Skip to content

Actually, my ambition at eight or nine years old was to be…

“Actually, my ambition at eight or nine years old was to be one of Little Richard's sax players, and that's when I got my first saxophone, a Selmer. It was a strange Bakelite material - that creamy plastic with all the gold keys on it. I had to get a job as a butcher's delivery boy to start paying…” quote by David Bowie
Download Open image
“Actually, my ambition at eight or nine years old was to be one of Little Richard's sax players, and that's when I got my first saxophone, a Selmer. It was a strange Bakelite material - that creamy plastic with all the gold keys on it. I had to get a job as a butcher's delivery boy to start paying for it.”

David Bowie

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early ambition and hard work, even in humble jobs, can fund and inspire artistic dreams.

In simple terms: Hard work and early passion can fund artistic dreams.

Key Takeaway

Work hard, chase early passions.

Themes

ambition hard work artistic pursuit resourcefulness

Mood

reflective determined

Type

inspirational reflective

When to use this quote

  • learning an instrument
  • funding education
  • balancing work and art

Key Concepts

career development musical inspiration socio‑economic mobility

Questions to Reflect On

  • What sacrifices are you willing to make for your art?
  • How can you balance work and creative growth?
A Different Perspective

May romanticize struggle, ignoring systemic barriers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by David Bowie

Explore all 508 David Bowie quotes

More Ambition quotes

Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes