--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thinking back to those earlier days, I…" description: "\"Thinking back to those earlier days, I felt I was weak when I wasn't making movies, and then when I was, I thought I was weak as a family member.\" — An..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/ang-lee-2496_family_thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-fe_2507669.png" --- # Thinking back to those earlier days, I felt I was weak… ![“Thinking back to those earlier days, I felt I was weak when I wasn't making movies, and then when I was, I thought I was weak as a family member.” quote by Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/ang-lee-2496_family_thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-fe_2507669.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/ang-lee-2496_family_thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-fe_2507669.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/ang-lee-2496_family_thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-fe_2507669.png) > “Thinking back to those earlier days, I felt I was weak when I wasn't making movies, and then when I was, I thought I was weak as a family member.” [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on feeling inadequate both when not creating films and when succeeding, revealing an inner conflict between professional identity and family roles. **In simple terms:** He felt weak both when not making movies and when he was, fearing he was neglecting family. Key Takeaway Balance professional ambition with family commitments. Themes self‑doubt work‑life balance identity Mood introspective thoughtful Type personal professional When to use this quote - career planning - family time management - creative projects Key Concepts impostor syndrome family expectations Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success without compromising family? - What boundaries help maintain healthy work‑life balance? A Different Perspective Success can create new pressures and expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-members/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-weak-509734/) [Making movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-movies/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-weak-539436/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [Weak Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-family-1125383/) [Weak Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-wasn-1125384/) ## Related quotes > [“And “weak” wasn’t really the right word for what Shade meant. What he was trying to say was harder to express. It was giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/and-weak-wasn-t-really-the-right-word-for-what-shade-meant-what-he/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) > [I think the simplest way to put it is to say that Donald continues to need to prove to his father that he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/i-think-the-simplest-way-to-put-it-is-to-say-that-donald-continues-to/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [I was too weak to walk. At least, I thought I was too weak. But in truth, I was too weak to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/i-was-too-weak-to-walk-at-least-i-thought-i-was-too-weak-but-in-truth/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [When a thought is too weak to be expressed simply, it should be rejected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/when-a-thought-is-too-weak-to-be-expressed-simply-it-should-be/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [“The thing most feared in secret always happens… All it needs is a little courage. The more the pain grows clear and definite, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/the-thing-most-feared-in-secret-always-happens-all-it-needs-is-a/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [“For many people, changing course is also a sign of weakness, tantamount to admitting that you don’t know what you are doing. This strikes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/for-many-people-changing-course-is-also-a-sign-of-weakness-tantamount/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“You don’t owe me anything. But I need you to know I didn’t show up because I thought you were weak. I came because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-newlan/you-don-t-owe-me-anything-but-i-need-you-to-know-i-didn-t-show-up/) [Tricia Newlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-newlan/) > [When a thought is too weak to be expressed simply, it is a proof that it should be rejected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-thought-is-too-weak-to-be-expressed-simply-it-is-a-proof-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought I was weak and couldn't be on my own. But actually, I can do it; I just need to be a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-atack/i-thought-i-was-weak-and-couldn-t-be-on-my-own-but-actually-i-can-do/) [Emily Atack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-atack/) > [“He'd thought all weak men were sissies, and maybe they were, but Paul had shown him that not all sissies were weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-black/he-d-thought-all-weak-men-were-sissies-and-maybe-they-were-but-paul/) [Daniel Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-black/) > [I had never really co-written. I thought it was weak or something if I needed to collaborate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mckee/i-had-never-really-co-written-i-thought-it-was-weak-or-something-if-i/) [Bonnie McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mckee/) > [When I was sixteen or seventeen, I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to be a playwright. But everything I wrote, I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/when-i-was-sixteen-or-seventeen-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-i-wanted-to/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [When thought is too weak to be simply expressed, it's clear proof that it should be rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vauvenargues-marquis-de/when-thought-is-too-weak-to-be-simply-expressed-it-s-clear-proof-that/) [Vauvenargues Marquis De](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vauvenargues-marquis-de/) > [When you see me you act like you never said what u said when I was not around and act all innocent but am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-see-me-you-act-like-you-never-said-what-u-said-when-i-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For the first time I could remember, I felt weak, woozy and stupid— like a human-being. Like a very small and helpless human-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/for-the-first-time-i-could-remember-i-felt-weak-woozy-and-stupid-like/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) ## More by Ang Lee > [When I'm not working, I get very down, but when I am working, I get very immersed in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/when-i-m-not-working-i-get-very-down-but-when-i-am-working-i-get-very/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I am not particularly religious. But I think we do face the question of where God is, why we are created and where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-am-not-particularly-religious-but-i-think-we-do-face-the-question/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I'm not a romantic. In life I didn't have much experience with romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-m-not-a-romantic-in-life-i-didn-t-have-much-experience-with-romance/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [When I see something I like, that's all that counts. What they use, how they get there, I never bother them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/when-i-see-something-i-like-that-s-all-that-counts-what-they-use-how/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [Mostly it's like, I get inspired by something and I want to learn that part of filmmaking, I want to delve into that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/mostly-it-s-like-i-get-inspired-by-something-and-i-want-to-learn-that/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [Film study was considered disgraceful by my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/film-study-was-considered-disgraceful-by-my-father/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I hope people don't compare 2D and 3D because 3D's new, it's unfair to compare to 2D which is really sophisticated, even when we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-hope-people-don-t-compare-2d-and-3d-because-3d-s-new-it-s-unfair-to/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [On a Chinese film you just give orders, no one questions you. Here, you have to convince people, you have to tell them why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/on-a-chinese-film-you-just-give-orders-no-one-questions-you-here-you/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I had to test a new terror in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-had-to-test-a-new-terror-in-myself/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [My cultural roots are something illusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/my-cultural-roots-are-something-illusive/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [Kids don't even read comic books anymore. They've got more important things to do - like video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/kids-don-t-even-read-comic-books-anymore-they-ve-got-more-important/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I don't care about writing really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-don-t-care-about-writing-really/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I don't have incredible knowledge about films or of filmmaking history; I'm not that kind of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-don-t-have-incredible-knowledge-about-films-or-of-filmmaking/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [I don't think the Hulk is a superhero. He's the first Marvel character who is a tragic monster. Really an anti-hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/i-don-t-think-the-hulk-is-a-superhero-he-s-the-first-marvel-character/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [A lot of people will think I changed the book: ‘so you’re the tiger instead, you’re the tiger who ate the cook.’ That’d be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/a-lot-of-people-will-think-i-changed-the-book-so-you-re-the-tiger/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) [Explore all 163 Ang Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) [Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thinking back to those earlier days, I felt I was weak when I wasn't making movies, and then when I was, I thought I was weak as a family member.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ang Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-felt-i-was-weak-when-i-wasn-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Family" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-felt-i-was-weak-when-i-wasn-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/ang-lee-2496_family_thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-fe_2507669.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/ang-lee-2496_family_thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-fe_2507669.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/ang-lee-2496_family_thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-fe_2507669.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thinking back to those earlier days, I felt I was weak when I wasn't making movies, and then when I was, I…” — Ang Lee", "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": "Ang Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thinking back to those earlier days,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-felt-i-was-weak-when-i-wasn-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/thinking-back-to-those-earlier-days-i-felt-i-was-weak-when-i-wasn-t/#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 } } ] } ```