---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate to date myself, but my earliest…"
description: "\"I hate to date myself, but my earliest memories are Flash Gordon. I would love playing Flash Gordon in the neighborhood.\" — Bruce Davison"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/bruce-davison-34209_comic_i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-me_1539756.png"
---

#  I hate to date myself, but my earliest memories are Flash…

![“I hate to date myself, but my earliest memories are Flash Gordon. I would love playing Flash Gordon in the neighborhood.” quote by Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/bruce-davison-34209_comic_i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-me_1539756.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/bruce-davison-34209_comic_i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-me_1539756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/bruce-davison-34209_comic_i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-me_1539756.png)

> “I hate to date myself, but my earliest memories are Flash Gordon. I would love playing Flash Gordon in the neighborhood.”

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

## 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 early childhood fascination with Flash Gordon and its influence on his imagination.

**In simple terms:** Childhood hero shaped his imagination.

Key Takeaway

Embrace early passions to inspire creativity.

Themes

nostalgia imagination influence growth

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- storytelling workshops
- educational curricula
- personal reflection
- media analysis

Key Concepts

pop culture hero worship creative development

Questions to Reflect On

- What early heroes shaped your path?
- How can you translate childhood passions into adult projects?

A Different Perspective

Relying on nostalgia may limit openness to new influences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Flash gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flash-gordon/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Neighborhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm not saying that Sam J. Jones was Flash Gordon - there's no such thing. No actor can be the person, that's a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-j-jones/i-m-not-saying-that-sam-j-jones-was-flash-gordon-there-s-no-such/)

Sam J. Jones

> [My father used to take me to the movies on Saturdays. In 1940, when I was four years old, we encountered 'Flash Gordon Conquers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/my-father-used-to-take-me-to-the-movies-on-saturdays-in-1940-when-i/)

[Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/)

> [When I was a young writer if you went to a party and told somebody you were a science-fiction writer you would be insulted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/when-i-was-a-young-writer-if-you-went-to-a-party-and-told-somebody/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“The Captain was wearing his best blousey shirt, his beard was gleaming in the early morning light and he’d polished all his gold teeth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-defoe/the-captain-was-wearing-his-best-blousey-shirt-his-beard-was-gleaming/)

[Gideon Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-defoe/)

> [As a youngster, I read of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. As a student, I wrote English reports on science fiction. And as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/as-a-youngster-i-read-of-buck-rogers-and-flash-gordon-as-a-student-i/)

[Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/)

> [When I was young, I ran to see Astaire and Rogers, Huston, Lubitsch - they were formative for me. I also read 'Flash Gordon'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-wertmuller/when-i-was-young-i-ran-to-see-astaire-and-rogers-huston-lubitsch-they/)

[Lina Wertmuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-wertmuller/)

> [People talk about the difference between radio acting, TV acting and stage acting, but I think it's all the same. For instance, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/people-talk-about-the-difference-between-radio-acting-tv-acting-and/)

[Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/)

> [Adapted from the novel by L. Ron Hubbard, who cranked out sci-fi pulp by the cubic ton, 'Battlefield Earth' has the musty feel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/adapted-from-the-novel-by-l-ron-hubbard-who-cranked-out-sci-fi-pulp/)

[Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/)

> [Star Wars' was derivative of 'Buck Rogers' and 'Flash Gordon,' wasn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/star-wars-was-derivative-of-buck-rogers-and-flash-gordon-wasn-t-it/)

[Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/)

> ['Blasto' is a new game for Sony Playstation. It's an awesome three-dimensional game, and I play the character Blasto who's sort of a Flash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hartman/blasto-is-a-new-game-for-sony-playstation-it-s-an-awesome-three/)

[Phil Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hartman/)

> [I like to play with things a while before annihilation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-von-sydow/i-like-to-play-with-things-a-while-before-annihilation/)

[Max von Sydow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-von-sydow/)

> [I used to watch the old 'Flash Gordon' series on TV, and it was thrilling to rocket to the planet Mongo every week. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/i-used-to-watch-the-old-flash-gordon-series-on-tv-and-it-was/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [“As far back as Yossarian could recall, he explained to Clevinger with a patient smile, somebody was always hatching a plot to kill him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/as-far-back-as-yossarian-could-recall-he-explained-to-clevinger-with/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“Ahhh…now my victory is complete. With Flash Gordon dead, nothing can stop me from conquering the universe!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ming-the-merciless/ahhh-now-my-victory-is-complete-with-flash-gordon-dead-nothing-can/)

Ming the Merciless

> [Not only that, but when I first met Joe, to my intense delight, he showed me that he was a collector. He was collecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-shuster/not-only-that-but-when-i-first-met-joe-to-my-intense-delight-he/)

[Joe Shuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-shuster/)

