a leap in my career when 'Truman Show' came along. It's always been a long process for me insofar as recognition goes, but that's OK because you appreciate it when it comes.
Jim CarreyRead
I wake up some mornings and sit and have my coffee and look out at my beautiful garden, and I go, 'Remember how good this is. Because you can lose it.'
Jim CarreyRead
When the first big paycheque with 'Dumb And Dumber' hit, I went: 'Gosh, I wonder if this will affect my performance. Will I do a take and think, was that worth $7 million?' But that never happened. If anything, it made me rebel against that thing when people who get rich start playing it safe.
Jim CarreyRead

Similar quotes

Some gems for the greatest of them all
Muhammad AliRead
Let us never give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day. Do not give in to pessimism and discouragement. We have the firm certainty that the Holy Spirit gives the Church with His mighty breath, the courage to persevere and also to seek new methods of evangelization, to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Pope FrancisRead
In order to build our nation, we must all exceed our own expectations.
Nelson MandelaRead
I used to believe, like many people who come from poor backgrounds, that it gave me an edge, but I think that's just something we have to tell ourselves to get by sometimes. I don't believe that anymore. Children of privilege can be just as talented and clever as anybody else.
Craig FergusonRead
Don't follow trends, start trends.
Frank CapraRead
I want to surf better tomorrow. I want to surf better in 10 years. When I'm 50 I want to be a better surfer than I am now - for me it's a lifelong journey.
Kelly SlaterRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.