--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a display pilot is probably the…" description: "\"Being a display pilot is probably the thing I've been most proud of in my life. Don't really fly anymore now though. I have three small children and as..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/gary-numan-6975_accidents_being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-th_44410.jpg" --- # Being a display pilot is probably the thing I've been most… ![“Being a display pilot is probably the thing I've been most proud of in my life. Don't really fly anymore now though. I have three small children and as most of my friends were killed in different accidents, I realised that it was probably just a matter of time before I went that way.” quote by Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/gary-numan-6975_accidents_being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-th_44410.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/gary-numan-6975_accidents_being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-th_44410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/gary-numan-6975_accidents_being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-th_44410.jpg) > “Being a display pilot is probably the thing I've been most proud of in my life. Don't really fly anymore now though. I have three small children and as most of my friends were killed in different accidents, I realised that it was probably just a matter of time before I went that way.” [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) ## 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 reflects on past pride as a display pilot, juxtaposed with personal loss and the fragility of life, leading to a shift in priorities toward family. **In simple terms:** Pride, loss, mortality, family, risk, change Key Takeaway Risky careers can be eclipsed by personal tragedy Themes risk mortality family career transition loss pride Mood reflective somber introspective Type personal anecdote life lesson When to use this quote - post‑career reflection - after losing friends - parenting young children - re‑evaluating life goals - coping with mortality Key Concepts aviation friendship parenthood life expectancy Practical Applications - career counseling for high‑risk professions - support groups for bereaved families Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting loss reshape one's sense of achievement? - What role does family play in redefining personal identity after trauma? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Matter of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-of-time/) [Pilot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilot/) [Plane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plane/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Small children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-children/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I became an air display pilot. I used to teach it. I was an examiner for a few years as well. It was great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-became-an-air-display-pilot-i-used-to-teach-it-i-was-an-examiner/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [If you go to pilot then you are probably going to go to series. That's my feeling about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-macht/if-you-go-to-pilot-then-you-are-probably-going-to-go-to-series-that-s/) [Gabriel Macht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-macht/) > [The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-different-accidents-of-life-are-not-so-changeable-as-the-feelings/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I fall for you, then I can't fly anymore. Wind was my bestfriend, then ground is all that I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christa-eva/i-fall-for-you-then-i-can-t-fly-anymore-wind-was-my-bestfriend-then/) [Christa Eva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christa-eva/) > [You've got to give your past attention, but you've got to forgive yourself, acknowledge what you did wrong, and be a man, taking responsibility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-jones/you-ve-got-to-give-your-past-attention-but-you-ve-got-to-forgive/) [Jon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-jones/) > [I cannot for the life of me understand why small children take so long to grow up. I think they do it deliberately, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/i-cannot-for-the-life-of-me-understand-why-small-children-take-so/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“the dance ritual never ended, The small children just sat down one by one as they got tired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-bryant/the-dance-ritual-never-ended-the-small-children-just-sat-down-one-by/) [Dorothy Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-bryant/) > [I have four relatively small children, and around fourth grade, they start doing big projects on Native Americas: everything is Native Americans in elementary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/i-have-four-relatively-small-children-and-around-fourth-grade-they/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [“Hell, a pig had most humans beat, smarter than small children, and we didn't eat those but maybe we should.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-j-cogswell/hell-a-pig-had-most-humans-beat-smarter-than-small-children-and-we/) [Kelly J. Cogswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-j-cogswell/) > [“Small children are great accepters. They don’t understand shame, or the need to hide things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/small-children-are-great-accepters-they-don-t-understand-shame-or-the/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I’m attracting small children,” Orma muttered, twisting his hat in his hands. “Shoo it away, will you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-m-attracting-small-children-orma-muttered-twisting-his-hat-in-his/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [Well, I've got two small children and this is a very important time for me to be around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treat-williams/well-i-ve-got-two-small-children-and-this-is-a-very-important-time/) [Treat Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treat-williams/) > [Dogs, like very small children, are quite mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white-2/dogs-like-very-small-children-are-quite-mad/) [T. H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white-2/) > [Blame is for God and small children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/blame-is-for-god-and-small-children/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) ## More by Gary Numan > [Now I can think for myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/now-i-can-think-for-myself/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [Time heals nothing, it merely rearranges our memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/time-heals-nothing-it-merely-rearranges-our-memory/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I worship nothing. Not a good lie nor a dark one. If nature is proof of God's amazing creation then I have truly seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-worship-nothing-not-a-good-lie-nor-a-dark-one-if-nature-is-proof-of/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I have a condition called Aspergers Syndrome, which is like a mild form of autism It means I don't interact properly in certain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-have-a-condition-called-aspergers-syndrome-which-is-like-a-mild/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I became an air display pilot. I used to teach it. I was an examiner for a few years as well. It was great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-became-an-air-display-pilot-i-used-to-teach-it-i-was-an-examiner/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I honestly don't know what criteria makes someone right-wing or left-wing anymore. The boundaries of those definitions seem to be in a state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-honestly-don-t-know-what-criteria-makes-someone-right-wing-or-left/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I always say it took me 10 minutes to write 'Cars,' but if I am honest it could have been even less than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-always-say-it-took-me-10-minutes-to-write-cars-but-if-i-am-honest/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I want to start my own airplane business. I'm going to buy two Dakotas, paint them up in war colours and do, er, nostalgia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-want-to-start-my-own-airplane-business-i-m-going-to-buy-two-dakotas/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [There's no point in lying saying I am doing really, really well because I'm not; I'm cult level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/there-s-no-point-in-lying-saying-i-am-doing-really-really-well/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [Although nothing seem right...In cars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/although-nothing-seem-right-in-cars/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I have one brother, John, an airline pilot, who is seven years younger. He's adopted, though we're still blood related - he's my cousin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-have-one-brother-john-an-airline-pilot-who-is-seven-years-younger/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [Here in my car. I can only receive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/here-in-my-car-i-can-only-receive/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [If I thought that any of this was pre ordained, then it takes away any kind of incentive to struggle, or to put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/if-i-thought-that-any-of-this-was-pre-ordained-then-it-takes-away-any/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I'll be the in to your sane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-ll-be-the-in-to-your-sane/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I wouldn't say I'm vain - I'm just in a job where the way you look is important. Well, at least the facelift wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-wouldn-t-say-i-m-vain-i-m-just-in-a-job-where-the-way-you-look-is/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) [Explore all 95 Gary Numan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a display pilot is probably the thing I've been most proud of in my life. Don't really fly anymore now though. I have three small children and as most of my friends were killed in different accidents, I realised that it was probably just a matter of time before I went that way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Numan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-thing-i-ve-been-most-proud-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accidents" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-thing-i-ve-been-most-proud-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/gary-numan-6975_accidents_being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-th_44410.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/gary-numan-6975_accidents_being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-th_44410.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/gary-numan-6975_accidents_being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-th_44410.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a display pilot is probably the thing I've been most proud of in my life. Don't really fly anymore now…” — Gary Numan", "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": "Gary Numan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being a display pilot is probably...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-thing-i-ve-been-most-proud-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-thing-i-ve-been-most-proud-of/#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 } } ] } ```