--- title: "10 Me Quotes By John Ridley" description: "10 Me quotes by John Ridley. Plus more from John Ridley and more Me sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/john-ridley-4100_capacity_i-don-t-want-an-underachiever-working-on_2407095.jpg" --- > [I don't want an underachiever working on my car's transmission. Why would I want someone regular sitting in the Oval Office? Sorry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-don-t-want-an-underachiever-working-on-my-car-s-transmission-why/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/john-ridley-4100_capacity_i-don-t-want-an-underachiever-working-on_2407095.jpg) > [Bigots are actually funny to me in the way that people who still wear parachute pants give me a chuckle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/bigots-are-actually-funny-to-me-in-the-way-that-people-who-still-wear/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/john-ridley-4100_actually_bigots-are-actually-funny-to-me-in-the-w_1974361.jpg) > [I don't know what's hipper: to Facebook or to Twitter. I just know for me, personally, discretion never went out of style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-don-t-know-what-s-hipper-to-facebook-or-to-twitter-i-just-know-for/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/john-ridley-4100_discretion_i-don-t-know-what-s-hipper-to-facebook-o_1745633.jpg) > [I'm John the Fourth, so I think there's a lot of things in life that have been truly handed to me by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-m-john-the-fourth-so-i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-things-in-life-that/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/john-ridley-4100_been_i-m-john-the-fourth-so-i-think-there-s-a_2696455.jpg) > [Certainly as a kid, I grew up with Batman, Superman, whoever - they didn't need to be black for me to relate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/certainly-as-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-batman-superman-whoever-they-didn-t/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/john-ridley-4100_along_certainly-as-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-batman_659784.jpg) > [I don't think I'm alarmist. I'm more disappointed by the euphemisms in some instances than outright bigotry. Now, to me, you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-don-t-think-i-m-alarmist-i-m-more-disappointed-by-the-euphemisms-in/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/john-ridley-4100_arm_i-don-t-think-i-m-alarmist-i-m-more-disa_2713924.jpg) > [In every election cycle that I can recall, there comes a moment - or a few - where charges of elitism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/in-every-election-cycle-that-i-can-recall-there-comes-a-moment-or-a/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/john-ridley-4100_candidates_in-every-election-cycle-that-i-can-recal_1403986.jpg) > [As a coping mechanism, or as a way to make a little hard count by shilling demons in the shadows, I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/as-a-coping-mechanism-or-as-a-way-to-make-a-little-hard-count-by/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/john-ridley-4100_anybody_as-a-coping-mechanism-or-as-a-way-to-mak_2675851.jpg) > [I still have my first 'Black Lightning' that I got way back in the day, and my first 'Steel.' And I proudly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-still-have-my-first-black-lightning-that-i-got-way-back-in-the-day/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-ridley-4100_among_i-still-have-my-first-black-lightning-th_372456.jpg) > [I got a call saying that George Lucas wanted to meet me. Of all the phone calls I've received - Oliver Stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-got-a-call-saying-that-george-lucas-wanted-to-meet-me-of-all-the/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/john-ridley-4100_call_i-got-a-call-saying-that-george-lucas-wa_837860.jpg) ## Other authors on Me ## More by John Ridley > [The hypocrisy and false piety of the deniers aside, the relationships of gays have no effect on heteros. Especially all the heteros who've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/the-hypocrisy-and-false-piety-of-the-deniers-aside-the-relationships/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [While most trudge through their days straight-jacketed in the social compact, living for others as much as or more than for themselves, a select…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/while-most-trudge-through-their-days-straight-jacketed-in-the-social/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Why is it that the very people who have fought so hard and so long for the simple entitlement to love whom they choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/why-is-it-that-the-very-people-who-have-fought-so-hard-and-so-long/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [There are any number of very hard working people in Hollywood who deserve recognition. Mostly its the artisans and crafts persons - the 'below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/there-are-any-number-of-very-hard-working-people-in-hollywood-who/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [For children, diversity needs to be real and not merely relegated to learning the names of the usual suspects during Black History Month or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/for-children-diversity-needs-to-be-real-and-not-merely-relegated-to/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Conservative talkers love to throw numbers around: their ratings and their audience size. And to be sure, they have a sizable audience which numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/conservative-talkers-love-to-throw-numbers-around-their-ratings-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Just mention the idea of warrantless wiretaps and expect to get hit up with a congressional investigation. But give somebody an avatar