--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had a talent, it was for looking…" description: "\"If I had a talent, it was for looking askew at everything, possibly more than my contemporaries. But I had to really push myself to be a writer.\" — Dav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/david-bowie-508_everything_if-i-had-a-talent-it-was-for-looking-ask_2909336.jpg" --- # If I had a talent, it was for looking askew at everything… ![“If I had a talent, it was for looking askew at everything, possibly more than my contemporaries. But I had to really push myself to be a writer.” quote by David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/david-bowie-508_everything_if-i-had-a-talent-it-was-for-looking-ask_2909336.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/david-bowie-508_everything_if-i-had-a-talent-it-was-for-looking-ask_2909336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/david-bowie-508_everything_if-i-had-a-talent-it-was-for-looking-ask_2909336.jpg) > “If I had a talent, it was for looking askew at everything, possibly more than my contemporaries. But I had to really push myself to be a writer.” [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits his talent lay in questioning norms, and that he had to work hard to become a writer despite his natural inclination to be critical. **In simple terms:** He needed effort to become a writer despite his critical nature. Key Takeaway Embrace effort to develop skills. Themes creativity self-doubt discipline writing self-awareness Mood introspective motivational Type personal reflection advice When to use this quote - writing daily - challenging assumptions - seeking feedback - turning critique into art Key Concepts critical perspective creative process personal development Questions to Reflect On - What habits help you improve your craft? - How do you balance critique with creation? A Different Perspective His self-assessment may undervalue innate talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If you don't really have a dream, you can't really push yourself; you don't really know what the target is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-dhoni/if-you-don-t-really-have-a-dream-you-can-t-really-push-yourself-you/) [MS Dhoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ms-dhoni/) > [The fun part for me is to just really push that envelope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lawrence/the-fun-part-for-me-is-to-just-really-push-that-envelope/) [Vicki Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lawrence/) > [You're always trying to find new stuff and new inspiration. If you don't really push and you don't try something that feels exciting, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/you-re-always-trying-to-find-new-stuff-and-new-inspiration-if-you-don/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [To bring out the best in someone, you really have to push them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ortega/to-bring-out-the-best-in-someone-you-really-have-to-push-them/) [Brian Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ortega/) > [You have audiences that are exposed to so much content from across the world which is why you really have to push the envelope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-kapoor/you-have-audiences-that-are-exposed-to-so-much-content-from-across/) [Kunal Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-kapoor/) > [Be patient and stay grounded. Everybody gets a chance, but you have to stand out. If an executive was out looking for new talent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-chuckee/be-patient-and-stay-grounded-everybody-gets-a-chance-but-you-have-to/) [Lil Chuckee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-chuckee/) > [“My talent is looking into a woman's eyes and instinctively knowing what I need to. If she's lonely or bored; neglected or abused; timid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-l-pickering-jr/my-talent-is-looking-into-a-woman-s-eyes-and-instinctively-knowing/) [Roy L. Pickering Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-l-pickering-jr/) > [“She had a talent for looking at a person with no expression - you filled in whatever you felt guiltiest about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-had-a-talent-for-looking-at-a-person-with-no-expression-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you dance with Arjun, the bar is set so high that you need to really push yourself to match up to him. 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I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [No more free steps to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/no-more-free-steps-to-heaven/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I'm not sure whether it is me changing my mind, or whether I lie a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-not-sure-whether-it-is-me-changing-my-mind-or-whether-i-lie-a-lot/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I do some kind of work, whether writing or painting or recording, on a daily basis. 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They're quite aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/and-these-children-that-you-spit-on-as-they-try-to-change-their/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I think the first song I ever wrote ... was called "Can't Help Thinking About Me." That's an illuminating little piece, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-think-the-first-song-i-ever-wrote-was-called-can-t-help-thinking/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I've come to the realizations that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-ve-come-to-the-realizations-that-i-have-absolutely-no-idea-what-i-m/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I never really felt like a rock singer or a rock star or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-never-really-felt-like-a-rock-singer-or-a-rock-star-or-whatever/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) [Explore all 508 David Bowie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) ## More Everything quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. 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