--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was never an ambition to grow up and…" description: "\"It was never an ambition to grow up and win an Academy Award, so when it happens, you go, 'Weird!'\" — Ethan Coen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ethan-coen-10430_academy-award_it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and_651689.jpg" --- # It was never an ambition to grow up and win an Academy… ![“It was never an ambition to grow up and win an Academy Award, so when it happens, you go, 'Weird!'” quote by Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ethan-coen-10430_academy-award_it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and_651689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ethan-coen-10430_academy-award_it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and_651689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ethan-coen-10430_academy-award_it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and_651689.jpg) > “It was never an ambition to grow up and win an Academy Award, so when it happens, you go, 'Weird!'” [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning a major award was never a goal, so its occurrence feels surprising and odd. **In simple terms:** Never aimed for Oscars, so winning feels weird. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected success with humility. Themes career success unexpected Mood reflective lighthearted Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - film industry - award ceremonies - personal milestones Key Concepts achievement humility creative fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay grounded after unexpected recognition? - What does “weird” reveal about personal expectations? A Different Perspective Surprise can mask the effort behind success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academy award](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academy-award/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ## Related quotes > [I'd said to my sweetheart a couple of days before that the SAG and Spirit Award nomination was amazing and I had no attachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hawkes/i-d-said-to-my-sweetheart-a-couple-of-days-before-that-the-sag-and/) [John Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hawkes/) > [Obviously it was an out of body experience to win an Academy Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/obviously-it-was-an-out-of-body-experience-to-win-an-academy-award/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [A lot of people are going around saying, 'You won the Academy Award for such and such.' 'No. I didn't.' 'You didn't?' 'Well, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/a-lot-of-people-are-going-around-saying-you-won-the-academy-award-for/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [people see so many movies that when they finally see one not so bad as the others, they think it's great. an Academy Award…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/people-see-so-many-movies-that-when-they-finally-see-one-not-so-bad/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Sometimes it happens in weird ways,” she whispered before she let me go, “but dreams come true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/sometimes-it-happens-in-weird-ways-she-whispered-before-she-let-me-go/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I grew up on Stephen King, reading the books. I love the small town, 1950s feel to it, that nostalgia, and that old America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-koch/i-grew-up-on-stephen-king-reading-the-books-i-love-the-small-town/) [Alexander Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-koch/) > [I' ve won awards. And they didn't make me feel bad winning them. They made me feel pretty good. But it also did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-ve-won-awards-and-they-didn-t-make-me-feel-bad-winning-them-they/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [The Academy Awards were basically created by the industry to promote pictures. They weren't really to acknowledge the performances. Then it became sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cromwell/the-academy-awards-were-basically-created-by-the-industry-to-promote/) [James Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cromwell/) > [To be recognized for your hard work is a true honor. An Academy Award nomination is one thing that, five years later, I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailee-steinfeld/to-be-recognized-for-your-hard-work-is-a-true-honor-an-academy-award/) [Hailee Steinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailee-steinfeld/) > [The (Academy Award) ceremonies are a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-scott/the-academy-award-ceremonies-are-a-two-hour-meat-parade-a-public/) [George C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-scott/) > [The Academy Awards was an amazing night. I know I kind of lost my mind a little bit. I apologize for that. That night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/the-academy-awards-was-an-amazing-night-i-know-i-kind-of-lost-my-mind/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [The Oscar sits on some shelf above my desk. If there was an earthquake, I could actually be killed by my own Academy Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt/the-oscar-sits-on-some-shelf-above-my-desk-if-there-was-an-earthquake/) [Helen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt/) > [The people voting for the Oscars are so old. I haven't seen one Academy Award voter with a tampon in her purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/the-people-voting-for-the-oscars-are-so-old-i-haven-t-seen-one/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [The academy awards in England; it's a classy affair as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/the-academy-awards-in-england-it-s-a-classy-affair-as-well/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) > [Naturally, I was thrilled but being the first year, the Academy Awards had no background or tradition, and it naturally didn’t mean what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-gaynor/naturally-i-was-thrilled-but-being-the-first-year-the-academy-awards/) Janet Gaynor ## More by Ethan Coen > [That's interesting: people deriving their identities from their music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/that-s-interesting-people-deriving-their-identities-from-their-music/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [People respond to real problems from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/people-respond-to-real-problems-from-the-heart/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [Like any kind of writing, there are good days and frustrating days. But even frustrating days can be rewarding sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/like-any-kind-of-writing-there-are-good-days-and-frustrating-days-but/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [That cowboy look - the hat and the bandana - that's not a fashion statement. That clothing is purely practical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/that-cowboy-look-the-hat-and-the-bandana-that-s-not-a-fashion/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [What is striking in Minnesota is the invisible horizon line. On a grey day, when there's snow on the ground, the sky and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/what-is-striking-in-minnesota-is-the-invisible-horizon-line-on-a-grey/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [Is this business any worse than any other business? It's not especially bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/is-this-business-any-worse-than-any-other-business-it-s-not/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [It's just an impulse, in some actors. You want to make the audience like you. That's the aim of the exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/it-s-just-an-impulse-in-some-actors-you-want-to-make-the-audience/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [You don't have to have a true story to make a true story movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/you-don-t-have-to-have-a-true-story-to-make-a-true-story-movie/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > ['Once Upon a Time in the West' is a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-is-a-great-movie/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [Mainstream movies used to be more adventurous because people went to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/mainstream-movies-used-to-be-more-adventurous-because-people-went-to/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [We used to watch the muscle movies on Saturday matinees, such as 'Hercules Unchained.' Then we'd go outside and do a remake of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/we-used-to-watch-the-muscle-movies-on-saturday-matinees-such-as/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [I mean, Joel talks to the actors more than I do and I probably do production stuff a little more than he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/i-mean-joel-talks-to-the-actors-more-than-i-do-and-i-probably-do/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [“Fuck it, Dude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/fuck-it-dude/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [We tend to do period stuff because it helps make it one step removed from boring everyday reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/we-tend-to-do-period-stuff-because-it-helps-make-it-one-step-removed/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [You don't cast the animal, per se. You have an animal trainer who looks for several of them. That is a different experience than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/you-don-t-cast-the-animal-per-se-you-have-an-animal-trainer-who-looks/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) [Explore all 65 Ethan Coen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) ## More Academy award quotes > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [I remember when I first won the Academy Award and how much I loved it. I just wish there was an award around that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-woodward/i-remember-when-i-first-won-the-academy-award-and-how-much-i-loved-it/) [Joanne Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-woodward/) > [I think that no matter whether you're Quentin Tarantino or any other kind of a rebel, or whatever, everyone who makes movies still wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/i-think-that-no-matter-whether-you-re-quentin-tarantino-or-any-other/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [“When Barack Obama took office, the fossil fuel industry was not only eager to preserve its perks but also more militant in its opposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/when-barack-obama-took-office-the-fossil-fuel-industry-was-not-only/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [I don't really look forward to movie stardom or doing a $200-million movie or winning an Academy Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-taylor/i-don-t-really-look-forward-to-movie-stardom-or-doing-a-200-million/) [Rachael Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-taylor/) > [I am an outsider looking in, absolutely. You're not going to see me at the Academy Awards 'Vanity Fair' party any time soon. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-am-an-outsider-looking-in-absolutely-you-re-not-going-to-see-me-at/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [My celebrity crush is Eva Mendes. I think she is gorgeous and shes got a great personality. I also got really star-struck seeing Penelope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/my-celebrity-crush-is-eva-mendes-i-think-she-is-gorgeous-and-shes-got/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [I certainly never pictured myself even attending the Academy Awards, much less winning at 56. I very, very happily settled into a theater career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rylance/i-certainly-never-pictured-myself-even-attending-the-academy-awards/) [Mark Rylance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rylance/) > [Things with my dad were pretty good until I won an Academy Award. He was really loving to me until I got more attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/things-with-my-dad-were-pretty-good-until-i-won-an-academy-award-he/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [At the Academy Awards every year, there are best-dressed stars - and worst-dressed stars. But it's the worst-dressed that go down in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-goreski/at-the-academy-awards-every-year-there-are-best-dressed-stars-and/) [Brad Goreski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-goreski/) > [“What are you doing?” I dropped the dress and whirled around. Stephen stood in the doorway of the closet, looking at me steadily. “Nothing,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrington/what-are-you-doing-i-dropped-the-dress-and-whirled-around-stephen/) [Kim Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrington/) > [Success has many ways of coming to you. Sometimes it comes right away, and then the film's instantly forgotten. Sometimes you can't remember what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/success-has-many-ways-of-coming-to-you-sometimes-it-comes-right-away/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [Going to the Academy Awards is something I remember since I was six, when I went with my mom for the first time, 14…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/going-to-the-academy-awards-is-something-i-remember-since-i-was-six/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [I'm a member of BAFTA, so I vote in all the films that come up for the Academy Awards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/i-m-a-member-of-bafta-so-i-vote-in-all-the-films-that-come-up-for-the/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [The (Academy Award) ceremonies are a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-scott/the-academy-award-ceremonies-are-a-two-hour-meat-parade-a-public/) [George C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-scott/) [Browse all 181 Academy award quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academy-award/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was never an ambition to grow up and win an Academy Award, so when it happens, you go, 'Weird!'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ethan Coen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and-win-an-academy-award-so-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Academy award" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and-win-an-academy-award-so-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ethan-coen-10430_academy-award_it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and_651689.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ethan-coen-10430_academy-award_it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and_651689.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ethan-coen-10430_academy-award_it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and_651689.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was never an ambition to grow up and win an Academy Award, so when it happens, you go, 'Weird!'” — Ethan Coen", "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": "Ethan Coen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It was never an ambition to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and-win-an-academy-award-so-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/it-was-never-an-ambition-to-grow-up-and-win-an-academy-award-so-when/#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 } } ] } ```