--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know how to be cool. I didn't…" description: "\"I didn't know how to be cool. I didn't know how to have swag.\" — Danielle Macdonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/danielle-macdonald-8379_cool_i-didn-t-know-how-to-be-cool-i-didn-t-kn_2220857.jpg" --- # I didn't know how to be cool. I didn't know how to have… ![“I didn't know how to be cool. I didn't know how to have swag.” quote by Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/danielle-macdonald-8379_cool_i-didn-t-know-how-to-be-cool-i-didn-t-kn_2220857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/danielle-macdonald-8379_cool_i-didn-t-know-how-to-be-cool-i-didn-t-kn_2220857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/danielle-macdonald-8379_cool_i-didn-t-know-how-to-be-cool-i-didn-t-kn_2220857.jpg) > “I didn't know how to be cool. I didn't know how to have swag.” [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑esteem comes from confidence, not external validation. **In simple terms:** Confidence beats trying to be cool. Key Takeaway Cultivate genuine self‑confidence. Themes self‑image confidence social perception Mood anxious hopeful Type motivational conversational When to use this quote - Job interviews - first dates - public speaking - social media posts Key Concepts psychology identity culture Questions to Reflect On - What does “cool” mean to you? - How can you express authenticity? A Different Perspective Trying too hard can appear inauthentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool/) [Cool Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool-didn-2749343/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-cool-315302/) [Know Swag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-swag-487594/) [Swag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swag/) ## Related quotes > [How do you know when you have swag when you dont know what swag is and judging people to see if they have swag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-do-you-know-when-you-have-swag-when-you-dont-know-what-swag-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know its my swag,face and my chain/ that got me on chickens like sweet baby rays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-barnz/i-know-its-my-swag-face-and-my-chain-that-got-me-on-chickens-like/) [Eddie Barnz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-barnz/) > [If they aint got it , let them know No Swag.com](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-they-aint-got-it-let-them-know-no-swag-com/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know, I have swag, so I know for sure that I can steal the show with some of the stuff that I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oubre-jr/you-know-i-have-swag-so-i-know-for-sure-that-i-can-steal-the-show/) [Kelly Oubre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oubre-jr/) > [I know I do swag rap also, but I also take it seriously. It's like 50-50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ski-mask-the-slump-god/i-know-i-do-swag-rap-also-but-i-also-take-it-seriously-it-s-like-50-50/) [Ski Mask the Slump God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ski-mask-the-slump-god/) > [In the fifties… we were so busy being cool that we didn’t know how to say the word love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-di-prima/in-the-fifties-we-were-so-busy-being-cool-that-we-didn-t-know-how-to/) [Diane di Prima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-di-prima/) > [“It was pretty cool to have someone around here who didn't like the same things as everybody else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-eulberg/it-was-pretty-cool-to-have-someone-around-here-who-didn-t-like-the/) [Elizabeth Eulberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-eulberg/) > [I want to change the perception about Latinos worldwide. I think people don't know yet how cool we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-balvin/i-want-to-change-the-perception-about-latinos-worldwide-i-think/) [J Balvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-balvin/) > [I'm from Iowa, we don't know what cool is!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/i-m-from-iowa-we-don-t-know-what-cool-is/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [“You think you’re so cool.” “As a matter of fact, you have absolutely no idea what I think,” Dolores said. “But if you’ll allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-brooks/you-think-you-re-so-cool-as-a-matter-of-fact-you-have-absolutely-no/) [Bruce Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-brooks/) > [I think that we definitely want to experiment, and if there's a hip-hop song that we like, we'll cover it. We don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/i-think-that-we-definitely-want-to-experiment-and-if-there-s-a-hip/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [I want people to know it's cool to come up to me and say hi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-madix/i-want-people-to-know-it-s-cool-to-come-up-to-me-and-say-hi/) [Ariana Madix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-madix/) > [I don't even know how I became cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-nokia/i-don-t-even-know-how-i-became-cool/) [Princess Nokia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-nokia/) > [Being cool doesn't mean wearing the latest design clothes,;being with all the girls or guys, being popular or whatever. You know what being cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/being-cool-doesn-t-mean-wearing-the-latest-design-clothes-being-with/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [People don't know exactly what I do; they just know I'm 'cool.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/people-don-t-know-exactly-what-i-do-they-just-know-i-m-cool/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) ## More by Danielle Macdonald > [Emma Watson was a super-starstruck moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/emma-watson-was-a-super-starstruck-moment/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [When I first watched '8 Mile,' it was amazing. It got me. I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/when-i-first-watched-8-mile-it-was-amazing-it-got-me-i-loved-it/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I actually got a visa through a job that fell through, and it allowed me to move out here and start from scratch. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-actually-got-a-visa-through-a-job-that-fell-through-and-it-allowed/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I grew up in Sydney, Australia, and I started doing acting classes when I was in eighth grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-grew-up-in-sydney-australia-and-i-started-doing-acting-classes-when/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I'm pretty boring in my real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-m-pretty-boring-in-my-real-life/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [People in big studios are like, 'People want to see other people who are skinny and happy and amazing.' But I think, nowadays, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/people-in-big-studios-are-like-people-want-to-see-other-people-who/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [Honestly, a lot of the time the character roles are the best roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/honestly-a-lot-of-the-time-the-character-roles-are-the-best-roles/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I had to work at it - audition and fail, get things and lose others. If you really want something, you keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-had-to-work-at-it-audition-and-fail-get-things-and-lose-others-if/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [You can drive your own self crazy. You don't have to be in a bad situation or be bullied every day to feel this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/you-can-drive-your-own-self-crazy-you-don-t-have-to-be-in-a-bad/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [How many people get to say they recorded a song with Dolly Parton and Jennifer Aniston?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/how-many-people-get-to-say-they-recorded-a-song-with-dolly-parton-and/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [It's just so hard growing up: you go through things, especially acting - I go to a different set every couple of months, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/it-s-just-so-hard-growing-up-you-go-through-things-especially-acting/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I think confidence comes with age and experience, honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-think-confidence-comes-with-age-and-experience-honestly/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I'm a realist - yes, I know: darn, I'm unlikely to have a love scene with Chris Hemsworth anytime soon, if ever. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-m-a-realist-yes-i-know-darn-i-m-unlikely-to-have-a-love-scene-with/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I love Octavia Spencer. I love what she has to say as a human, and I love her career and the variety of characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-love-octavia-spencer-i-love-what-she-has-to-say-as-a-human-and-i/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [Kendrick is phenomenal. I've never tried and practiced a song that was as hard as when I practiced Kendrick's verse on 'Control.' He's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/kendrick-is-phenomenal-i-ve-never-tried-and-practiced-a-song-that-was/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) [Explore all 81 Danielle Macdonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) ## More Cool quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [Vo5C0y Muchos Gracias for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serivce/vo5c0y-muchos-gracias-for-your-article-really-looking-forward-to-read/) [Serivce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serivce/) > [What a cool job to be part of - whether it's doing lighting or acting or serving food on set. You're part of telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/what-a-cool-job-to-be-part-of-whether-it-s-doing-lighting-or-acting/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [Jail is definitely not cool. Education is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-rule/jail-is-definitely-not-cool-education-is/) [Ja Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-rule/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [My family environment wasn't cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/my-family-environment-wasn-t-cool/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [It would be really cool to have my dad here to witness this, to see his grandchildren, to see this woman that I chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/it-would-be-really-cool-to-have-my-dad-here-to-witness-this-to-see/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [To us, being the bad guys is cool, because we always root for the bad guys in the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/to-us-being-the-bad-guys-is-cool-because-we-always-root-for-the-bad/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [On my podcast, I got to interview Will Ferrell, Sam Hunt, Colin Cowherd - all these different names - and it was just really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-darnold/on-my-podcast-i-got-to-interview-will-ferrell-sam-hunt-colin-cowherd/) [Sam Darnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-darnold/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I had always been scared of the unknown, and I think it had a lot to do with a lack of self-confidence (and wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-had-always-been-scared-of-the-unknown-and-i-think-it-had-a-lot-to/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [There are a lot of movies about misfits that are quite cool, that kind of glamorize it on some level. I think there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-about-misfits-that-are-quite-cool-that-kind/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) [Browse all 4,681 Cool quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't know how to be cool. 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