---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never really wanted to be a bad guy…"
description: "\"I never really wanted to be a bad guy. But I was more happy being a bad guy if I had to do what other people were doing to be good and be liked.\" — Bob..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/bob-backlund-6165_bad_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-bu_2466179.jpg"
---

#  I never really wanted to be a bad guy. But I was more…

![“I never really wanted to be a bad guy. But I was more happy being a bad guy if I had to do what other people were doing to be good and be liked.” quote by Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/bob-backlund-6165_bad_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-bu_2466179.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/bob-backlund-6165_bad_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-bu_2466179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/bob-backlund-6165_bad_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-bu_2466179.jpg)

> “I never really wanted to be a bad guy. But I was more happy being a bad guy if I had to do what other people were doing to be good and be liked.”

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

## About This Quote

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

People may act poorly to fit in, but authenticity is preferable.

**In simple terms:** Being true to yourself is better than conforming to bad behavior.

Key Takeaway

Choose integrity over peer pressure.

Themes

authenticity peer pressure morality

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

advice psychological

When to use this quote

- workplace culture
- friend groups
- social media
- team sports

Key Concepts

social conformity personal identity

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you compromised values for acceptance?
- How can you stay true while fitting in?

A Different Perspective

Social pressure can be powerful and hard to resist.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Guy Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy-happy-712681/) [Happy Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-bad-395097/) [Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm just somebody who tries to write things that entertain people. And if I can do it in a way that makes them prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-m-just-somebody-who-tries-to-write-things-that-entertain-people-and/)

[Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/)

> [“There's no happy ever after. I'm not a bad guy with a good heart, this is no fantasy. If you knew who I was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-finn/there-s-no-happy-ever-after-i-m-not-a-bad-guy-with-a-good-heart-this/)

[Scarlett Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-finn/)

> [You said to get out of your life and I did. You told me to find someone else to care and I did. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tani-graves/you-said-to-get-out-of-your-life-and-i-did-you-told-me-to-find/)

[Tani Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tani-graves/)

> [If a guy is happy to be in your 'friend zone', he's not in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-a-guy-is-happy-to-be-in-your-friend-zone-he-s-not-in-love-with-you/)

[Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

> [“If the other guy’s happy, then there’s still money left on the table.’ ” A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-lawson/if-the-other-guy-s-happy-then-there-s-still-money-left-on-the-table-a/)

[Guy Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-lawson/)

> [You don't want a guy to be happy he's not starting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-muschamp/you-don-t-want-a-guy-to-be-happy-he-s-not-starting/)

[Will Muschamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-muschamp/)

> [If a guy is happy being 'just friends' with you he's not in love with you because when a guy is in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-a-guy-is-happy-being-just-friends-with-you-he-s-not-in-love-with/)

[Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

> [I'm very happy. I'm a happy guy; I'm always happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-pablo-galavis/i-m-very-happy-i-m-a-happy-guy-i-m-always-happy/)

[Juan Pablo Galavis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-pablo-galavis/)

> [You are gonna make some guy so happy. I just hope whoever it is, he deserves a girl like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dirt/you-are-gonna-make-some-guy-so-happy-i-just-hope-whoever-it-is-he/)

[Joe Dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dirt/)

> [I always feel that it's great when you can be happy when you're by yourself. That's not a bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-pitney/i-always-feel-that-it-s-great-when-you-can-be-happy-when-you-re-by/)

[Gene Pitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-pitney/)

> [Here's to the kids who are scared of being happy because every time they're happy, something bad happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-s-to-the-kids-who-are-scared-of-being-happy-because-every-time/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think I'm afraid to be happy because whenever you do get too happy something bad always happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayma/i-think-i-m-afraid-to-be-happy-because-whenever-you-do-get-too-happy/)

[Mayma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayma/)

> [In all honesty I think that Im afraid of being happy. Because whenever I get too happy, something bad always happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/in-all-honesty-i-think-that-im-afraid-of-being-happy-because-whenever/)

[Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/)

> [I think that I'm afraid of being happy. Whenever you get too happy, something bad always happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luna-adriana-ardiansyah/i-think-that-i-m-afraid-of-being-happy-whenever-you-get-too-happy/)

