---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was June 4, 1979, the first time I…"
description: "\"It was June 4, 1979, the first time I went on stage. I didn't know I could do it but I knew I couldn't not do it. I quit everything in my life and this..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/george-lopez-3932_everything_it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went_2696947.jpg"
---

#  It was June 4, 1979, the first time I went on stage. I…

![“It was June 4, 1979, the first time I went on stage. I didn't know I could do it but I knew I couldn't not do it. I quit everything in my life and this was the one thing I couldn't quit.” quote by George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/george-lopez-3932_everything_it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went_2696947.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/george-lopez-3932_everything_it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went_2696947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/george-lopez-3932_everything_it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went_2696947.jpg)

> “It was June 4, 1979, the first time I went on stage. I didn't know I could do it but I knew I couldn't not do it. I quit everything in my life and this was the one thing I couldn't quit.”

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

## 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 describes a pivotal moment of commitment despite uncertainty, emphasizing the drive to pursue a passion when other options are exhausted.

**In simple terms:** A decisive moment forced commitment to a new path.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the path you can’t abandon.

Themes

commitment risk career change

Mood

determined reflective

Type

personal motivational

When to use this quote

- starting a comedy career
- leaving a job
- overcoming fear
- pursuing a dream

Key Concepts

self‑determination courage identity formation

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you do if you could not quit?
- How does fear shape commitment?

A Different Perspective

May overlook practical constraints or financial stability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[June](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/june/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [It was June 4, 1979, the first time I went on stage. I didn't know I could do it but I knew I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went-on-stage-i-didn-t-know-i-2/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [Nor do I regret that I have lived, since I have so lived that I think I was not born in vain, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nor-do-i-regret-that-i-have-lived-since-i-have-so-lived-that-i-think/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [SHE SAID - You were my drug of choice; my addiction. Though I knew you were bad for me, I couldn't quit. I convinced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poetic-style/she-said-you-were-my-drug-of-choice-my-addiction-though-i-knew-you/)

Poetic Style

> [Fellow made me a $10 bet I couldn't quit, and I haven't had a drink since. At the time I needed the $10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-brooks/fellow-made-me-a-10-bet-i-couldn-t-quit-and-i-haven-t-had-a-drink/)

Foster Brooks

> [I couldn't quit, because of all the kids, and the blacks, and the little people pulling for me. I represent both the underdog and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-jackson/i-couldn-t-quit-because-of-all-the-kids-and-the-blacks-and-the-little/)

[Reggie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-jackson/)

> [The Watson fight was the worst beating I ever took in a ring, but I couldn't quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/the-watson-fight-was-the-worst-beating-i-ever-took-in-a-ring-but-i/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

> [It seemed like a very small possibility for me to become an artist. I didn't have the need to be on the stage; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora/it-seemed-like-a-very-small-possibility-for-me-to-become-an-artist-i/)

[Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora/)

> [My family didn't like me going on the stage, and they didn't much like my being a writer, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-l-travers/my-family-didn-t-like-me-going-on-the-stage-and-they-didn-t-much-like/)

[P. L. Travers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-l-travers/)

> [I was a dreamer. When I was on stage I didn't have to think about whether I could pay the rent. I was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-was-a-dreamer-when-i-was-on-stage-i-didn-t-have-to-think-about/)

[Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/)

> [I was always criticized through my whole career because I wasn't doing the whole smiling thing on stage. But I didn't feel like doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/i-was-always-criticized-through-my-whole-career-because-i-wasn-t/)

[Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/)

> [I wanted to do 'Texas Trilogy' on stage. But it didn't do well in New York. In fact, it did very badly there, thanks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ladd/i-wanted-to-do-texas-trilogy-on-stage-but-it-didn-t-do-well-in-new/)

[Diane Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ladd/)

> [I love to perform. I've never lost the urge. I've never once been on stage when I didn't want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgrath/i-love-to-perform-i-ve-never-lost-the-urge-i-ve-never-once-been-on/)

[Mark McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgrath/)

> [“A whole life has already been determined at a stage when we didn't know a thing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/a-whole-life-has-already-been-determined-at-a-stage-when-we-didn-t/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [Whn u can't win after so many tries thn give a last try and just quit life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritzy/whn-u-can-t-win-after-so-many-tries-thn-give-a-last-try-and-just-quit/)

[Ritzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritzy/)

> [“From this point forward, you don’t even know how to quit in life.” ~ Aaron Lauritsen, ‘100 Days Drive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/from-this-point-forward-you-don-t-even-know-how-to-quit-in-life-aaron/)

[Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/)

