--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got out of Job Corps, I was an…" description: "\"When I got out of Job Corps, I was an empty shell. I didn't know what to do with myself.\" — Charles Bradley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cf/charles-bradley-11196_corps_when-i-got-out-of-job-corps-i-was-an-emp_2815219.jpg" --- # When I got out of Job Corps, I was an empty shell. I… ![“When I got out of Job Corps, I was an empty shell. I didn't know what to do with myself.” quote by Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cf/charles-bradley-11196_corps_when-i-got-out-of-job-corps-i-was-an-emp_2815219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cf/charles-bradley-11196_corps_when-i-got-out-of-job-corps-i-was-an-emp_2815219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cf/charles-bradley-11196_corps_when-i-got-out-of-job-corps-i-was-an-emp_2815219.jpg) > “When I got out of Job Corps, I was an empty shell. I didn't know what to do with myself.” [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Job loss can leave emptiness; finding purpose requires self-discovery and new direction. **In simple terms:** Job loss creates emptiness. Key Takeaway Seek new purpose. Themes career purpose resilience Mood hopeful determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - job search - volunteering - education - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism career counseling Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning now? - How can you rebuild purpose? A Different Perspective Economic pressure may limit options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) ## Related quotes > [“I shoulda stayed in Job Corps, but now I'm an outlaw...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-shoulda-stayed-in-job-corps-but-now-i-m-an-outlaw/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [Strength is an empty shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/strength-is-an-empty-shell/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [We are empty shells if we do not possess, if we do not fill our life with furniture, with music, with knowledge, with this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-are-empty-shells-if-we-do-not-possess-if-we-do-not-fill-our-life-2/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [An empty shell. Those were the first words that sprang to mind. … Something incredibly important - .. - had disappeared from Miu for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/an-empty-shell-those-were-the-first-words-that-sprang-to-mind/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“So when Finn sailed back down the Negro at dawn, he saw no flames and heard no roaring as the house was destroyed. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/so-when-finn-sailed-back-down-the-negro-at-dawn-he-saw-no-flames-and/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [Christianity can be described as a theological materialism: It is that which transforms our material existence. If our faith does not throw us into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-rollins/christianity-can-be-described-as-a-theological-materialism-it-is-that/) [Peter Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-rollins/) > [“And the tide shrinks back into its womb And I hope the empty shells and bones of your stories Will litter and clutter the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-creosote/and-the-tide-shrinks-back-into-its-womb-and-i-hope-the-empty-shells/) King Creosote > [Donatello this home has become like an empty shell. Each of your brothers have strengths and weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/master-splinter/donatello-this-home-has-become-like-an-empty-shell-each-of-your/) [Master Splinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/master-splinter/) > [“Life luscious wet life bereft of death, loss of empty shell minus absent of nothing exploding star cell amoeba sweet algae oxygen, hydrogen flowering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-raven-rose/life-luscious-wet-life-bereft-of-death-loss-of-empty-shell-minus/) [H Raven Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-raven-rose/) > [If you have no past or no future, which, after all, is all that the present is made of, why then you may as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/if-you-have-no-past-or-no-future-which-after-all-is-all-that-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I am the soul…but is that true?’ she asked herself aloud. ‘What am I actually? I am not the soul, I am beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-rangel-gerry-o-malley/i-am-the-soul-but-is-that-true-she-asked-herself-aloud-what-am-i/) [Ana Rangel & Gerry O'malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-rangel-gerry-o-malley/) > [“She looks like an empty shell of a woman with her soul hovering above her. We believe in spiritual guías in Santo Domingo. Hers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-cepeda/she-looks-like-an-empty-shell-of-a-woman-with-her-soul-hovering-above/) [Raquel Cepeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-cepeda/) > [One day, I want to be able to stand with my head up proud. I want to be able to hear people say how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiana-webb/one-day-i-want-to-be-able-to-stand-with-my-head-up-proud-i-want-to-be/) [Tiana Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiana-webb/) > [When the words come, they are merely empty shells without the music. They live as they are sung, for the words are the body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-of-bingen/when-the-words-come-they-are-merely-empty-shells-without-the-music/) [Hildegard of Bingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-of-bingen/) > [“Strength is an empty shell. One cannot violate the promptings of one’s nature without having that nature recoil upon itself. Show me a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/strength-is-an-empty-shell-one-cannot-violate-the-promptings-of-one-s/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) ## More by Charles Bradley > [I never knew about racial segregation until Martin Luther King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-never-knew-about-racial-segregation-until-martin-luther-king/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [A real good artist learns to be a better person through all the changes they've been through. They keep their loving and honesty growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/a-real-good-artist-learns-to-be-a-better-person-through-all-the/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I was learning 'Changes' at the time that my mom was sick and she was leaving me. And those last verses in that song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-was-learning-changes-at-the-time-that-my-mom-was-sick-and-she-was/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-aretha-franklin-sam-cooke/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [If you want to give a show, make it real, and people will listen to you more carefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/if-you-want-to-give-a-show-make-it-real-and-people-will-listen-to-you/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I