[Luna Adriana Ardiansyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luna-adriana-ardiansyah/)

> [Being too happy is bad for you. 8 on 1 10-scale is just right. Eg. cancer patients are more likely to survive if they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-diener/being-too-happy-is-bad-for-you-8-on-1-10-scale-is-just-right-eg/)

[Ed Diener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-diener/)

## More by Bob Backlund

> [When you have a set program in your match it gets old to do the same thing over and over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/when-you-have-a-set-program-in-your-match-it-gets-old-to-do-the-same/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [My business was wrestling and I wanted to be ready to go in the ring and do my best and I didn't have time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/my-business-was-wrestling-and-i-wanted-to-be-ready-to-go-in-the-ring/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [Ken Patera was the strongest man in the world, but he was probably the most gentleman in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/ken-patera-was-the-strongest-man-in-the-world-but-he-was-probably-the/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [The people in the Republican Party and the Democrat Party, I don't think they realized how many people out there that were good, basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/the-people-in-the-republican-party-and-the-democrat-party-i-don-t/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [In '85, I read a book that helped me forget about the past and work on the future as far as success goes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/in-85-i-read-a-book-that-helped-me-forget-about-the-past-and-work-on/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I was one of those people who didn't care for the political arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-was-one-of-those-people-who-didn-t-care-for-the-political-arena/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I enjoyed the time in the ring because I was trying to entertain people and give them a show for their hard earned money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-enjoyed-the-time-in-the-ring-because-i-was-trying-to-entertain/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I used to lift weights, but not now. I do calisthenics and yoga, which is very good for flexibility and stretching ligaments and tendons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-used-to-lift-weights-but-not-now-i-do-calisthenics-and-yoga-which/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [When they have you in the short-arm scissor, they keep you in it for quite a while, and you're fighting to get out. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/when-they-have-you-in-the-short-arm-scissor-they-keep-you-in-it-for/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I was able to slowly climb to the top of the wrestling business thanks to the principles I learned in junior high and high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-was-able-to-slowly-climb-to-the-top-of-the-wrestling-business/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I met Mr. Piper when he was a young person getting in the business in the Olympic theater in Los Angeles. He was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-met-mr-piper-when-he-was-a-young-person-getting-in-the-business-in/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I'd like to go to schools and give speeches to people about training, working hard and getting ahead in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-d-like-to-go-to-schools-and-give-speeches-to-people-about-training/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I always really liked Allentown. The people were very down to earth. It reminded me a lot of my hometown in Minnesota.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-always-really-liked-allentown-the-people-were-very-down-to-earth-it/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I tell myself I have to work out to stay alive. I'm not just staying alive to stay alive, I mean stay alive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-tell-myself-i-have-to-work-out-to-stay-alive-i-m-not-just-staying/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

> [I learned to love the oil business as much as I love the wrestling business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-learned-to-love-the-oil-business-as-much-as-i-love-the-wrestling/)

[Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

[Explore all 98 Bob Backlund quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/)

## More Bad quotes

> [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/)

[Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/)

> [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/)

[Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/)

> [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/)

[Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/)

> [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/)

[Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/)

> [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/)

[Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/)

> [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/)

[Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/)

> [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/)

[Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/)

> [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/)

[Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/)

> [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/)

[David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/)

> [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/)

[Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/)

> [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/)

[Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/)

[Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I never really wanted to be a bad guy. But I was more happy being a bad guy if I had to do what other people were doing to be good and be liked.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bob Backlund"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-but-i-was-more-happy-being-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bad"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-but-i-was-more-happy-being-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/bob-backlund-6165_bad_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-bu_2466179.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/bob-backlund-6165_bad_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-bu_2466179.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/182/bob-backlund-6165_bad_i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-bu_2466179.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never really wanted to be a bad guy. But I was more happy being a bad guy if I had to do what other people…” — Bob Backlund",
                "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": "Bob Backlund",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I never really wanted to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-but-i-was-more-happy-being-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-bad-guy-but-i-was-more-happy-being-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
