--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ever since high school I had done things…" description: "\"Ever since high school I had done things so people wouldn't just respect me because of the way I looked. I decided, to hell with it. I'm going to pursu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/evangeline-lilly-1168_decided_ever-since-high-school-i-had-done-things_3171274.jpg" --- # Ever since high school I had done things so people… ![“Ever since high school I had done things so people wouldn't just respect me because of the way I looked. I decided, to hell with it. I'm going to pursue mediocrity, and I'm going to be so happy.” quote by Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/evangeline-lilly-1168_decided_ever-since-high-school-i-had-done-things_3171274.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/evangeline-lilly-1168_decided_ever-since-high-school-i-had-done-things_3171274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/evangeline-lilly-1168_decided_ever-since-high-school-i-had-done-things_3171274.jpg) > “Ever since high school I had done things so people wouldn't just respect me because of the way I looked. I decided, to hell with it. I'm going to pursue mediocrity, and I'm going to be so happy.” [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker rejects seeking respect based on appearance and chooses to embrace mediocrity for happiness. **In simple terms:** Choosing mediocrity over appearance-based respect leads to happiness. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal joy over external validation. Themes self‑acceptance identity happiness Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - personal relationships - self‑esteem building Key Concepts psychology social norms Questions to Reflect On - What does mediocrity mean to you? - Can happiness coexist with striving for excellence? A Different Perspective Embracing mediocrity may limit ambition or growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Decided Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided-hell-5773053/) [Going Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-happy-342114/) [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Pursue Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-mediocrity-5773052/) ## Related quotes > [Come on, if you lose, no one's going to be happy and nor should they be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-spoelstra/come-on-if-you-lose-no-one-s-going-to-be-happy-and-nor-should-they-be/) [Erik Spoelstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-spoelstra/) > [Be in the moment as an actor and as a human being, and you're going to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-webber/be-in-the-moment-as-an-actor-and-as-a-human-being-and-you-re-going-to/) [Mark Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-webber/) > [Some way some how I'm going to be happy I'm going to laugh I'm going to prosper,i feel good that I remain positive thru…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-collins-jr/some-way-some-how-i-m-going-to-be-happy-i-m-going-to-laugh-i-m-going/) [Joe Collins Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-collins-jr/) > [You know if you give 100 per cent every day that you're going to be happy with yourself. When you lose you've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adama-traore/you-know-if-you-give-100-per-cent-every-day-that-you-re-going-to-be/) [Adama Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adama-traore/) > [If you're not happy where you are, you will not be happy where you're going. If you're not happy with what you have, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-phil/if-you-re-not-happy-where-you-are-you-will-not-be-happy-where-you-re/) [Uncle Phil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncle-phil/) > [Im going to be happy. Im going to skip. Im going to be glad. Im going to be easy. Im going to count my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-going-to-be-happy-im-going-to-skip-im-going-to-be-glad-im-going-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you don't enjoy the journey, you're not going to be happy once you get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-missick/if-you-don-t-enjoy-the-journey-you-re-not-going-to-be-happy-once-you/) [Simone Missick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-missick/) > [I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-have-just-one-day-today-and-i-m-going-to-be-happy-in-it/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Happy is one of the many things I'm likely to be over the course of a day and certainly over the course of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/happy-is-one-of-the-many-things-i-m-likely-to-be-over-the-course-of-a/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [“Try any way but you are not going to be happy unless you became my friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-bodkhe/try-any-way-but-you-are-not-going-to-be-happy-unless-you-became-my/) [Rahul Bodkhe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-bodkhe/) > [I am going to be happy regardless where I am at as long as I am playing basketball with some guys that have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jackson/i-am-going-to-be-happy-regardless-where-i-am-at-as-long-as-i-am/) [Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/) > [“Events don’t determine whether or not you’re going to be happy. They’re just events. You determine whether or not you’re going to be happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-singer/events-don-t-determine-whether-or-not-you-re-going-to-be-happy-they/) [Michael A. Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-singer/) > [“I will be alive in ten years, and I’m going to be happy. I’m going to be strong. And I don’t need anyone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-will-be-alive-in-ten-years-and-i-m-going-to-be-happy-i-m-going-to/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [For me, as a point guard, you have to construct everything. If you make everybody happy, you are going to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jrue-holiday/for-me-as-a-point-guard-you-have-to-construct-everything-if-you-make/) [Jrue Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jrue-holiday/) > [As long as I'm out there playing with my teammates and playing with my brothers, I'm going to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minkah-fitzpatrick/as-long-as-i-m-out-there-playing-with-my-teammates-and-playing-with/) [Minkah Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minkah-fitzpatrick/) ## More by Evangeline Lilly > [You can't have a movie with a group of people that are significant players in the story, that push forward the plot, without introducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/you-can-t-have-a-movie-with-a-group-of-people-that-are-significant/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I'm a very stubborn woman and I'm from a very stubborn family of headstrong women. I have sisters, so the women rule the coop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-m-a-very-stubborn-woman-and-i-m-from-a-very-stubborn-family-of/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [People initially think I'm a snob because I'm intensely private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/people-initially-think-i-m-a-snob-because-i-m-intensely-private/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I actually write as a passion, as something I actually am more passionate about than acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-actually-write-as-a-passion-as-something-i-actually-am-more/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I like to be around people who make me laugh. It's one of my favorite things on a set. I hate it when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-like-to-be-around-people-who-make-me-laugh-it-s-one-of-my-favorite/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I am kind of prudish and I have very strict standards about how I present myself. But one of the things that I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-am-kind-of-prudish-and-i-have-very-strict-standards-about-how-i/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Outside of acting, the person that I admire the most is my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/outside-of-acting-the-person-that-i-admire-the-most-is-my-mother/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Truthfully, I love being in the jungle. I love it when the make-up artists come to set, they come equipped with dirt and sweat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/truthfully-i-love-being-in-the-jungle-i-love-it-when-the-make-up/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I was a massive Tolkien fan. 'The Hobbit' was... my favorite book as a little girl, and the Silvan Elves were my favorite characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-was-a-massive-tolkien-fan-the-hobbit-was-my-favorite-book-as-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I'm not stressed out about where my next paycheck is coming from, or what I am doing with the rest of my life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-m-not-stressed-out-about-where-my-next-paycheck-is-coming-from-or/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [Hollywood is the Sodom and Gomorrah of today. It's a world I avoid because it's destroying our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/hollywood-is-the-sodom-and-gomorrah-of-today-it-s-a-world-i-avoid/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I've been astounded to discover how good to their teams and crew that Marvel are. They're so collaborative, so smart with their stories. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-ve-been-astounded-to-discover-how-good-to-their-teams-and-crew-that/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I changed jobs like I changed shirts. It was something I just like to do - I like trying my hand at everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-changed-jobs-like-i-changed-shirts-it-was-something-i-just-like-to/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I always wear something slightly masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-always-wear-something-slightly-masculine/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) [Explore all 280 Evangeline Lilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) ## More Decided quotes > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. That's also why I decided against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-frahm/the-only-thing-i-try-to-watch-carefully-is-that-i-never-lose-the-love/) [Nils Frahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-frahm/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [One day I decided I would like to put a record into my system. So I picked up a record that was lying on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/one-day-i-decided-i-would-like-to-put-a-record-into-my-system-so-i/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [I just decided to take some time off. I've been modeling since '93, '92, and that's a pretty long time. I'm a single mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-murphy/i-just-decided-to-take-some-time-off-i-ve-been-modeling-since-93-92/) [Carolyn Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-murphy/) > [When I became 21, I decided that nobody learned anything about politics after the age of 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/when-i-became-21-i-decided-that-nobody-learned-anything-about/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Before I started doing the film and when I found out I was going to be doing it, I just decided to pump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parminder-nagra/before-i-started-doing-the-film-and-when-i-found-out-i-was-going-to/) [Parminder Nagra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parminder-nagra/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) > [He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/he-decided-then-that-he-would-love-her-forever-no-matter-what-came-to/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [At age 28, I had no retail experience, no consumer marketing experience and no real Internet experience. But I decided I wanted to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/at-age-28-i-had-no-retail-experience-no-consumer-marketing-experience/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) [Browse all 3,155 Decided quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ever since high school I had done things so people wouldn't just respect me because of the way I looked. 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