--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought going in that I had to have…" description: "\"I thought going in that I had to have this very broad, very palatable sensibility that works for everybody, but then the stuff that I'm the most proud ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/bowen-yang-10885_expression_i-thought-going-in-that-i-had-to-have-th_1779034.jpg" --- # I thought going in that I had to have this very broad… ![“I thought going in that I had to have this very broad, very palatable sensibility that works for everybody, but then the stuff that I'm the most proud of, and probably even got the most success from, was outwardly an expression of queerness or gayness. That's been a nice surprise.” quote by Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/bowen-yang-10885_expression_i-thought-going-in-that-i-had-to-have-th_1779034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/bowen-yang-10885_expression_i-thought-going-in-that-i-had-to-have-th_1779034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/bowen-yang-10885_expression_i-thought-going-in-that-i-had-to-have-th_1779034.jpg) > “I thought going in that I had to have this very broad, very palatable sensibility that works for everybody, but then the stuff that I'm the most proud of, and probably even got the most success from, was outwardly an expression of queerness or gayness. That's been a nice surprise.” [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized authentic self‑expression, even if niche, can achieve broad success and personal pride. **In simple terms:** Being true to oneself can bring unexpected success. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique identity. Themes authenticity pride creativity Mood hopeful proud Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - personal branding - media interviews Key Concepts self‑expression queerness success Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal authenticity with broader audience expectations? - What risks arise when expressing marginalized identities publicly? A Different Perspective Niche authenticity may limit mainstream appeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Queerness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queerness/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [All that we do outwardly is but the expression and completion of our inward thought. To work effectively, we must think clearly; to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/all-that-we-do-outwardly-is-but-the-expression-and-completion-of-our/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [The way I see queerness now is that, best case scenario, another queer person reflects it back at you. Worst case scenario, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/the-way-i-see-queerness-now-is-that-best-case-scenario-another-queer/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [My Jewishness and queerness are very interwoven, and, although they sometimes conflict culturally, intellectually and spiritually they deepen one another for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/my-jewishness-and-queerness-are-very-interwoven-and-although-they/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [It takes a certain amount of intelligence and imagination to realize the extraordinary queerness and mysteriousness of the world in which we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/it-takes-a-certain-amount-of-intelligence-and-imagination-to-realize/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I was growing up, it was like, 'Gay means flamboyant, gay man' and lesbian means, 'Butch girl who looks masculine.' There was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chappell-roan/when-i-was-growing-up-it-was-like-gay-means-flamboyant-gay-man-and/) [Chappell Roan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chappell-roan/) > [It's crushing to realize you actually don't have control over what people think of you, and even as much as you think you do...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-escola/it-s-crushing-to-realize-you-actually-don-t-have-control-over-what/) [Cole Escola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-escola/) > [“I really am the world's shittiest boyfriend. Holding onto something normal for the sake of having it, for nothing other than to keep what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-york/i-really-am-the-world-s-shittiest-boyfriend-holding-onto-something/) [Kelley York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-york/) > [ “In the end, how \[is\] anyone any different from a 'normal' person? If you love someone, you love them. It doesn't matter where they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-tarttelin/in-the-end-how-is-anyone-any-different-from-a-normal-person-if-you/) [Abigail Tarttelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-tarttelin/) > [“The ability of anyone in the culture to support and honour gay kids may depend on an ability to name them as such, notwithstanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-kosofsky-sedgwick/the-ability-of-anyone-in-the-culture-to-support-and-honour-gay-kids/) [Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-kosofsky-sedgwick/) > [“ The closet implies a literal, physical boundary dividing one’s life before publicly declaring queerness, and after. It’s a threshold impossible to recross, two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-perry/the-closet-implies-a-literal-physical-boundary-dividing-one-s-life/) Grace Perry > [“We come to a corner where there are a few people protesting the festivities. I don't understand this at all. It's like protesting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-come-to-a-corner-where-there-are-a-few-people-protesting-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“However some things may look queer to you, remember that the world is a beautiful rainbow with many colours! No colours, no rainbow! No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/however-some-things-may-look-queer-to-you-remember-that-the-world-is/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [There were interesting ways that queerness could hide out and get played out pre-Stonewall. It is part of a vast history that is getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/there-were-interesting-ways-that-queerness-could-hide-out-and-get/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [People who pigeonhole us for our queerness are not people I'm interested in knowing. They're so boring. How dare you be so boring? Grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hopkins/people-who-pigeonhole-us-for-our-queerness-are-not-people-i-m/) [Ben Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hopkins/) > [We