--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the thing about it is when you…" description: "\"I think the thing about it is when you grow up in Chicago there's such a thing as putting on airs, you know? And you just learn not to put on airs. Don..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/bob-newhart-2419_about_i-think-the-thing-about-it-is-when-you-g_2829241.jpg" --- # I think the thing about it is when you grow up in Chicago… ![“I think the thing about it is when you grow up in Chicago there's such a thing as putting on airs, you know? And you just learn not to put on airs. Don't act like, 'Oh boy, I'm somebody.' They'll slap you down.” quote by Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/bob-newhart-2419_about_i-think-the-thing-about-it-is-when-you-g_2829241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/bob-newhart-2419_about_i-think-the-thing-about-it-is-when-you-g_2829241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/bob-newhart-2419_about_i-think-the-thing-about-it-is-when-you-g_2829241.jpg) > “I think the thing about it is when you grow up in Chicago there's such a thing as putting on airs, you know? And you just learn not to put on airs. Don't act like, 'Oh boy, I'm somebody.' They'll slap you down.” [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up in a city with a strong culture of humility teaches you to avoid pretentiousness and stay grounded. **In simple terms:** Avoid showing off; stay humble. Key Takeaway Stay authentic, ignore bragging. Themes humility social norms authenticity Mood reflective grounded Type advice observational When to use this quote - career networking - social gatherings - public speaking - team meetings Key Concepts cultural pressure self‑presentation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance confidence with humility? - When does modesty hinder advancement? A Different Perspective May be misinterpreted as lack of confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Airs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airs/) [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) ## Related quotes > [Always be natural. Putting on airs will make a giggle out of you. Be yourself and if you don't know something say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/always-be-natural-putting-on-airs-will-make-a-giggle-out-of-you-be/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [I don't like putting on airs; that's not my thing. I'd rather just be myself, just connecting to people genuinely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-don-t-like-putting-on-airs-that-s-not-my-thing-i-d-rather-just-be/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [I don't believe in putting on airs. I call it like I see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-pompeo/i-don-t-believe-in-putting-on-airs-i-call-it-like-i-see-it/) [Ellen Pompeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-pompeo/) > [What makes me mad is arrogance, pretension, putting on airs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/what-makes-me-mad-is-arrogance-pretension-putting-on-airs/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Hackney at certain epochs has given itself suburban airs and graces, before being slapped down and consigned once more to the dump bin of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/hackney-at-certain-epochs-has-given-itself-suburban-airs-and-graces/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [If you're going to be part of a nationally televised show that airs live and do sketches that haven't even been brainstormed a week…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/if-you-re-going-to-be-part-of-a-nationally-televised-show-that-airs/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [His daughter returned from her boarding school, improved in fashionable airs and expert in manufacturing fashionable toys; but, in her conversation, he sought in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-willard/his-daughter-returned-from-her-boarding-school-improved-in/) Emma Willard > [They who prosper take on airs of vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/they-who-prosper-take-on-airs-of-vanity/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I certainly don't have any airs about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-farr/i-certainly-don-t-have-any-airs-about-myself/) [Jamie Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-farr/) > [The moon is at her full, and riding high, Floods the calm fields with light. The airs that hover in the summer sky Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-moon-is-at-her-full-and-riding-high-floods-the-calm-fields-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I certainly dont have any airs about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-farr/i-certainly-dont-have-any-airs-about-myself/) [Jamie Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-farr/) > [I am always going to be in the hood in my heart, but what I did was added on the masters of arts, fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-am-always-going-to-be-in-the-hood-in-my-heart-but-what-i-did-was/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [Dilip Kumar did not have any starry airs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-kumar/dilip-kumar-did-not-have-any-starry-airs/) [Manoj Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-kumar/) > [I'm me. I can't put on airs. I'm not a phony. I know the way I am hurts me more times than it helps.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dorsett/i-m-me-i-can-t-put-on-airs-i-m-not-a-phony-i-know-the-way-i-am-hurts/) [Tony Dorsett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dorsett/) > [The British monarchy has the political and constitutional task of subtracting from the government and governors of Britain the papal and kingly airs that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/the-british-monarchy-has-the-political-and-constitutional-task-of/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) ## More by Bob Newhart > [Television series are like the stock market. There's room for bears and bulls but no room for pigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/television-series-are-like-the-stock-market-there-s-room-for-bears/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I didn't need the elf outfit to play an elf; I could just play an elf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-didn-t-need-the-elf-outfit-to-play-an-elf-i-could-just-play-an-elf/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [When I was off TV, people would ask me to please come back, which I think was their way of saying, 'There's nothing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/when-i-was-off-tv-people-would-ask-me-to-please-come-back-which-i/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy, and if didn't work, then I knew it didn't work. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-just-made-the-decision-that-i-was-going-to-try-comedy-and-if-didn-t/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [Don't be silly and don't waste your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/don-t-be-silly-and-don-t-waste-your-time/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I'm most proud of the longevity of my marriage, my kids, and my grandchildren. If you don't have that, you really don't have very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-m-most-proud-of-the-longevity-of-my-marriage-my-kids-and-my/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [The best advice I could give someone trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-best-advice-i-could-give-someone-trying-to-get-into-the-comedy/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [As an actor, you generally want to see the other actor's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/as-an-actor-you-generally-want-to-see-the-other-actor-s-face/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [You shouldn't get too close to the truth, because then maybe you stop being funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/you-shouldn-t-get-too-close-to-the-truth-because-then-maybe-you-stop/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [But I really believe that if you have the ability, there is an obligation to make people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/but-i-really-believe-that-if-you-have-the-ability-there-is-an/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [The reason I'm a psychologist is based in part on my telephone routines. Much of my humor comes out of reaction to what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-reason-i-m-a-psychologist-is-based-in-part-on-my-telephone/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I think that what comes through in Chicago humor is the affection. Even though you're poking fun at someone or something, there's still an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-think-that-what-comes-through-in-chicago-humor-is-the-affection/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I feel more comfortable in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-feel-more-comfortable-in-comedy/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I really don't know what makes a comedian. I think it's a family background and environment. Yet if you put the same ingredients in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-really-don-t-know-what-makes-a-comedian-i-think-it-s-a-family/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-made-a-record-album-in-1960-and-it-exploded-and-i-got-all-these/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) [Explore all 167 Bob Newhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the thing about it is when you grow up in Chicago there's such a thing as putting on airs, you know? And you just learn not to put on airs. Don't act like, 'Oh boy, I'm somebody.' 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