--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't get where I am today by being…" description: "\"I didn't get where I am today by being timid, young man.\" — Evan Parker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/evan-parker-19596_men_i-didn-t-get-where-i-am-today-by-being-t_2940274.png" --- # I didn't get where I am today by being timid, young man. ![“I didn't get where I am today by being timid, young man.” quote by Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/evan-parker-19596_men_i-didn-t-get-where-i-am-today-by-being-t_2940274.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/evan-parker-19596_men_i-didn-t-get-where-i-am-today-by-being-t_2940274.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/evan-parker-19596_men_i-didn-t-get-where-i-am-today-by-being-t_2940274.png) > “I didn't get where I am today by being timid, young man.” [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires boldness; timidity hinders achievement. **In simple terms:** Bold actions lead to success, not timidity. Key Takeaway Act decisively despite fear. Themes courage ambition growth Mood motivational direct Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - career advancement - personal challenges Key Concepts psychology risk‑taking Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back? - How can you cultivate boldness? A Different Perspective Risk may lead to failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Didn Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-today-2396648/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Timid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timid/) [Timid Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timid-young-4380804/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Today Timid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-timid-4380803/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't get where I am today by worryin about how I'd feel tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/i-didn-t-get-where-i-am-today-by-worryin-about-how-i-d-feel-tomorrow/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [So maybe you didn't get there today...but the great thing about life is, there's always tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-maybe-you-didn-t-get-there-today-but-the-great-thing-about-life-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“cautious, one adventurous and daring, and they lived together in one head and one body, and they went everywhere together. The timid one was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cross/cautious-one-adventurous-and-daring-and-they-lived-together-in-one/) [Amy Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cross/) > [As a boy soprano in the high school choir, I later sang a solo during the carol service at Canterbury Cathedral, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamish-bowles/as-a-boy-soprano-in-the-high-school-choir-i-later-sang-a-solo-during/) [Hamish Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamish-bowles/) > [Editors have grown timid... a brave advance is almost inevitably followed by quick back-tracking, generally by dilution and debasement of the original intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/editors-have-grown-timid-a-brave-advance-is-almost-inevitably/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [“true love is ever timid;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrs-henry-wood/true-love-is-ever-timid/) [Mrs. Henry Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrs-henry-wood/) > [When one has nothing to lose, one becomes courageous. We are timid only when there is something we can still cling to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-one-has-nothing-to-lose-one-becomes-courageous-we-are-timid-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I understand perfectly. He's fallen for your quiet, timid shell. For who you used to be. He has no idea what you're capable of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-understand-perfectly-he-s-fallen-for-your-quiet-timid-shell-for-who/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Inspiration is the timid beast that comes to your open hand once you’ve fallen asleep having given up trying to coax it from its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-hick/inspiration-is-the-timid-beast-that-comes-to-your-open-hand-once-you/) [Shaun Hick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-hick/) > [“Timid people always reek their peevishness on the gentle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/timid-people-always-reek-their-peevishness-on-the-gentle/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [You can't really win as a Booker judge. If you choose the obvious names, the unit-shifters, you're accused of being timid and unimaginative; if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-fischer/you-can-t-really-win-as-a-booker-judge-if-you-choose-the-obvious/) [Tibor Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-fischer/) > [The timid and fearful cannot defend liberty -- or anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/the-timid-and-fearful-cannot-defend-liberty-or-anything-else/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [“I met you, you were timid and frightened of everything and everyone. You made the proverbial church mouse look like a happy hooker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-met-you-you-were-timid-and-frightened-of-everything-and-everyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Bear in mind that humility is not timidity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/bear-in-mind-that-humility-is-not-timidity/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Only the timid n the weak leave things to destiny but the strong and the self-confident never bank on destiny or luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-timid-n-the-weak-leave-things-to-destiny-but-the-strong-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Evan Parker > [I think the solo playing, the decision to start playing solo, came out of having discovered what lay behind the doors that that technique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/i-think-the-solo-playing-the-decision-to-start-playing-solo-came-out/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [But I think the record will actually come from tapes that are not yet recorded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/but-i-think-the-record-will-actually-come-from-tapes-that-are-not-yet/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [In my mind these two instruments speak to me in different ways, and the solo stuff seems to be easier to do on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/in-my-mind-these-two-instruments-speak-to-me-in-different-ways-and/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [So I'm looking to the saxophone as a resource which has its own unique set of possibilities. I'm looking to exploit them and develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/so-i-m-looking-to-the-saxophone-as-a-resource-which-has-its-own/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [I think the voice does that perfectly adequately without being imitated by other instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/i-think-the-voice-does-that-perfectly-adequately-without-being/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [If I think about the way I was drawn into the music, it was much more by recordings than by live performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/if-i-think-about-the-way-i-was-drawn-into-the-music-it-was-much-more/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [So what starts is ad hoc and you never know where it's going to lead, so it's important to keep an open mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/so-what-starts-is-ad-hoc-and-you-never-know-where-it-s-going-to-lead/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [Of course I knew the work of Roland Kirk and Harry Carney and the specific uses they would make of circular breathing, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/of-course-i-knew-the-work-of-roland-kirk-and-harry-carney-and-the/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [Certain kinds of speed, flow, intensity, density of attacks, density of interaction... Music that concentrates on those qualities is, I think, easier achieved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/certain-kinds-of-speed-flow-intensity-density-of-attacks-density-of/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [Improvisation is a compositional method.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/improvisation-is-a-compositional-method/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [To speak about notation as the only way that you can guarantee structure of course is already very suspect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/to-speak-about-notation-as-the-only-way-that-you-can-guarantee/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [When you add a period of 25 years between the playing and the listening, then the whole question of meaning gets very complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/when-you-add-a-period-of-25-years-between-the-playing-and-the/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [Of course when people are as talented as Jim O'Rourke or Gene Coleman, pretty soon you know that they're going to be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/of-course-when-people-are-as-talented-as-jim-o-rourke-or-gene-coleman/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [There's an institution here called the National Sound Archive, and there's a character who works there, Paul Wilson. He takes a very special interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/there-s-an-institution-here-called-the-national-sound-archive-and/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) > [The argument we always used to use was that keeping records in the catalog was good for people that were coming new to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/the-argument-we-always-used-to-use-was-that-keeping-records-in-the/) [Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) [Explore all 32 Evan Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/) ## More Men quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. 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We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [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/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. 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