have to look at queerness as a means towards challenging normativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/we-have-to-look-at-queerness-as-a-means-towards-challenging/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) ## More by Bowen Yang > [I was 8, and I was probably too young for it, but that's when I started to watch SNL.' That's when I got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-was-8-and-i-was-probably-too-young-for-it-but-that-s-when-i-started/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [You know, you might not think that Wigglytuff can, like, throw a thunder or lightning-type move at you. But, oh, just you watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/you-know-you-might-not-think-that-wigglytuff-can-like-throw-a-thunder/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [Podcasts feel about as accessible and ubiquitous as books or articles or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/podcasts-feel-about-as-accessible-and-ubiquitous-as-books-or-articles/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [I used to be very anti-bath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-used-to-be-very-anti-bath/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [It's nice to have social media, but it's not the same as going to a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/it-s-nice-to-have-social-media-but-it-s-not-the-same-as-going-to-a/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [I'm absolutely looking at my career differently, but it's still really important to some sense of connection to where I came from, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-m-absolutely-looking-at-my-career-differently-but-it-s-still-really/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [I wonder if there's space to queer the nomenclature in fitness. Maybe we call a goblet squat a Dannii Minogue instead? Just an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-wonder-if-there-s-space-to-queer-the-nomenclature-in-fitness-maybe/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [And I would go on all these college tours. And I was thinking about where I would want to go. And at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/and-i-would-go-on-all-these-college-tours-and-i-was-thinking-about/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [A lot of different people under the queer umbrella come together but Like there's something inherently queer about the heist genre, in some way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/a-lot-of-different-people-under-the-queer-umbrella-come-together-but/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [I think the sooner you take responsibility for what reaction you want to get out of an audience, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-think-the-sooner-you-take-responsibility-for-what-reaction-you-want/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [My dad every now and then will toe that line and be like, You could try women!' And I'm like Don't. It's almost an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/my-dad-every-now-and-then-will-toe-that-line-and-be-like-you-could/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [I feel like doing Las Culturistas' for an extended period of time has taught me where to put the fulcrum on having structure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-feel-like-doing-las-culturistas-for-an-extended-period-of-time-has/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [After high school, I really learned to love myself. I finally stopped getting bullied by straight people. Then, I pretty much immediately started getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/after-high-school-i-really-learned-to-love-myself-i-finally-stopped/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [If someone's personality is 'punch an Asian grandma,' it's not a dialogue. I have an Asian grandma. You want to punch her? There ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/if-someone-s-personality-is-punch-an-asian-grandma-it-s-not-a/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [I came to New York in 2008 not knowing a thing about fashion, but even back then I knew Opening Ceremony was this beautiful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/i-came-to-new-york-in-2008-not-knowing-a-thing-about-fashion-but-even/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) [Explore all 63 Bowen Yang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) ## More Expression quotes > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [We can see nothing whatever of the soul unless it is visible in the expression of the countenance; one might call the faces at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/we-can-see-nothing-whatever-of-the-soul-unless-it-is-visible-in-the/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/early-experience-shapes-the-structure-and-function-of-the-brain-this/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/singing-has-always-seemed-to-me-the-most-perfect-means-of-expression/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Nick looked vaguely homicidal, but that was sort of his default expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/nick-looked-vaguely-homicidal-but-that-was-sort-of-his-default/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [They are the gateway for our modern esthetic development, the prophets of the new time. They are most of all, the primitives of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/they-are-the-gateway-for-our-modern-esthetic-development-the-prophets/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [The mountain receives our expressions and becomes part of us; we imprint our memories upon it and trust it with out dearest divisions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-barcott/the-mountain-receives-our-expressions-and-becomes-part-of-us-we/) [Bruce Barcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-barcott/) > [In science, the most exciting expression isn’t ‘Eureka!’ It’s ‘Huh?’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hawley/in-science-the-most-exciting-expression-isn-t-eureka-it-s-huh/) Michael Hawley > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 5,024 Expression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought going in that I had to have this very broad, very palatable sensibility that works for everybody, but then the stuff that I'm the most proud of, and probably even got the most success from, was outwardly an expression of queerness or gayness. 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