--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically, I got into stand-up because…" description: "\"Basically, I got into stand-up because I'm too egocentric to be an actor and not disciplined enough to be a writer.\" — Christian Finnegan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/christian-finnegan-15029_actor_basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i_415618.png" --- # Basically, I got into stand-up because I'm too egocentric… ![“Basically, I got into stand-up because I'm too egocentric to be an actor and not disciplined enough to be a writer.” quote by Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/christian-finnegan-15029_actor_basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i_415618.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/christian-finnegan-15029_actor_basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i_415618.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/christian-finnegan-15029_actor_basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i_415618.png) > “Basically, I got into stand-up because I'm too egocentric to be an actor and not disciplined enough to be a writer.” [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) ## 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 of strengths and weaknesses guides career choices. **In simple terms:** Know yourself to choose the right path. Key Takeaway Align work with true interests. Themes self-awareness career humor Mood humorous introspective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - job interviews - career pivots - creative projects Key Concepts psychology career development creative arts Questions to Reflect On - What strengths do you truly enjoy using? - How can you develop discipline? A Different Perspective Self-criticism may hinder confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [One can write, think and pray exclusively of others; dreams are all egocentric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/one-can-write-think-and-pray-exclusively-of-others-dreams-are-all/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The egocentric is always frustrated, simply because the condition of self-perfection is self-surrender. There must be a willingness to die to the lower part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-egocentric-is-always-frustrated-simply-because-the-condition-of/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [An egocentric pessimist is a person who thinks he hasn't changed, but that other people are behaving worse than before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/an-egocentric-pessimist-is-a-person-who-thinks-he-hasn-t-changed-but/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Consequences of acting in Donald Trump's usual egocentric, "I make the rules," way can be quite dangerous for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-davidson/consequences-of-acting-in-donald-trump-s-usual-egocentric-i-make-the/) [Lawrence Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-davidson/) > [In other words, the real problem is not exterior. The real problem is interior. The real problem is how to get people to internally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/in-other-words-the-real-problem-is-not-exterior-the-real-problem-is/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/kill-your-darlings-kill-your-darlings-even-when-it-breaks-your/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The Old Testament is a chronicle of horrors, describing an egocentric collection of supernatural beings who were always doing rotten things to gentle souls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-keel/the-old-testament-is-a-chronicle-of-horrors-describing-an-egocentric/) [John A. Keel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-keel/) > [“Children's egocentric tendency to attribute their own view of world to others, only later come to realize that they may have a unique and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqui-stedmon/children-s-egocentric-tendency-to-attribute-their-own-view-of-world/) [Jacqui Stedmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqui-stedmon/) > [The real damper on employee engagement is the soggy, cold blanket of centralized authority. In most companies, power cascades downwards from the CEO. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/the-real-damper-on-employee-engagement-is-the-soggy-cold-blanket-of/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [Can a selfish egocentric jealous and unimaginative female write a damn thing worthwhile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/can-a-selfish-egocentric-jealous-and-unimaginative-female-write-a/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Our culture difinitely takes an egocentric dominator view. The fear of the psychedelic experience is quite literally the fear of losing control. Dominator types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/our-culture-difinitely-takes-an-egocentric-dominator-view-the-fear-of/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [If we fail to appreciate the soul that Easternism gives us, then what we have is a disconnected, Greco-Roman, Western, egocentric, compartmentalized, reductionist, fragmented,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/if-we-fail-to-appreciate-the-soul-that-easternism-gives-us-then-what/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [“In the egocentric prism the helpless victim is walled in by the very light which he refracts. The ego dies in its own glass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/in-the-egocentric-prism-the-helpless-victim-is-walled-in-by-the-very/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-miracle-of-me-is-mine-to-own-and-keep-and-mine-to-guard-and-mine/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Of course I believe in aliens. I think it's very egocentric to think that there's nothing else with intelligence in the whole universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-brochere/of-course-i-believe-in-aliens-i-think-it-s-very-egocentric-to-think/) [Lizzie Brochere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-brochere/) ## More by Christian Finnegan > [Basically Britney Spears' video is like a three an a half minute version of Glitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/basically-britney-spears-video-is-like-a-three-an-a-half-minute/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [If you purchased the latest Joss Stone CD, what you're saying is that you're an employee of VH1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/if-you-purchased-the-latest-joss-stone-cd-what-you-re-saying-is-that/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [I'm not an alcoholic. I just drink that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-m-not-an-alcoholic-i-just-drink-that-way/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [If I could go back and talk to the me who was just starting to do comedy, I would have told myself to relax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/if-i-could-go-back-and-talk-to-the-me-who-was-just-starting-to-do/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [Pimp stands for Positive Intellectual Motivated Person. It has nothing to do with selling sex for money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/pimp-stands-for-positive-intellectual-motivated-person-it-has-nothing/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [If you refuse to see Superman Returns this summer, what you're saying about yourself is: I heart Al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/if-you-refuse-to-see-superman-returns-this-summer-what-you-re-saying/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [Jesus is a powerful guy in Hollywood. Not quite as powerful as Vin Diesel, but powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/jesus-is-a-powerful-guy-in-hollywood-not-quite-as-powerful-as-vin/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [I had no choice but to make me as a comedian, because I am not particularly gifted with a lot of marketable skills. Unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-had-no-choice-but-to-make-me-as-a-comedian-because-i-am-not/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [It's my genius plan of avoiding any career momentum whatsoever. Definitely the pop-culture thing is something I've avoided in my act. It's just too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/it-s-my-genius-plan-of-avoiding-any-career-momentum-whatsoever/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [The thing is, I hate political comedy. I personally loathe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/the-thing-is-i-hate-political-comedy-i-personally-loathe-it/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [I really respect peple who try. People who say, No, I'm actually going to do the best I can. That said, you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-really-respect-peple-who-try-people-who-say-no-i-m-actually-going/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [I certainly do believe that a lot of comedy comes from awkwardness and embarrassment - pointing out the ways things are uncomfortable. Definitely the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-certainly-do-believe-that-a-lot-of-comedy-comes-from-awkwardness/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [Relationships are a lot like yard sales. They look really fun from a couple hundred feet away, but eventually you realize it's just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/relationships-are-a-lot-like-yard-sales-they-look-really-fun-from-a/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [I was told by a physician to avoid any line of work where people need to, um, depend on me for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-was-told-by-a-physician-to-avoid-any-line-of-work-where-people-need/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [I think I speak for America when I say, nothing says NASCAR like Whoopi Goldberg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-think-i-speak-for-america-when-i-say-nothing-says-nascar-like/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) [Explore all 44 Christian Finnegan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Basically, I got into stand-up because I'm too egocentric to be an actor and not disciplined enough to be a writer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christian Finnegan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i-m-too-egocentric-to-be-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i-m-too-egocentric-to-be-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/christian-finnegan-15029_actor_basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i_415618.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/christian-finnegan-15029_actor_basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i_415618.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/christian-finnegan-15029_actor_basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i_415618.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Basically, I got into stand-up because I'm too egocentric to be an actor and not disciplined enough to be a…” — Christian Finnegan", "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": "Christian Finnegan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Basically, I got into stand-up because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i-m-too-egocentric-to-be-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/basically-i-got-into-stand-up-because-i-m-too-egocentric-to-be-an/#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 } } ] } ```