--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my mind, I was never going to have the…" description: "\"In my mind, I was never going to have the things I wanted if I played music for a living, unless I became a rock star.\" — Aldous Harding" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/aldous-harding-9163_life_in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the_838943.jpg" --- # In my mind, I was never going to have the things I wanted… ![“In my mind, I was never going to have the things I wanted if I played music for a living, unless I became a rock star.” quote by Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/aldous-harding-9163_life_in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the_838943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/aldous-harding-9163_life_in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the_838943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/aldous-harding-9163_life_in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the_838943.jpg) > “In my mind, I was never going to have the things I wanted if I played music for a living, unless I became a rock star.” [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She believed that a music career would only succeed if she achieved superstar status, limiting her aspirations. **In simple terms:** She thought only rock star fame would make music worthwhile. Key Takeaway Accept modest goals and value the craft itself. Themes self‑doubt career artistic ambition Mood anxious reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - performing - teaching music - collaborating with others Key Concepts identity success expectations risk aversion Questions to Reflect On - What would you create if fame weren’t the goal? - How does fear of failure shape your choices? A Different Perspective Success can be defined beyond fame; personal fulfillment matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Living Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-unless-370542/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-living-624831/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Played Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-music/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rock star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-star/) [Unless Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-rock-624830/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't be Loud… Unless it's Rock!!!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blah-blah-and-blah/don-t-be-loud-unless-it-s-rock/) [Blah Blah and Blah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blah-blah-and-blah/) > [“I can change nearly everything about myself. I can run from my children and trade in my spouse, move to another country and raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/i-can-change-nearly-everything-about-myself-i-can-run-from-my/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/there-is-nothing-worth-living-for-unless-it-is-worth-dying-for/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [I do not think I could go on living unless I felt that one day I might win the Open Championship at St. Andrews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-crenshaw/i-do-not-think-i-could-go-on-living-unless-i-felt-that-one-day-i/) [Ben Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-crenshaw/) > [“Life is not worth living unless you live it for the One who gave you life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-vonderluft/life-is-not-worth-living-unless-you-live-it-for-the-one-who-gave-you/) [Anya vonderLuft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-vonderluft/) > [“Life isn’t worth living, unless you have someone worth dying for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ting/life-isn-t-worth-living-unless-you-have-someone-worth-dying-for/) [Mary Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ting/) > [Life isn't worth living unless you're willing to take some big chances and go for broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-wigginton/life-isn-t-worth-living-unless-you-re-willing-to-take-some-big/) [Eliot Wigginton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-wigginton/) > [Life isn't worth living, unless it is lived for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/life-isn-t-worth-living-unless-it-is-lived-for-someone-else/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“You ain't living unless your living high”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lazaro-cesar-ruiz-sr/you-ain-t-living-unless-your-living-high/) [Lazaro Cesar Ruiz Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lazaro-cesar-ruiz-sr/) > [Life is not worth living unless it is lived for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/life-is-not-worth-living-unless-it-is-lived-for-others/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I'm a vulnerable guy, which is always been there, you know? Like, most of the time I put myself in positions where I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/i-m-a-vulnerable-guy-which-is-always-been-there-you-know-like-most-of/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [You just have to love yourself and live and die with the passion of the music. I walk around happy as hell because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-garrett/you-just-have-to-love-yourself-and-live-and-die-with-the-passion-of/) [Sean Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-garrett/) > [...music is the living God in our bosoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/music-is-the-living-god-in-our-bosoms/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [We're musicians. We make music for a living. It's that simple. Nothing else matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/we-re-musicians-we-make-music-for-a-living-it-s-that-simple-nothing/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [“Art, specifically music, is a living thing,” he says. “It isn’t just absorbed by the people who hear it, but it absorbs them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/art-specifically-music-is-a-living-thing-he-says-it-isn-t-just/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) ## More by Aldous Harding > [So, when I was eight or nine my mom's friend gave her a big purple bag full of cassettes and I found Seals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/so-when-i-was-eight-or-nine-my-mom-s-friend-gave-her-a-big-purple-bag/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I like 'The Simpsons' like everybody else. But yeah - people think I'll always be super intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-like-the-simpsons-like-everybody-else-but-yeah-people-think-i-ll/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [Designer' is meant to mean whatever it means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/designer-is-meant-to-mean-whatever-it-means/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I'm focused on my future. I'm ignoring my past, apart from the bits that I draw from to help me focus on my future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-m-focused-on-my-future-i-m-ignoring-my-past-apart-from-the-bits/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I write songs for the same reasons most artists write songs -because I have to, whatever that means. Because I want to talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-write-songs-for-the-same-reasons-most-artists-write-songs-because-i/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [We all want the same thing, love and acceptance. That's pretty much it. And what I've learned is that unless I'm happy with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/we-all-want-the-same-thing-love-and-acceptance-that-s-pretty-much-it/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I definitely have a stage persona. I don't walk around scowling at people too often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-definitely-have-a-stage-persona-i-don-t-walk-around-scowling-at/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I don't really like to talk about what my songs are about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-don-t-really-like-to-talk-about-what-my-songs-are-about/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [You know, we've had some pretty rough festival stages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/you-know-we-ve-had-some-pretty-rough-festival-stages/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I've got a bad rap for not being more charismatic between songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-ve-got-a-bad-rap-for-not-being-more-charismatic-between-songs/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [There are very few things in the world that make me feel a feeling, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/there-are-very-few-things-in-the-world-that-make-me-feel-a-feeling/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I don't really remember a lot of my childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-don-t-really-remember-a-lot-of-my-childhood/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I'm definitely not above wanting to be liked. Because, I mean, that feels less... lonely? But to be honest, because it was never my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-m-definitely-not-above-wanting-to-be-liked-because-i-mean-that/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [I think people are particularly interested to see who the real me is, but... different stories call for different approaches and you change based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-think-people-are-particularly-interested-to-see-who-the-real-me-is/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [As a kid I remember being frightened all of the time, and kind of sad. I was certainly troubled. But a lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/as-a-kid-i-remember-being-frightened-all-of-the-time-and-kind-of-sad/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) [Explore all 75 Aldous Harding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my mind, I was never going to have the things I wanted if I played music for a living, unless I became a rock star.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aldous Harding" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the-things-i-wanted-if-i-played/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the-things-i-wanted-if-i-played/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/aldous-harding-9163_life_in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the_838943.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/aldous-harding-9163_life_in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the_838943.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/aldous-harding-9163_life_in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the_838943.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my mind, I was never going to have the things I wanted if I played music for a living, unless I became a…” — Aldous Harding", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Aldous Harding", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In my mind, I was never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the-things-i-wanted-if-i-played/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/in-my-mind-i-was-never-going-to-have-the-things-i-wanted-if-i-played/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```