--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you decide to be something, you can…" description: "\"When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's what they don't tell you in the church. When I was your age, they would say we can become cops o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/frank-costello-39394_age_when-you-decide-to-be-something-you-can_1537109.jpg" --- # When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's… ![“When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's what they don't tell you in the church. When I was your age, they would say we can become cops or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?” quote by Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/frank-costello-39394_age_when-you-decide-to-be-something-you-can_1537109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/frank-costello-39394_age_when-you-decide-to-be-something-you-can_1537109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/frank-costello-39394_age_when-you-decide-to-be-something-you-can_1537109.jpg) > “When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's what they don't tell you in the church. When I was your age, they would say we can become cops or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?” [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity is a choice; societal labels don’t dictate who you become. **In simple terms:** You choose who you become. Key Takeaway Define yourself beyond imposed roles. Themes identity choice self‑determination Mood defiant reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - personal crises - moral dilemmas - conflict situations Key Concepts existentialism social constructs Questions to Reflect On - What labels have you internalized? - How can you assert agency in restrictive environments? A Different Perspective External pressures can limit perceived options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cop/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Departed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/departed/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Loaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loaded/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [When you decide to be something, you can be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/when-you-decide-to-be-something-you-can-be-it/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [If you feel your rights are being abused by the authorities, and you don't say something, sometimes the cops don't know how far to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-hawkins/if-you-feel-your-rights-are-being-abused-by-the-authorities-and-you/) [Corey Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-hawkins/) > [Yeah, I saw the guy running out of the building carrying a rifle, I just didn't say anything to the cops because I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/yeah-i-saw-the-guy-running-out-of-the-building-carrying-a-rifle-i/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“Every single believer in the church age is baptized into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), so the church age must have begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rhodes/every-single-believer-in-the-church-age-is-baptized-into-the-body-of/) [Ron Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rhodes/) > [I was reared in the church from the age of three. I've played piano since I was three. I performed at revivals and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/i-was-reared-in-the-church-from-the-age-of-three-i-ve-played-piano/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [ It really bothers me when some people say that all cops are racist. Of course that's not true. Most of you are just \[expletive\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/it-really-bothers-me-when-some-people-say-that-all-cops-are-racist-of/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [“The church is called a mystery that was not revealed to past generations, but was revealed for the first time in the New Testament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rhodes/the-church-is-called-a-mystery-that-was-not-revealed-to-past/) [Ron Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rhodes/) > [Lawyers on TV always tell their clients not to say anything. The cops say that thing: 'Anything you say will be used against you.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/lawyers-on-tv-always-tell-their-clients-not-to-say-anything-the-cops/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [God pity us that after years of writing, using mountains of paper and rivers of ink, exhausting flashy terminology about the biggest revival meetings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/god-pity-us-that-after-years-of-writing-using-mountains-of-paper-and/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [“When Jesus was wrapping up his days on earth, he didn't tell us to go to church. He didn't tell us to engage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dahlstrom/when-jesus-was-wrapping-up-his-days-on-earth-he-didn-t-tell-us-to-go/) [Richard Dahlstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dahlstrom/) > [“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-lockman-foundation/if-your-brother-sins-go-and-show-him-his-fault-in-private-if-he/) [The Lockman Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-lockman-foundation/) > [“I'm a member and preacher to that church where the blind don't see and the lame don't walk and what's dead stay's that way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-m-a-member-and-preacher-to-that-church-where-the-blind-don-t-see/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Tell me what the world is saying today, and I'll tell you what the church will be saying in seven years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/tell-me-what-the-world-is-saying-today-and-i-ll-tell-you-what-the/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [“Don't tell anyone at the church this, but I think girls going out with girls is quite sensible. Imagine not having to do all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-jordan/don-t-tell-anyone-at-the-church-this-but-i-think-girls-going-out-with/) [Toni Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-jordan/) > [The Church is composed of people, and people do terrible things and commit sin - it's what the Church has been telling us for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-coren/the-church-is-composed-of-people-and-people-do-terrible-things-and/) [Michael Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-coren/) ## More by Frank Costello > [You can learn a lot, watching things eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/you-can-learn-a-lot-watching-things-eat/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [Church wants you on your place. Kneel, stand, kneel, stand. If you go for that sort of thing, I don't know what to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/church-wants-you-on-your-place-kneel-stand-kneel-stand-if-you-go-for/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [A lot of people had to die for me to be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/a-lot-of-people-had-to-die-for-me-to-be-me/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [Most men I know, pissed away their fortunes. I'm the only one I know, that made a fortune pissin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/most-men-i-know-pissed-away-their-fortunes-i-m-the-only-one-i-know/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [No one gives it to you. You have to take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/no-one-gives-it-to-you-you-have-to-take-it/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [Other kids are brought up nice and sent to Harvard and Yale. Me? I was brought up like a mushroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/other-kids-are-brought-up-nice-and-sent-to-harvard-and-yale-me-i-was/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [The only one that can do what I do is me. Lot of people had to die for me to be me. You wanna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/the-only-one-that-can-do-what-i-do-is-me-lot-of-people-had-to-die-for/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [There's no justice in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/there-s-no-justice-in-this-world/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [When you decide to be something, you can be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/when-you-decide-to-be-something-you-can-be-it/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) > [We're all gonna die, let's act accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-costello/we-re-all-gonna-die-let-s-act-accordingly/) [Frank Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) [Explore all 11 Frank Costello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-costello/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's what they don't tell you in the church. When I was your age, they would say we can become cops or criminals. 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