did a CD way back in 1989, but I never got it off the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-did-a-cd-way-back-in-1989-but-i-never-got-it-off-the-ground/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [We've got to learn how to not look at creed or color. Look at how beautiful a bouquet of roses looks like - different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/we-ve-got-to-learn-how-to-not-look-at-creed-or-color-look-at-how/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I'm trying to find a home that I can come home to, and there's no stress or pressure to be scared to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-m-trying-to-find-a-home-that-i-can-come-home-to-and-there-s-no/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [James Brown really taught me a lot - his lyrics and his performance and whatever he does when he's onstage. I'll always call him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/james-brown-really-taught-me-a-lot-his-lyrics-and-his-performance-and/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I lived in the streets for three years when I was a kid, and every day, I didn't know where my next meal would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-lived-in-the-streets-for-three-years-when-i-was-a-kid-and-every-day/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [My grandmother always told me that regardless of what the world gives you, stay humble. Stay strong in your beliefs, and be honest. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/my-grandmother-always-told-me-that-regardless-of-what-the-world-gives/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [Peforming as James Brown, I didn't really have to go deep in my soul the way I do as Charles Bradley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/peforming-as-james-brown-i-didn-t-really-have-to-go-deep-in-my-soul/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I'm 63 now, and I need to take care of myself so that I can continue to perform at my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-m-63-now-and-i-need-to-take-care-of-myself-so-that-i-can-continue/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I've always been a person who wanted to withdraw from the world, because the changes I've been through, I just don't want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-ve-always-been-a-person-who-wanted-to-withdraw-from-the-world/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [Just know that all the pain that I've been through, it made me strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/just-know-that-all-the-pain-that-i-ve-been-through-it-made-me-strong/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) [Explore all 61 Charles Bradley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) ## More Corps quotes > [Without discipline, there is no Marine Corps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/without-discipline-there-is-no-marine-corps/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [Only in Washington would the Republican operatives get the entire press corps ginned up over the notion that I'm going to be home campaigning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/only-in-washington-would-the-republican-operatives-get-the-entire/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [The Corps is in good hands, and it's been a privilege to serve with the Leathernecks. Now it's time to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/the-corps-is-in-good-hands-and-it-s-been-a-privilege-to-serve-with/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [In the Marine Corps there is no individual effort, we're all a big team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/in-the-marine-corps-there-is-no-individual-effort-we-re-all-a-big-team/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [The astronaut corps is a very small part of a very large team that enables human spaceflight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/the-astronaut-corps-is-a-very-small-part-of-a-very-large-team-that/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [I'm really proud of all the stuff we've built with Green Lantern - from Larfleeze to the different corps. The universe has expanded and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/i-m-really-proud-of-all-the-stuff-we-ve-built-with-green-lantern-from/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [Now from a distance, I look back on what the Corps taught me: to think like men of action, and to act like men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/now-from-a-distance-i-look-back-on-what-the-corps-taught-me-to-think/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [I've focused on making sure we have talented teachers and principals in our schools through proposals like the GREAT Teachers and Principals Act and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/i-ve-focused-on-making-sure-we-have-talented-teachers-and-principals/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [The people of Southwest have always been my pride, my joy and my love. Their indomitable dedication and esprit de corps have taken Southwest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/the-people-of-southwest-have-always-been-my-pride-my-joy-and-my-love/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [I think some of my best theatre training has been in the Marine Corps. Not only meeting a bunch of characters, but growing up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-think-some-of-my-best-theatre-training-has-been-in-the-marine-corps/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [My definition, the definition that I've always believed in, is that esprit de corps means love for one's own military legion - in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesty-puller/my-definition-the-definition-that-i-ve-always-believed-in-is-that/) [Chesty Puller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesty-puller/) > [Something I learned in the Marine Corps that I've applied to acting is, one, taking direction, and then working with a group of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/something-i-learned-in-the-marine-corps-that-i-ve-applied-to-acting/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [At Juilliard, suddenly I was reading these great plays that could articulate the ways I was feeling in the Marine Corps, and that felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/at-juilliard-suddenly-i-was-reading-these-great-plays-that-could/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [Our fish, our recreation, our irrigation and all our uses of the Missouri River are threatened if the drought continues and the Corps of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rounds/our-fish-our-recreation-our-irrigation-and-all-our-uses-of-the/) [Mike Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rounds/) > [My parents were in the Peace Corps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/my-parents-were-in-the-peace-corps/) [Jeff Vandermeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) Browse all 88 Corps quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I got out of Job Corps, I was an empty shell. 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