---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I left university, I didn't want to…"
description: "\"When I left university, I didn't want to jump into anything right away. Music certainly wasn't a burning ambition.\" — Chris de Burgh"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/chris-de-burgh-5798_ambition_when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to_2517457.png"
---

#  When I left university, I didn't want to jump into…

![“When I left university, I didn't want to jump into anything right away. Music certainly wasn't a burning ambition.” quote by Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/chris-de-burgh-5798_ambition_when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to_2517457.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/chris-de-burgh-5798_ambition_when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to_2517457.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/chris-de-burgh-5798_ambition_when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to_2517457.png)

> “When I left university, I didn't want to jump into anything right away. Music certainly wasn't a burning ambition.”

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

After university, he chose a period of exploration before committing to a career, showing that not all paths need immediate direction.

**In simple terms:** He didn’t jump straight into a career after college.

Key Takeaway

Allow time for self‑discovery.

Themes

career exploration music life choices patience

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

career personal growth

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- travel
- education decisions

Key Concepts

identity formation non‑linear paths creative pursuits

Questions to Reflect On

- What helped him decide when to start?
- How does uncertainty affect motivation?

A Different Perspective

Delay can lead to missed opportunities if prolonged.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/)

## Related quotes

> [My experience came before most of you were born. My school was a state school in Leeds and the headmaster usually sent students to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/my-experience-came-before-most-of-you-were-born-my-school-was-a-state/)

[Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/)

> [I never thought about becoming an actor. Even when I applied for university, I didn't choose theater as a major to become an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gong-yoo/i-never-thought-about-becoming-an-actor-even-when-i-applied-for/)

[Gong Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gong-yoo/)

> [I had a place to go to university; I was going to study history. I was in New York doing 'Arcadia,' and I suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-had-a-place-to-go-to-university-i-was-going-to-study-history-i-was/)

[Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/)

> [I didn't go to university. Didn't even finish A-levels. But I have sympathy for those who did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-didn-t-go-to-university-didn-t-even-finish-a-levels-but-i-have/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [I went to McGill University, but I didn't graduate. They won't graduate me because I didn't have a degree in any one thing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-went-to-mcgill-university-but-i-didn-t-graduate-they-won-t-graduate/)

[Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/)

> [I didn't go to university. I didn't go to culinary school, barely made it through high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-douglas/i-didn-t-go-to-university-i-didn-t-go-to-culinary-school-barely-made/)

[Tom Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-douglas/)

> [The British may not know much about music, but they certainly loves the noise it makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baker/the-british-may-not-know-much-about-music-but-they-certainly-loves/)

[Richard Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baker/)

> [I don't understand the music but I certainly understand the girl singer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/i-don-t-understand-the-music-but-i-certainly-understand-the-girl/)

[Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/)

> [I have the best job in the world. I'm able to express myself, and people attach themselves to it if they identify with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hetfield/i-have-the-best-job-in-the-world-i-m-able-to-express-myself-and/)

[James Hetfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hetfield/)

> [There is power in music, certainly when an audience starts to show up and you have the option to send good messages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lloyd/there-is-power-in-music-certainly-when-an-audience-starts-to-show-up/)

[Dennis Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lloyd/)

> [My music, certainly, has never embarrassed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gibb/my-music-certainly-has-never-embarrassed-me/)

[Barry Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gibb/)

> [Timbaland uses a lot of Indian music and that has certainly familiarised me about the music of India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/timbaland-uses-a-lot-of-indian-music-and-that-has-certainly/)

[Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/)

> [But back then the thing that saved me was the music, and it's certainly the music that saves me now. The music, my family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-chamberlin/but-back-then-the-thing-that-saved-me-was-the-music-and-it-s/)

[Jimmy Chamberlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-chamberlin/)

> [I like traditional music. I listen to a lot of it. There is no particular reason to present these recordings. I love what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bishop/i-like-traditional-music-i-listen-to-a-lot-of-it-there-is-no/)

[Alan Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bishop/)

> [I toured for about 2 1/2 years on twentythree and then I took about a year off. I really just spent some good quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-prettyman/i-toured-for-about-2-1-2-years-on-twentythree-and-then-i-took-about-a/)

[Tristan Prettyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-prettyman/)

## More by Chris de Burgh

> [I thought I would be an overnight star when I had a hit record in Brazil with my first album - but things didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/i-thought-i-would-be-an-overnight-star-when-i-had-a-hit-record-in/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [I like to be subtle, without being too obvious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/i-like-to-be-subtle-without-being-too-obvious/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [I met someone in the West Indies who was not able to walk. I put my hands on him and he was able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/i-met-someone-in-the-west-indies-who-was-not-able-to-walk-i-put-my/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [Vanity is not high on my list of priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/vanity-is-not-high-on-my-list-of-priorities/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [I can rock along with the best of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/i-can-rock-along-with-the-best-of-them/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [I generally write the songs accidentally. They generally come out of nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/i-generally-write-the-songs-accidentally-they-generally-come-out-of/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [When I'm home I love to get the wellies on and take the dog for a walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/when-i-m-home-i-love-to-get-the-wellies-on-and-take-the-dog-for-a-walk/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [I've 300 other songs, but 'Lady In Red' is just one of them. Funnily enough, in America, it is massive, but most people wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/i-ve-300-other-songs-but-lady-in-red-is-just-one-of-them-funnily/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [Americans are much easier to please than Canadians. The American taste is less critical. Canadians are more cultured, they are more aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/americans-are-much-easier-to-please-than-canadians-the-american-taste/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [Quite simply, to win Miss World is not a ticket to millions and I've read that so many times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/quite-simply-to-win-miss-world-is-not-a-ticket-to-millions-and-i-ve/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [Before I ever did a stage concert, I'd done hundreds of living-room concerts, which helped a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/before-i-ever-did-a-stage-concert-i-d-done-hundreds-of-living-room/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [I have never subscribed to public confessionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/i-have-never-subscribed-to-public-confessionals/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [Philanthropy is never understood by those who don't have it in their own hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/philanthropy-is-never-understood-by-those-who-don-t-have-it-in-their/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [A lot of people think they can become world stars overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/a-lot-of-people-think-they-can-become-world-stars-overnight/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

> [After university, I set out to see if I could make a career in music. It was a tough journey at first, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/after-university-i-set-out-to-see-if-i-could-make-a-career-in-music/)

[Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

[Explore all 100 Chris de Burgh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/)

## More Ambition quotes

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/)

[Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/)

> [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/)

[Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/)

> [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/)

[Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/)

> [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/)

[Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/)

> [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/)

[Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/)

> [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/)

[London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/)

> [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/)

[Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/)

[Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I left university, I didn't want to jump into anything right away. Music certainly wasn't a burning ambition.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris de Burgh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to-jump-into-anything-right-away/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ambition"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to-jump-into-anything-right-away/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/chris-de-burgh-5798_ambition_when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to_2517457.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/chris-de-burgh-5798_ambition_when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to_2517457.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/chris-de-burgh-5798_ambition_when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to_2517457.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I left university, I didn't want to jump into anything right away. Music certainly wasn't a burning…” — Chris de Burgh",
                "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": "Chris de Burgh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I left university, I didn't...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to-jump-into-anything-right-away/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/when-i-left-university-i-didn-t-want-to-jump-into-anything-right-away/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```