--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I still think my whole career was…" description: "\"I still think my whole career was accidental. I didn't pursue it. I feel like I'm cheating sometimes.\" — Ben E. King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ben-e-king-14975_accidental_i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accide_3127569.png" --- # I still think my whole career was accidental. I didn't… ![“I still think my whole career was accidental. I didn't pursue it. I feel like I'm cheating sometimes.” quote by Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ben-e-king-14975_accidental_i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accide_3127569.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ben-e-king-14975_accidental_i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accide_3127569.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ben-e-king-14975_accidental_i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accide_3127569.png) > “I still think my whole career was accidental. I didn't pursue it. I feel like I'm cheating sometimes.” [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes his career path happened by chance, leading to feelings of unearned success. **In simple terms:** Career feels accidental and undeserved. Key Takeaway Own your achievements despite luck. Themes career identity selfdoubt Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - job interview - career planning - self‑assessment Key Concepts accidental success impostor syndrome Questions to Reflect On - Do you attribute achievements to skill or chance? - How can you reframe accidental success as earned? A Different Perspective Success often involves effort and skill, not just luck. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“While it was understandable to be afraid, and no one would expect you not to be, the worst thing you could do was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/while-it-was-understandable-to-be-afraid-and-no-one-would-expect-you/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“So he hadn’t kicked the guy out and he’d proceeded to have the worst sex of his life. And for the first time, he’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabeth-albert/so-he-hadn-t-kicked-the-guy-out-and-he-d-proceeded-to-have-the-worst/) [Annabeth Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabeth-albert/) > [River Song? Amy Pond? Hardly weak women. It's the exact opposite. You could accuse me of having a fetish for powerful, sexy women who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/river-song-amy-pond-hardly-weak-women-it-s-the-exact-opposite-you/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Writing a song is almost like cheating-writing because you don't have to finish your sentences, you don't have to use any punctuation, no one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirah/writing-a-song-is-almost-like-cheating-writing-because-you-don-t-have/) [Mirah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirah/) > [I told my wife, when I go up to the garage and I wash my Cobra, I feel like I'm cheating on her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/i-told-my-wife-when-i-go-up-to-the-garage-and-i-wash-my-cobra-i-feel/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [Maybe the best things about celebrity are the things like being able to get that seat on the plane that you wouldn't normally get,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/maybe-the-best-things-about-celebrity-are-the-things-like-being-able/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Having Ghost and Raekwon together on multiple tracks is almost like cheating because they fit so well together. Their chemistry is undeniable, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-younge/having-ghost-and-raekwon-together-on-multiple-tracks-is-almost-like/) [Adrian Younge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-younge/) > [I'd always enjoyed acting, but modeling was so time-consuming - and lucrative - that I didn't pursue it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-hall/i-d-always-enjoyed-acting-but-modeling-was-so-time-consuming-and/) [Jerry Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-hall/) > [I didn't pursue happiness at all. I've never pursued it. I wasn't brought up to pursue it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-didn-t-pursue-happiness-at-all-i-ve-never-pursued-it-i-wasn-t/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [We left the guns hidden in the car and tried walking into the polling place again, and the mob blocked us again. We didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medgar-evers/we-left-the-guns-hidden-in-the-car-and-tried-walking-into-the-polling/) [Medgar Evers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medgar-evers/) > [I didn't pursue acting to become famous. I was actually just trying to make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-chestnut/i-didn-t-pursue-acting-to-become-famous-i-was-actually-just-trying-to/) [Morris Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-chestnut/) > [“I'm at a bar with a woman! So there, you disgusting whore! And I'm going to take her back to our house and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristan-higgins/i-m-at-a-bar-with-a-woman-so-there-you-disgusting-whore-and-i-m-going/) [Kristan Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristan-higgins/) > [“I’m notoriously married to my job.” “That’s super convenient because so am I. It’ll be like we’re cheating on our jobs with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-lauren/i-m-notoriously-married-to-my-job-that-s-super-convenient-because-so/) [Christina Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-lauren/) > [“What was she going to do with two Drustans? A kinky part of her proposed something unmentionable and rather fascinating. Really, if they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/what-was-she-going-to-do-with-two-drustans-a-kinky-part-of-her/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [I can't do a long distance relationship, I feel like you are over there cheating on me while I'm over here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawon-stewwert/i-can-t-do-a-long-distance-relationship-i-feel-like-you-are-over/) [Jawon Stewwert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawon-stewwert/) ## More by Ben E. King > [He was a manager, one of the singers, I guess talent coordinator for the local talent in Harlem. His name was Lover Patterson. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/he-was-a-manager-one-of-the-singers-i-guess-talent-coordinator-for/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [Many times I've gone on tours with Paul Anka. He would have someone sitting behind him to keep people from even talking to him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/many-times-i-ve-gone-on-tours-with-paul-anka-he-would-have-someone/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I think that the song, the song "Stand By Me" is one of those songs that... and someone asked me, what was you thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-think-that-the-song-the-song-stand-by-me-is-one-of-those-songs-that/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [Of course, the kids who had never heard of a person called Ben E. King were then aware of the name associated with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/of-course-the-kids-who-had-never-heard-of-a-person-called-ben-e-king/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I'm a songwriter. So I'm OK. But when I wrote "Stand By Me" as a song and to know that the song will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-m-a-songwriter-so-i-m-ok-but-when-i-wrote-stand-by-me-as-a-song-and/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [And, because there was an honesty about all that was going on. It connected with the people in