--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've returned to being an amateur without…" description: "\"I've returned to being an amateur without any ties or strings attached, which gives me a freedom I never had before.\" — Cat Stevens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/cat-stevens-2683_amateur_i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-withou_2180721.png" --- # I've returned to being an amateur without any ties or… ![“I've returned to being an amateur without any ties or strings attached, which gives me a freedom I never had before.” quote by Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/cat-stevens-2683_amateur_i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-withou_2180721.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/cat-stevens-2683_amateur_i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-withou_2180721.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/cat-stevens-2683_amateur_i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-withou_2180721.png) > “I've returned to being an amateur without any ties or strings attached, which gives me a freedom I never had before.” [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing freedom over commitment allows personal growth and creative authenticity, unburdened by external expectations. **In simple terms:** Being free from ties lets you grow creatively. Key Takeaway Embrace independence for authentic expression. Themes freedom creativity personal growth Mood reflective inspirational Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - career change - artistic projects - travel - solo living Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What does freedom mean to you? - How can you balance independence with connection? A Different Perspective Unattached life can lead to isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Buckminster\] Fuller was an independent operator coming up with these madcap ways of combining things with absolutely no strings attached and the fact that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-keats/buckminster-fuller-was-an-independent-operator-coming-up-with-these/) [Jonathon Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-keats/) > [Strings attached to my heart that sounds like your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/strings-attached-to-my-heart-that-sounds-like-your-name/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't have to be accountable to some authority, which is why I don't take federal funds. I don't want anyone's monies unless they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marva-collins/i-don-t-have-to-be-accountable-to-some-authority-which-is-why-i-don-t/) [Marva Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marva-collins/) > [Every day, my mom and I would watch a different Judy Garland VHS. I love how she tells a story when she sings. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/every-day-my-mom-and-i-would-watch-a-different-judy-garland-vhs-i/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [My art side is free and there are no strings attached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swizz-beatz/my-art-side-is-free-and-there-are-no-strings-attached/) [Swizz Beatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swizz-beatz/) > [I still feel like the 10-year-old dancing in front of her mirror, mostly to 'No Strings Attached.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-who/i-still-feel-like-the-10-year-old-dancing-in-front-of-her-mirror/) [Betty Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-who/) > [There is a string attached to Maia Sharp's voice. And when she sings, you find that the other end is attached to your gut.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/there-is-a-string-attached-to-maia-sharp-s-voice-and-when-she-sings/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [Contrary to what we conclude naturally, the gospel is not too good to be true. It is true! Its the truest truth in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/contrary-to-what-we-conclude-naturally-the-gospel-is-not-too-good-to/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [A camera can get you close without the burden of commitment. It's a nifty device that way, a magical passport into people's lives with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-berman/a-camera-can-get-you-close-without-the-burden-of-commitment-it-s-a/) Nina Berman > [I myself feel that it is very important that my ISP supplies internet to my house like the water company supplies water to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/i-myself-feel-that-it-is-very-important-that-my-isp-supplies-internet/) [Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/) > [Marriage is like a violin. After the beautiful music is over, the strings are still attached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-braude/marriage-is-like-a-violin-after-the-beautiful-music-is-over-the/) [Jacob Braude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-braude/) > [Most of us would protest that of course we love our children without any strings attached. But what counts is how things look from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/most-of-us-would-protest-that-of-course-we-love-our-children-without/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [“Here's the thing: the strings are already attached.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-doller/here-s-the-thing-the-strings-are-already-attached/) [Trish Doller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-doller/) > [True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations. Time and love are the most valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/true-generosity-is-an-offering-given-freely-and-out-of-pure-love-no/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [My life is a blank check before God... No strings attached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/my-life-is-a-blank-check-before-god-no-strings-attached/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) ## More by Cat Stevens > [The spiritual quest was always the predominant aspect of my life. It's always been there. But there's also an incredible passion connected to it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/the-spiritual-quest-was-always-the-predominant-aspect-of-my-life-it-s/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Music is part of God's universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/music-is-part-of-god-s-universe/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Some extremists take elements of the sacred scriptures out of context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/some-extremists-take-elements-of-the-sacred-scriptures-out-of-context/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Knowledge is a thing you can carry around with you, but you may not apply it. Some knowledge is indiscriminate, and it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/knowledge-is-a-thing-you-can-carry-around-with-you-but-you-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [A person who steals bread