--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: More than rich, more than famous, more…" description: "\"More than rich, more than famous, more than happy...I wanted to be great.\" — Bruce Springsteen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/bruce-springsteen-546_happiness_more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-tha_1030544.jpg" --- # More than rich, more than famous, more than happy...I… ![“More than rich, more than famous, more than happy...I wanted to be great.” quote by Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/bruce-springsteen-546_happiness_more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-tha_1030544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/bruce-springsteen-546_happiness_more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-tha_1030544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/bruce-springsteen-546_happiness_more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-tha_1030544.jpg) > “More than rich, more than famous, more than happy...I wanted to be great.” [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The desire for greatness can eclipse basic desires, leading to a relentless pursuit of status over fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Seeking fame can replace true happiness. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic fulfillment over external validation. Themes ambition identity fulfillment Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career ambition - personal relationships - creative pursuits Key Concepts existential longing self-worth Questions to Reflect On - What does being "great" truly mean to you? - Can success exist without happiness? A Different Perspective Greatness may not bring inner peace. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [It isn't necessary to be rich and famous to be happy. It's only necessary to be rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/it-isn-t-necessary-to-be-rich-and-famous-to-be-happy-it-s-only/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [I'm quite happy being famous for what I do but I'm not happy about being famous for the sake of being famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hucknall/i-m-quite-happy-being-famous-for-what-i-do-but-i-m-not-happy-about/) [Mick Hucknall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hucknall/) > [I didn't want to be famous for its own sake. I wanted to be famous so as to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-didn-t-want-to-be-famous-for-its-own-sake-i-wanted-to-be-famous-so/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [“Rich and famous and doing good," mused Schlichtmann. "Rich isn't so difficult. Famous isn't so difficult. Rich and famous together aren't so difficult. Rich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-harr/rich-and-famous-and-doing-good-mused-schlichtmann-rich-isn-t-so/) Jonathan Harr > [I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-never-wanted-to-be-famous-i-only-wanted-to-be-great/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Ever since I signed, I've wanted to do great things in baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/ever-since-i-signed-i-ve-wanted-to-do-great-things-in-baseball/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [I'm sorry that 'Fringe' is gone. I really wanted to do more on that show. It was great!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-m-sorry-that-fringe-is-gone-i-really-wanted-to-do-more-on-that-show/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [When I started out as a little kid, I didn't say 'I just want to run football.' I wanted to be a great athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herschel-walker/when-i-started-out-as-a-little-kid-i-didn-t-say-i-just-want-to-run/) [Herschel Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herschel-walker/) > [When I was young, I always wanted to be great at football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameis-winston/when-i-was-young-i-always-wanted-to-be-great-at-football/) [Jameis Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameis-winston/) > [Coming in, I wanted to be a great player, and right now at the beginning of my career, I'm showing some slight sunshine that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kawhi-leonard/coming-in-i-wanted-to-be-a-great-player-and-right-now-at-the/) [Kawhi Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kawhi-leonard/) > [I wanted to be a great player, and I wasn't. I never got over that. I take that same energy into coaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-wanted-to-be-a-great-player-and-i-wasn-t-i-never-got-over-that-i/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I've always wanted be as great as I could possibly be at the sport of boxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/i-ve-always-wanted-be-as-great-as-i-could-possibly-be-at-the-sport-of/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [I wanted to be great. And I loved Nashville, so that made it easy. I loved the music business. It made it easy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandy-clark/i-wanted-to-be-great-and-i-loved-nashville-so-that-made-it-easy-i/) [Brandy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandy-clark/) > [All I've ever wanted to do was be a great dad, and yet there's no stopping this existential mirror that's held up to yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-was-be-a-great-dad-and-yet-there-s-no/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) ## More by Bruce Springsteen > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [When I die throw my body in the back and drive me to the junk yard in my Cadillac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-i-die-throw-my-body-in-the-back-and-drive-me-to-the-junk-yard-in/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [When you start talking about elections being rigged, you're pushing people beyond democratic governance. And it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/when-you-start-talking-about-elections-being-rigged-you-re-pushing/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I got Mary pregnant and man that's all she wrote. And for my 19th birthday, I got a union card and a factory coat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-got-mary-pregnant-and-man-that-s-all-she-wrote-and-for-my-19th/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ I don't know if I know anyone, with the exception of the early inventors of rock music \[who wasn't influenced by something\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-don-t-know-if-i-know-anyone-with-the-exception-of-the-early/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [People see you onstage and, yeah, I'd want to be that guy.I want to be that guy myself very often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/people-see-you-onstage-and-yeah-i-d-want-to-be-that-guy-i-want-to-be/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [You know, my music utilizes things from the past, because that's what the past is for. It's to learn from. It's not to limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/you-know-my-music-utilizes-things-from-the-past-because-that-s-what/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [From the town of Lincoln Nebraska with a sawed off .410 on my lap, through the Badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/from-the-town-of-lincoln-nebraska-with-a-sawed-off-410-on-my-lap/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I want a thousand guitars . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-want-a-thousand-guitars/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [In America everything's about who's number one today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/in-america-everything-s-about-who-s-number-one-today/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [A pop song is a condensed version of a life in three minutes, whereas, when you go to write your prose, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/a-pop-song-is-a-condensed-version-of-a-life-in-three-minutes-whereas/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I walked a thousand miles just to slip this skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-walked-a-thousand-miles-just-to-slip-this-skin/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The moment you begin to depend on audience reaction, you're doing the wrong thing. You're doin' it wrong, it's a mistake, it's not right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-moment-you-begin-to-depend-on-audience-reaction-you-re-doing-the/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The name 'Boss' started with people that worked for me... It was not meant like Boss, capital B, it was meant like 'Boss, where's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-name-boss-started-with-people-that-worked-for-me-it-was-not-meant/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-country-we-carry-in-our-hearts-is-waiting/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) [Explore all 484 Bruce Springsteen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "More than rich, more than famous, more than happy...I wanted to be great.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruce Springsteen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-than-happy-i-wanted-to-be-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-than-happy-i-wanted-to-be-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/bruce-springsteen-546_happiness_more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-tha_1030544.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/bruce-springsteen-546_happiness_more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-tha_1030544.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/bruce-springsteen-546_happiness_more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-tha_1030544.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“More than rich, more than famous, more than happy...I wanted to be great.” — Bruce Springsteen", "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 Springsteen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "More than rich, more than famous,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-than-happy-i-wanted-to-be-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/more-than-rich-more-than-famous-more-than-happy-i-wanted-to-be-great/#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 } } ] } ```