the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/and-because-there-was-an-honesty-about-all-that-was-going-on-it/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I would imagine after the first recording session with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and Atlantic Records I began to realize that this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-would-imagine-after-the-first-recording-session-with-jerry-leiber/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I don't care what studio I'm in, I don't care what producers is producing it and I don't care what song it is because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-don-t-care-what-studio-i-m-in-i-don-t-care-what-producers-is/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall. Or the mountain should crumble to the sea. I won't cry, no I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/if-the-sky-that-we-look-upon-should-tumble-and-fall-or-the-mountain/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [Yeah. I've been pretty fortunate to travel I guess, all around the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/yeah-i-ve-been-pretty-fortunate-to-travel-i-guess-all-around-the-place/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [I do a lot of Vegas work and work with the comedians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-do-a-lot-of-vegas-work-and-work-with-the-comedians/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [It never dawned on me at any particular time of my life that people are paid tremendous money to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/it-never-dawned-on-me-at-any-particular-time-of-my-life-that-people/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [When we took on the name The Drifters, we became the new Drifters, and signed a contract to be put on salary, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/when-we-took-on-the-name-the-drifters-we-became-the-new-drifters-and/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [We were doing things with a hundred per cent feeling. It wasn't programmed. It wasn't asked for. It wasn't structured. It was just there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/we-were-doing-things-with-a-hundred-per-cent-feeling-it-wasn-t/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) > [The movie is actually from a book by Stephen King called The Body. When they were gonna put it to a motion picture, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/the-movie-is-actually-from-a-book-by-stephen-king-called-the-body/) [Ben E. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) [Explore all 44 Ben E. King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/) ## More Accidental quotes > [The attempted assassinations against me were not accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhmad-kadyrov/the-attempted-assassinations-against-me-were-not-accidental/) [Akhmad Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhmad-kadyrov/) > [“Accidental travel happens all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-w-cooper/accidental-travel-happens-all-the-time/) Loren W. Cooper > [Of your philosophy you makeno use If you give place to accidental evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-your-philosophy-you-makeno-use-if-you-give-place-to-accidental/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I'm kind of an accidental instrument, really, through which I hope that the judgment and the will of this nation can be expressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/i-m-kind-of-an-accidental-instrument-really-through-which-i-hope-that/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Im an accidental entrepreneur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-massenet/im-an-accidental-entrepreneur/) [Natalie Massenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-massenet/) > [Parties are organised happiness but happiness is accidental. You can't legislate for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-skinner/parties-are-organised-happiness-but-happiness-is-accidental-you-can-t/) [Dennis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-skinner/) > [“That's how life is: it provides these accidental answers. Or it seems to. You have to judge by results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-munson/that-s-how-life-is-it-provides-these-accidental-answers-or-it-seems/) Sam Munson > [My misdeeds are accidental happenings and merely the result of having been in the wrong bar or bed at the wrong time, say most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bernard/my-misdeeds-are-accidental-happenings-and-merely-the-result-of-having/) [Jeffrey Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bernard/) > [“You have a real gift for getting into trouble, don’t you? That was one thing I forgot when you left the pack.” “How is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/you-have-a-real-gift-for-getting-into-trouble-don-t-you-that-was-one/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I never thought I'd be acting. It's very accidental for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reeve-carney/i-never-thought-i-d-be-acting-it-s-very-accidental-for-me/) [Reeve Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reeve-carney/) > [Directing is my first love; turning an actor was rather accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dileesh-pothan/directing-is-my-first-love-turning-an-actor-was-rather-accidental/) [Dileesh Pothan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dileesh-pothan/) > [“In my life's chain of events nothing was accidental. Everything happened according to an inner need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-my-life-s-chain-of-events-nothing-was-accidental-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This accidental Meeting of possibilities Calls itself I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/this-accidental-meeting-of-possibilities-calls-itself-i/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [All my books are accidental books - they come from reacting to things and thinking about things and engaging in a real way. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/all-my-books-are-accidental-books-they-come-from-reacting-to-things/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Any planning that I have in my career is totally accidental really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/any-planning-that-i-have-in-my-career-is-totally-accidental-really/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) Browse all 101 Accidental quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I still think my whole career was accidental. I didn't pursue it. I feel like I'm cheating sometimes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben E. King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accidental-i-didn-t-pursue-it-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accidental" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accidental-i-didn-t-pursue-it-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ben-e-king-14975_accidental_i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accide_3127569.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ben-e-king-14975_accidental_i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accide_3127569.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ben-e-king-14975_accidental_i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accide_3127569.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I still think my whole career was accidental. I didn't pursue it. I feel like I'm cheating sometimes.” — Ben E. King", "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": "Ben E. King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-e-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I still think my whole career...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accidental-i-didn-t-pursue-it-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-e-king/i-still-think-my-whole-career-was-accidental-i-didn-t-pursue-it-i/#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 } } ] } ```