## More by George Lopez

> [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [I've spent days in cinemas answering questions from the audience, in interviews, travelling abroad, and all they do is thank me nicely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-ve-spent-days-in-cinemas-answering-questions-from-the-audience-in/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [Everything will be seen on your computer or BlackBerry or whatever devices we will be seeing in the future. Comedians will put their content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/everything-will-be-seen-on-your-computer-or-blackberry-or-whatever/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [I can never do nothing in this house!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-can-never-do-nothing-in-this-house/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [It helps me focus on our Lord and helps me get through the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/it-helps-me-focus-on-our-lord-and-helps-me-get-through-the-day/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [They were putting together a book for her birthday of all her friends, and they asked me to fill out a blank piece of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/they-were-putting-together-a-book-for-her-birthday-of-all-her-friends/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [The jewelry stores say, 'Tell your wife you love her with a diamond,' while wives tell you they love you with, 'Ok, but just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/the-jewelry-stores-say-tell-your-wife-you-love-her-with-a-diamond/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [By the time I was 11, I wanted to be a comedian. So all those years later, I've managed to achieve my dream as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/by-the-time-i-was-11-i-wanted-to-be-a-comedian-so-all-those-years/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [You know, you walk through this hotel, you're not going to see all white people; you're not going to see all black people; you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/you-know-you-walk-through-this-hotel-you-re-not-going-to-see-all/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [No Angie, it's instant. Like when someone trips in the cafeteria and you're laughing so hard milk comes out of your nose, the guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/no-angie-it-s-instant-like-when-someone-trips-in-the-cafeteria-and/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [I don't know if the art of stand-up will survive. Stand-up seems dated. Now you can do a mini-movie or a short with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-don-t-know-if-the-art-of-stand-up-will-survive-stand-up-seems-dated/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [Angie, I've seen my mom wrestle two cops to the ground with a taser dart in her neck, and you cry when your shoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/angie-i-ve-seen-my-mom-wrestle-two-cops-to-the-ground-with-a-taser/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [Once again I refer to you as the nalgas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/once-again-i-refer-to-you-as-the-nalgas/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [I grew up with nothing and nobody ever told me I could do anything. I never knew my father, and my mother wasnt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-grew-up-with-nothing-and-nobody-ever-told-me-i-could-do-anything-i/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [I've gotten in trouble with every race you can imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-ve-gotten-in-trouble-with-every-race-you-can-imagine/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

[Explore all 118 George Lopez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

## More Everything quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/)

[Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/)

> [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/)

[John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/)

> [The Fringe is by far my favorite time of year; I like everything about it. But there are people I know who are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-horne/the-fringe-is-by-far-my-favorite-time-of-year-i-like-everything-about/)

[Alex Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-horne/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/)

[Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [That's one of my idols, I really look up to Pacquiao. This guy is everything I would want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/that-s-one-of-my-idols-i-really-look-up-to-pacquiao-this-guy-is/)

[Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/)

> [The talk shows in the States want celebrities, not authors. In France, it is different; writers are called upon to comment on everything. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-talk-shows-in-the-states-want-celebrities-not-authors-in-france/)

[Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/)

> [Everything I write is highly personal, but put in such a way that it's not dropping everything in someone's lap. Although sometimes I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-siberry/everything-i-write-is-highly-personal-but-put-in-such-a-way-that-it-s/)

[Jane Siberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-siberry/)

> [Everything I have experienced and learned in football led me towards one day becoming a coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/everything-i-have-experienced-and-learned-in-football-led-me-towards/)

[Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/)

> [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/)

[Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/)

> [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/)

[will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/)

> [If God is first, and you kind of center everything else around Him being the main focal point, you really can make decisions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-michalka/if-god-is-first-and-you-kind-of-center-everything-else-around-him/)

[AJ Michalka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-michalka/)

Browse all 13,134 Everything quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It was June 4, 1979, the first time I went on stage. I didn't know I could do it but I knew I couldn't not do it. I quit everything in my life and this was the one thing I couldn't quit.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Lopez"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went-on-stage-i-didn-t-know-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Everything"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went-on-stage-i-didn-t-know-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/george-lopez-3932_everything_it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went_2696947.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/george-lopez-3932_everything_it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went_2696947.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/george-lopez-3932_everything_it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went_2696947.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It was June 4, 1979, the first time I went on stage. I didn't know I could do it but I knew I couldn't not…” — George Lopez",
                "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": "George Lopez",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It was June 4, 1979, the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went-on-stage-i-didn-t-know-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/it-was-june-4-1979-the-first-time-i-went-on-stage-i-didn-t-know-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