and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/just-mention-the-idea-of-warrantless-wiretaps-and-expect-to-get-hit/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [As long as we remain committed to holding high our individuals of supreme finish, others will be inspired to loose themselves of the gravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/as-long-as-we-remain-committed-to-holding-high-our-individuals-of/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [When people come in the door and they have something, discovering and exploring the character is a real joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/when-people-come-in-the-door-and-they-have-something-discovering-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Fact is, awards shows were never really about recognizing achievement. They were a publicity ploy cooked up in the late 1920s by MGM topper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/fact-is-awards-shows-were-never-really-about-recognizing-achievement/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I love graphic novels - I love reading them, I enjoyed writing them, I would love to go back and do them again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-love-graphic-novels-i-love-reading-them-i-enjoyed-writing-them-i/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [So, is Hollywood anti-religion? Not in my opinion. But unlike, say, politicians and preachers who talk faith before going off to speak in tongues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/so-is-hollywood-anti-religion-not-in-my-opinion-but-unlike-say/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I didn't know I was a good director, and I mean that sincerely. I had done a film a long time ago called 'Cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-didn-t-know-i-was-a-good-director-and-i-mean-that-sincerely-i-had/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtue-of-his-being-barack-obama/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/john-ridley/#itemlist", "name": "10 Me Quotes By John Ridley", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't want an underachiever working on my car's transmission. Why would I want someone regular sitting in the Oval Office? Sorry, give me somebody who has demonstrated a capacity to excel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-don-t-want-an-underachiever-working-on-my-car-s-transmission-why/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/john-ridley-4100_capacity_i-don-t-want-an-underachiever-working-on_2407095.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/john-ridley-4100_capacity_i-don-t-want-an-underachiever-working-on_2407095.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/john-ridley-4100_capacity_i-don-t-want-an-underachiever-working-on_2407095.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't want an underachiever working on my car's transmission. Why would I want someone regular sitting in…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bigots are actually funny to me in the way that people who still wear parachute pants give me a chuckle.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/bigots-are-actually-funny-to-me-in-the-way-that-people-who-still-wear/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/john-ridley-4100_actually_bigots-are-actually-funny-to-me-in-the-w_1974361.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/john-ridley-4100_actually_bigots-are-actually-funny-to-me-in-the-w_1974361.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/john-ridley-4100_actually_bigots-are-actually-funny-to-me-in-the-w_1974361.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bigots are actually funny to me in the way that people who still wear parachute pants give me a chuckle.” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know what's hipper: to Facebook or to Twitter. I just know for me, personally, discretion never went out of style.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-don-t-know-what-s-hipper-to-facebook-or-to-twitter-i-just-know-for/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/john-ridley-4100_discretion_i-don-t-know-what-s-hipper-to-facebook-o_1745633.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/john-ridley-4100_discretion_i-don-t-know-what-s-hipper-to-facebook-o_1745633.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/john-ridley-4100_discretion_i-don-t-know-what-s-hipper-to-facebook-o_1745633.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't know what's hipper: to Facebook or to Twitter. I just know for me, personally, discretion never went…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm John the Fourth, so I think there's a lot of things in life that have been truly handed to me by the hard work and the pain of others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-m-john-the-fourth-so-i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-things-in-life-that/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/john-ridley-4100_been_i-m-john-the-fourth-so-i-think-there-s-a_2696455.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/john-ridley-4100_been_i-m-john-the-fourth-so-i-think-there-s-a_2696455.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/john-ridley-4100_been_i-m-john-the-fourth-so-i-think-there-s-a_2696455.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm John the Fourth, so I think there's a lot of things in life that have been truly handed to me by the…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Certainly as a kid, I grew up with Batman, Superman, whoever - they didn't need to be black for me to relate to them. But when a character like Cyborg came along, I got excited, because he looked a little bit more like me; his experiences were a little bit more like mine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/certainly-as-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-batman-superman-whoever-they-didn-t/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/john-ridley-4100_along_certainly-as-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-batman_659784.