--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a self-centered bore. I was…" description: "\"I was a self-centered bore. I was masochistic, and only thought I was happy. When I woke up and said, \"there must be something wrong with me\", I grew u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/cary-grant-11706_because-i-can_i-was-a-self-centered-bore-i-was-masochi_2707193.jpg" --- # I was a self-centered bore. I was masochistic, and only… ![“I was a self-centered bore. I was masochistic, and only thought I was happy. When I woke up and said, "there must be something wrong with me", I grew up. Because I never understood myself, how could I hope to understand anyone else? That's why I can truly say that now I can give a woman love for…” quote by Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/cary-grant-11706_because-i-can_i-was-a-self-centered-bore-i-was-masochi_2707193.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/cary-grant-11706_because-i-can_i-was-a-self-centered-bore-i-was-masochi_2707193.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/cary-grant-11706_because-i-can_i-was-a-self-centered-bore-i-was-masochi_2707193.jpg) > “I was a self-centered bore. I was masochistic, and only thought I was happy. When I woke up and said, "there must be something wrong with me", I grew up. Because I never understood myself, how could I hope to understand anyone else? That's why I can truly say that now I can give a woman love for the first time in my life, because I can understand her.” [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-awareness leads to genuine love; understanding oneself precedes understanding others. **In simple terms:** Knowing yourself enables loving others. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑knowledge before relationships. Themes self‑awareness love growth Mood reflective inspirational Type personal psychological When to use this quote - therapy - dating - parenting Key Concepts Psychology emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What steps foster true self‑knowledge? - How does self‑love affect relationships? A Different Perspective Self‑reflection can be painful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-centered/) ## Related quotes > [“I understood your hope came not from some belief in the triumph of good or the kindness of politicians and bureaucrats. 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He wasn't around as much as I would have liked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey-sagal/when-you-grow-up-around-it-i-just-watched-my-father-work-really-hard/) [Katey Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey-sagal/) > [It seems that it is only in the United States that an almost masochistic attack on the position of its own oil companies exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-mccloy/it-seems-that-it-is-only-in-the-united-states-that-an-almost/) [John J. McCloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-mccloy/) > [I want to be stereotyped. I want to be classified. I want to be a clone. I want to be masochistic. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-aukerman/i-want-to-be-stereotyped-i-want-to-be-classified-i-want-to-be-a-clone/) [Milo Aukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-aukerman/) > [Golfers have a tendency to be very masochistic. They like to punish themselves for some reason. A lot of them like tough courses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/golfers-have-a-tendency-to-be-very-masochistic-they-like-to-punish/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Pain makes me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore, for me pain is pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/pain-makes-me-grow-growing-is-what-i-want-therefore-for-me-pain-is/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“and only much later, when Mascha wanted a child, did I realize that love is a deadly poison, a vice, a vice that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/and-only-much-later-when-mascha-wanted-a-child-did-i-realize-that/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [“When it comes to love, I realize that I am masochistic. 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They almost always focus on the woman imagining how she can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-shainess/the-sexual-fantasies-of-masochistic-women-have-another-curious-and/) Natalie Shainess > [As I see it, our revolutionary task is to destroy phallic identity in men and masochistic non-identity in women--that is, to destroy the polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/as-i-see-it-our-revolutionary-task-is-to-destroy-phallic-identity-in/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [To decide to film a movie again shot by shot, you must be masochistic to a certain degree because it is a much greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/to-decide-to-film-a-movie-again-shot-by-shot-you-must-be-masochistic/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-going-through-these-forced-reps/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## More by Cary Grant > [...and there I suddenly found my articulate self in a dazzling land of smiling, jostling people wearing and not wearing all sorts of costumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/and-there-i-suddenly-found-my-articulate-self-in-a-dazzling-land-of/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [“Once told by an interviewer, "Everybody would like to be Cary Grant," Grant is said to have replied, "So would I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/once-told-by-an-interviewer-everybody-would-like-to-be-cary-grant/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [When I'm married I want to be single, and when I'm single I want to be married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/when-i-m-married-i-want-to-be-single-and-when-i-m-single-i-want-to-be/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I acted like Cary Grant for so long that I became Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-acted-like-cary-grant-for-so-long-that-i-became-cary-grant/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I improve on misquotation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-improve-on-misquotation/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [We should all just smell well and enjoy ourselves more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/we-should-all-just-smell-well-and-enjoy-ourselves-more/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I've often been accused by critics of being myself on-screen. But