## More by Bruce Davison

> [That's always something that's really important for an actor - to find an opportunity to do a scene where there is a moment like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/that-s-always-something-that-s-really-important-for-an-actor-to-find/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [Well, I always try to look at my characters as being better than I am. That's one of the reasons I guess I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/well-i-always-try-to-look-at-my-characters-as-being-better-than-i-am/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [We cannot stick our heads in the sand concerning the issue of hunger in America. Even though this subject seldom reaches the front page…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/we-cannot-stick-our-heads-in-the-sand-concerning-the-issue-of-hunger/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [You have cocktails for 250,000 people when millions upon millions are sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/you-have-cocktails-for-250-000-people-when-millions-upon-millions-are/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [A good actor is somebody who can be truthful and fascinating and interesting and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/a-good-actor-is-somebody-who-can-be-truthful-and-fascinating-and/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [I was always a visual person. I could see things visually. I had a harder time with numbers and logic, and I always had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-was-always-a-visual-person-i-could-see-things-visually-i-had-a/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [It was quite a ride and very conflicting for me, too - to be nominated for an Oscar, to be straight and healthy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/it-was-quite-a-ride-and-very-conflicting-for-me-too-to-be-nominated/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [I'm over there filming in South Africa now, and two in five are HIV-positive now. Not many people know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-m-over-there-filming-in-south-africa-now-and-two-in-five-are-hiv/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [I think tolerance is something everybody needs to be reminded of, especially in a reactionary political world. Well, actually, I should say, a reactionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-think-tolerance-is-something-everybody-needs-to-be-reminded-of/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [Hollywood could use less instead of more of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/hollywood-could-use-less-instead-of-more-of-everything/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [I love villains. You know, I am a character actor, and any chance to get to play a really outrageous villain. I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-love-villains-you-know-i-am-a-character-actor-and-any-chance-to-get/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [I spent my whole life figuring out how to get out of work. I would say I was intelligent, but intelligent in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-spent-my-whole-life-figuring-out-how-to-get-out-of-work-i-would-say/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

> [Actors, lots of times, are great when they have great parts. For me, a lot of times, it's been the part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/actors-lots-of-times-are-great-when-they-have-great-parts-for-me-a/)

[Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

[Explore all 14 Bruce Davison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/)

## More Comic quotes

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [I always loved as a kid reading 'Spider-Man,' and the 'Fantastic Four' would show up... it was all about that larger universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-reed/i-always-loved-as-a-kid-reading-spider-man-and-the-fantastic-four/)

[Peyton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-reed/)

> [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/)

[Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/)

> [I identify with Superman. I am adopted, I am an only child, and I love the idea that he comes from another world, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-singer/i-identify-with-superman-i-am-adopted-i-am-an-only-child-and-i-love/)

[Bryan Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-singer/)

> [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/)

[Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/)

> [If you look at Marvel Comics, there are very few Marvel characters I would like to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/if-you-look-at-marvel-comics-there-are-very-few-marvel-characters-i/)

[Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/)

> [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. It's the spontaneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/the-big-problem-for-comic-art-is-you-don-t-want-to-overwork-it-if-a/)

[Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/)

> [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/)

[Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/)

> [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/)

[Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/)

> [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He's not superhuman. He's not super. So therefore he can't be a superhero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-s-not-superhuman-he-s-not/)

[Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/)

> [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/)

[Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/)

> [I was really into the first 'Spider-Man' films with Tobey Maguire, so it's pretty cool how it all came full circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-batalon/i-was-really-into-the-first-spider-man-films-with-tobey-maguire-so-it/)

[Jacob Batalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-batalon/)

> [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. They would be valuable now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/most-men-are-secretly-still-mad-at-their-mothers-for-throwing-away/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [I'll only diet for a Marvel movie. I will give up bacon and waffles to be Storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-ll-only-diet-for-a-marvel-movie-i-will-give-up-bacon-and-waffles-to/)

[Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/)

> [You've seen the first issue and what happened in the last page. Some pretty awful stuff. I don't know why I seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/you-ve-seen-the-first-issue-and-what-happened-in-the-last-page-some/)

[Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/)

[Browse all 5,841 Comic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I hate to date myself, but my earliest memories are Flash Gordon. I would love playing Flash Gordon in the neighborhood.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bruce Davison"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-memories-are-flash-gordon-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comic"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-memories-are-flash-gordon-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/bruce-davison-34209_comic_i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-me_1539756.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/bruce-davison-34209_comic_i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-me_1539756.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbe/bruce-davison-34209_comic_i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-me_1539756.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I hate to date myself, but my earliest memories are Flash Gordon. I would love playing Flash Gordon in the…” — Bruce Davison",
                "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": "Bruce Davison",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I hate to date myself, but...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-memories-are-flash-gordon-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/i-hate-to-date-myself-but-my-earliest-memories-are-flash-gordon-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