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/john-ridley-4100_along_certainly-as-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-batman_659784.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/john-ridley-4100_along_certainly-as-a-kid-i-grew-up-with-batman_659784.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Certainly as a kid, I grew up with Batman, Superman, whoever - they didn't need to be black for me to relate…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I'm alarmist. I'm more disappointed by the euphemisms in some instances than outright bigotry. Now, to me, you walk around with a Klan hat on or you've got a swastika on you arm, you just look like a dope, you know what I mean?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-don-t-think-i-m-alarmist-i-m-more-disappointed-by-the-euphemisms-in/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/john-ridley-4100_arm_i-don-t-think-i-m-alarmist-i-m-more-disa_2713924.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/john-ridley-4100_arm_i-don-t-think-i-m-alarmist-i-m-more-disa_2713924.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/john-ridley-4100_arm_i-don-t-think-i-m-alarmist-i-m-more-disa_2713924.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think I'm alarmist. I'm more disappointed by the euphemisms in some instances than outright bigotry…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In every election cycle that I can recall, there comes a moment - or a few - where charges of elitism and claims of commonness are wielded by presidential candidates like a sword and shield: 'Vote for me 'cause I'm one of you. It's the other guy who's out of touch.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/in-every-election-cycle-that-i-can-recall-there-comes-a-moment-or-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/john-ridley-4100_candidates_in-every-election-cycle-that-i-can-recal_1403986.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/john-ridley-4100_candidates_in-every-election-cycle-that-i-can-recal_1403986.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/john-ridley-4100_candidates_in-every-election-cycle-that-i-can-recal_1403986.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In every election cycle that I can recall, there comes a moment - or a few - where charges of elitism and…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a coping mechanism, or as a way to make a little hard count by shilling demons in the shadows, I try not to belittle the thought process of the conspiracy theorists. As a cocktail waitress in Vegas once schooled me: never get down on anybody else's hustle.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/as-a-coping-mechanism-or-as-a-way-to-make-a-little-hard-count-by/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/john-ridley-4100_anybody_as-a-coping-mechanism-or-as-a-way-to-mak_2675851.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/john-ridley-4100_anybody_as-a-coping-mechanism-or-as-a-way-to-mak_2675851.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/john-ridley-4100_anybody_as-a-coping-mechanism-or-as-a-way-to-mak_2675851.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a coping mechanism, or as a way to make a little hard count by shilling demons in the shadows, I try not…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I still have my first 'Black Lightning' that I got way back in the day, and my first 'Steel.' And I proudly display those comics, by the way. I have a lot of comics, but those are among the ones that mean the most to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-still-have-my-first-black-lightning-that-i-got-way-back-in-the-day/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-ridley-4100_among_i-still-have-my-first-black-lightning-th_372456.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-ridley-4100_among_i-still-have-my-first-black-lightning-th_372456.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/john-ridley-4100_among_i-still-have-my-first-black-lightning-th_372456.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I still have my first 'Black Lightning' that I got way back in the day, and my first 'Steel.' And I proudly…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got a call saying that George Lucas wanted to meet me. Of all the phone calls I've received - Oliver Stone wants to meet you; Spike Lee wants to meet you - that was the one call I never in a million years thought was going to happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-got-a-call-saying-that-george-lucas-wanted-to-meet-me-of-all-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/john-ridley-4100_call_i-got-a-call-saying-that-george-lucas-wa_837860.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/john-ridley-4100_call_i-got-a-call-saying-that-george-lucas-wa_837860.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/john-ridley-4100_call_i-got-a-call-saying-that-george-lucas-wa_837860.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I got a call saying that George Lucas wanted to meet me. Of all the phone calls I've received - Oliver Stone…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/john-ridley/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/john-ridley/", "name": "Me Quotes by John Ridley", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/john-ridley/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/john-ridley-4100_capacity_i-don-t-want-an-underachiever-working-on_2407095.jpg" }, "description": "10 Me quotes by John Ridley. Plus more from John Ridley and more Me sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/john-ridley/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/john-ridley/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Me", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "John Ridley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/john-ridley/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```