during a famine is not treated as a thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/a-person-who-steals-bread-during-a-famine-is-not-treated-as-a-thief/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Don't you feel a change a coming From another side of time, Breaking down the walls of silence, Lifting shadows from your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/don-t-you-feel-a-change-a-coming-from-another-side-of-time-breaking/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I suppose that the media and their portrayal of Islam and the almost tribal separations and divisions of the Muslims are the greatest issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-suppose-that-the-media-and-their-portrayal-of-islam-and-the-almost/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [“You will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/you-will-still-be-here-tomorrow-but-your-dreams-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [There is a powerful need for people to feel that gust of hope rise up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/there-is-a-powerful-need-for-people-to-feel-that-gust-of-hope-rise-up/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [And if my mind breaks up In all so many ways I know the meaning of The words, "I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/and-if-my-mind-breaks-up-in-all-so-many-ways-i-know-the-meaning-of/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Find a girl, settle down, If you want you can marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/find-a-girl-settle-down-if-you-want-you-can-marry/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Oh I can't keep it in; I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out I've got to show the world; world's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/oh-i-can-t-keep-it-in-i-can-t-keep-it-in-i-ve-gotta-let-it-out-i-ve/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I never thought I'd be on the same stage as Kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-same-stage-as-kiss/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Miles from nowhere. Guess I'll take my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/miles-from-nowhere-guess-i-ll-take-my-time/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Sun is the reason And the world it will bloom 'Cause sun lights the sky And the sun lights the moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/sun-is-the-reason-and-the-world-it-will-bloom-cause-sun-lights-the/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) [Explore all 155 Cat Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) ## More Amateur quotes > [“The amateur doesn't appreciate the need for experimentation. He wants his experts to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner-2/the-amateur-doesn-t-appreciate-the-need-for-experimentation-he-wants/) [B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner-2/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I did a musical when I was 17, an amateur show, and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-did-a-musical-when-i-was-17-an-amateur-show-and-i-loved-it/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) > [Every artist was first an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-artist-was-first-an-amateur/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/) Alan Sheinwald > [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I read a lot of 'Nancy Drew' books as a kid and considered myself a bit of an amateur detective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-read-a-lot-of-nancy-drew-books-as-a-kid-and-considered-myself-a-bit/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [Professionalism is environmental. Amateurism is anti-environmental. Professionalism merges the individual into patterns of total environment. Amateurism seeks the development of the total awareness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/professionalism-is-environmental-amateurism-is-anti-environmental/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [You count a man's U.S. Amateur titles after he starts winning professional majors. That's something any intelligent golf writer with a sense of history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/you-count-a-man-s-u-s-amateur-titles-after-he-starts-winning/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [Most amateurs are so worried about mis-hitting the shot or hitting it off line, they don't make an aggressive move. You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [Amateur boxing is one of the safest sports around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/amateur-boxing-is-one-of-the-safest-sports-around/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [“Amateur: One reckless enough to risk being interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-barringer/amateur-one-reckless-enough-to-risk-being-interesting/) David Barringer > [Time management is probably the biggest thing I've had to learn to deal with being on the PGA Tour, whether it be media or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-fowler/time-management-is-probably-the-biggest-thing-i-ve-had-to-learn-to/) [Rickie Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-fowler/) > [When people buy, rescue, or otherwise acquire a dog from unscrupulous breeders or amateur rescue groups, they are making a decision with ethical consequences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/when-people-buy-rescue-or-otherwise-acquire-a-dog-from-unscrupulous/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) Browse all 352 Amateur quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've returned to being an amateur without any ties or strings attached, which gives me a freedom I never had before.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cat Stevens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-without-any-ties-or-strings/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amateur" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-without-any-ties-or-strings/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/cat-stevens-2683_amateur_i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-withou_2180721.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/cat-stevens-2683_amateur_i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-withou_2180721.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/cat-stevens-2683_amateur_i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-withou_2180721.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've returned to being an amateur without any ties or strings attached, which gives me a freedom I never had…” — Cat Stevens", "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": "Cat Stevens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've returned to being an amateur...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-without-any-ties-or-strings/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-ve-returned-to-being-an-amateur-without-any-ties-or-strings/#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 } } ] } ```