--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I made a conscious decision when I was…" description: "\"I made a conscious decision when I was about 17 years old to strive towards mediocrity. I completely abandoned the idea of grandeur and importance, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/evangeline-lilly-1168_abandoned_i-made-a-conscious-decision-when-i-was-a_2297717.jpg" --- # I made a conscious decision when I was about 17 years old… ![“I made a conscious decision when I was about 17 years old to strive towards mediocrity. I completely abandoned the idea of grandeur and importance, and I wanted to be mediocre.” quote by Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/evangeline-lilly-1168_abandoned_i-made-a-conscious-decision-when-i-was-a_2297717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/evangeline-lilly-1168_abandoned_i-made-a-conscious-decision-when-i-was-a_2297717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/evangeline-lilly-1168_abandoned_i-made-a-conscious-decision-when-i-was-a_2297717.jpg) > “I made a conscious decision when I was about 17 years old to strive towards mediocrity. I completely abandoned the idea of grandeur and importance, and I wanted to be mediocre.” [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. Intentionally embracing mediocrity can be a rejection of societal pressure for greatness, focusing on simplicity and contentment. **In simple terms:** Choosing mediocrity rejects the chase for greatness. Key Takeaway Embrace simplicity over ambition. Themes contentment simplicity societal pressure self‑acceptance Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career choices - personal goals - lifestyle design Key Concepts philosophy social critique Questions to Reflect On - Why might you desire mediocrity? - How does this choice affect your long‑term fulfillment? A Different Perspective Mediocrity may limit potential and growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandoned/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Conscious decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-decision/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Grandeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandeur/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Mediocrity Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity-completely-5422260/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Strive Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-mediocrity-5422259/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [I've never made a conscious decision to choose work over other considerations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-berejiklian/i-ve-never-made-a-conscious-decision-to-choose-work-over-other/) [Gladys Berejiklian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-berejiklian/) > [My conscious decision has always been to do work that's meaningful and play characters that give something to the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/my-conscious-decision-has-always-been-to-do-work-that-s-meaningful/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [I made a conscious decision when I was writing that book to depict in real time how I treated it, and how I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/i-made-a-conscious-decision-when-i-was-writing-that-book-to-depict-in/) [Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/) > [I made a conscious decision when I was recording 'Acoustic Soul' to - and this is one of my mantras - follow the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/i-made-a-conscious-decision-when-i-was-recording-acoustic-soul-to-and/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [“There are two decisions you need to make after you have accepted Jesus into your life. One: You need to make the decision to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corallie-buchanan/there-are-two-decisions-you-need-to-make-after-you-have-accepted/) [Corallie Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corallie-buchanan/) > [I've always wanted to write, I've always wanted to direct. The conscious decision was always to not be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levinson/i-ve-always-wanted-to-write-i-ve-always-wanted-to-direct-the/) [Sam Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levinson/) > [I made a conscious decision back then that I would rather be the best actress who ever lived than the most famous one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-kirkland/i-made-a-conscious-decision-back-then-that-i-would-rather-be-the-best/) [Sally Kirkland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-kirkland/) > [“Everything you could be is dependent upon you making a conscious decision to open up to this river of light within yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/everything-you-could-be-is-dependent-upon-you-making-a-conscious/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [It wasn't a conscious decision to pick only positive roles. Things just fell into place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiten-tejwani/it-wasn-t-a-conscious-decision-to-pick-only-positive-roles-things/) [Hiten Tejwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiten-tejwani/) > [I have no major regrets. I've made the conscious decision not to look at life that way. I always try to learn something -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/i-have-no-major-regrets-i-ve-made-the-conscious-decision-not-to-look/) [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/) > [The conscious decision, early on, was that I was going to live in New York. That was it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/the-conscious-decision-early-on-was-that-i-was-going-to-live-in-new/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [It's a conscious decision to keep trying to do something new, to do things that excite me from my gut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupriya-goenka/it-s-a-conscious-decision-to-keep-trying-to-do-something-new-to-do/) [Anupriya Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupriya-goenka/) > [I've made this conscious decision to tell people on the street when I think they're wearing something great. If more people did that, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jensen/i-ve-made-this-conscious-decision-to-tell-people-on-the-street-when-i/) [Ashley Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jensen/) > [It's a conscious decision, a full-time job, to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/it-s-a-conscious-decision-a-full-time-job-to-be-happy/) [Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/) ## 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. 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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 Abandoned quotes > [“I'm surprised when I walk right into yet another abandoned hunters' camp. Tattered plastic sheeting still hangs askew here and there. 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But in doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-russia-there-is-an-emigration-of-intelligence-migr-s-cross-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Early on in my life, I had a broken soul. I was abused by my father, abandoned by my mother and ended up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/early-on-in-my-life-i-had-a-broken-soul-i-was-abused-by-my-father/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We should be recklessly abandoned to Jesus, and just turn it over to Him. 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