being oneself is more difficult than you'd suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-ve-often-been-accused-by-critics-of-being-myself-on-screen-but/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [Destiny is not necessarily what we get out of life, but rather, what we give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/destiny-is-not-necessarily-what-we-get-out-of-life-but-rather-what-we/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [Her formula was simple, but simple did not apply that this would be easy or had it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/her-formula-was-simple-but-simple-did-not-apply-that-this-would-be/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I'm prepared. I have a gun and I know how to shoot, and whoever comes calling without an invitation will get it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-m-prepared-i-have-a-gun-and-i-know-how-to-shoot-and-whoever-comes/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [When people tell you how young you look, they are telling you how old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/when-people-tell-you-how-young-you-look-they-are-telling-you-how-old/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [Simplicity, to me, has always been the essence of good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/simplicity-to-me-has-always-been-the-essence-of-good-taste/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [It's better to buy one good pair of shoes than four cheap ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/it-s-better-to-buy-one-good-pair-of-shoes-than-four-cheap-ones/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [We have our factory, which is called a stage. We make a product, we color it, we title it and we ship it out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/we-have-our-factory-which-is-called-a-stage-we-make-a-product-we/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I began by acting like the person I wanted to be, and eventually I became that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-wanted-to-be-and-eventually-i/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) [Explore all 58 Cary Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) ## More Because i can quotes > [I never write Metropolis for seven cents because I can get the same price for city. I never write policeman because I can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-never-write-metropolis-for-seven-cents-because-i-can-get-the-same/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I've played more villains than anything else. And I love playing villains, because I can just be evil and do whatever I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/i-ve-played-more-villains-than-anything-else-and-i-love-playing/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [ A lot of people \[are\] saying civil union," Faried told KDVR. "I don't like it being called that because I can get married to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-faried/a-lot-of-people-are-saying-civil-union-faried-told-kdvr-i-don-t-like/) Kenneth Faried > [Some well-to-do parents may say, "I have a right to have as many children as I want because I can take care of them."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/some-well-to-do-parents-may-say-i-have-a-right-to-have-as-many/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [When you gain weight, for every pound that you gain, it adds four pounds of stress on your knees. So if you gain five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/when-you-gain-weight-for-every-pound-that-you-gain-it-adds-four/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [I need to learn how to stop destroying myself, stop being hard on myself and be nice to myself. I need to keep telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daul-kim/i-need-to-learn-how-to-stop-destroying-myself-stop-being-hard-on/) [Daul Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daul-kim/) > [I make a star's salary when I do horror, because I can still open a movie in Italy or Spain or Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-make-a-star-s-salary-when-i-do-horror-because-i-can-still-open-a/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I mean, I can actually say goodbye to the game of golf, never hit another golf shot the rest of my life and I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-mean-i-can-actually-say-goodbye-to-the-game-of-golf-never-hit/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [I don’t like to talk to people, because I can’t express myself satisfactorily. I don’t say the things I mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/i-don-t-like-to-talk-to-people-because-i-can-t-express-myself/) [Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/) > [I want to thank you, especially those people who are agnostic or atheist. I don't mean any offense by the things I said of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-want-to-thank-you-especially-those-people-who-are-agnostic-or/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [I have this horrific thing where I'm really bad with names and faces. I have an appalling memory. Someone will come up to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-have-this-horrific-thing-where-i-m-really-bad-with-names-and-faces/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [Why do it, just because I can? That's kind of crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-shear/why-do-it-just-because-i-can-that-s-kind-of-crazy/) [Jules Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-shear/) > [I don't assume, because I can write screenplays, that I know how to write a novel. It's a very different world. There's a craft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/i-don-t-assume-because-i-can-write-screenplays-that-i-know-how-to/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [I don't have to hate any person because I can always start anew, I can always reconcile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-don-t-have-to-hate-any-person-because-i-can-always-start-anew-i-can/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I think about dying every day, because I can't stop thinking about living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-think-about-dying-every-day-because-i-can-t-stop-thinking-about/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) Browse all 322 Because i can quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a self-centered bore. I was masochistic, and only thought I was happy. 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