---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I shoot occasionally, but I'm no gun…"
description: "\"I shoot occasionally, but I'm no gun expert.\" — George Pelecanos"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/george-pelecanos-3616_expert_i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expe_1891470.png"
---

#  I shoot occasionally, but I'm no gun expert.

![“I shoot occasionally, but I'm no gun expert.” quote by George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/george-pelecanos-3616_expert_i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expe_1891470.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/george-pelecanos-3616_expert_i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expe_1891470.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/george-pelecanos-3616_expert_i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expe_1891470.png)

> “I shoot occasionally, but I'm no gun expert.”

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Admits occasional shooting but lacks expertise, indicating casual engagement without deep knowledge.

**In simple terms:** He shoots sometimes but isn’t an expert.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge limits of your skill.

Themes

humility skill honesty

Mood

thoughtful pragmatic

Type

personal reflective

When to use this quote

- learning new skills
- risk assessment

Key Concepts

personal hobbies skill assessment self‑awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- What skills do you claim without mastery?
- How can you improve responsibly?

A Different Perspective

May overstate competence if not careful.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Expert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expert/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Gun Expert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-expert-2735360/) [Occasionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasionally/) [Occasionally Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasionally-gun-2735358/) [Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot/) [Shoot Occasionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot-occasionally-2735359/)

## Related quotes

> [The scene we shot with Charlie Rose was actually the last piece that was ever shot for 'Breaking Bad.' My daughter and I flew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/the-scene-we-shot-with-charlie-rose-was-actually-the-last-piece-that/)

[Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/)

> [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/)

[Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/)

> [We look at life from the back side of the tapestry. And most of the time, what we see is loose threads, tangled knots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-look-at-life-from-the-back-side-of-the-tapestry-and-most-of-the/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [My target audience is anyone who finds the world interesting and human behavior fascinating, terrible, inspiring, funny, and occasionally, mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/my-target-audience-is-anyone-who-finds-the-world-interesting-and/)

[Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/)

> [“Where there’s a winner, there’s a loser, and always at the same time. Occasionally even in the same person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/where-there-s-a-winner-there-s-a-loser-and-always-at-the-same-time/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [I'd occasionally do some exercises at home, but I never cared for gyms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-d-occasionally-do-some-exercises-at-home-but-i-never-cared-for-gyms/)

[Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/)

> [I've never really suffered complete and utter writer's block, really. I equate it with sex: in the beginning of my career, I was writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-ve-never-really-suffered-complete-and-utter-writer-s-block-really-i/)

[Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/)

> [Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/success-doesn-t-come-from-what-you-do-occasionally-it-comes-from-what/)

[Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/)

> [Occasionally and all-too-infrequently a song comes along that jolts you and you prick up your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/occasionally-and-all-too-infrequently-a-song-comes-along-that-jolts/)

[Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/)

> [“defend women’s right to be wrong, at least occasionally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/defend-women-s-right-to-be-wrong-at-least-occasionally/)

[Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/)

> [Occasionally I'll have a slip, and I might watch 'RuPaul's Drag Race' or something. But for the most part, I am out on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/occasionally-i-ll-have-a-slip-and-i-might-watch-rupaul-s-drag-race-or/)

[Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/)

> [I have the ability, occasionally, of being able to step out and see who you think I could end up being. And I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-have-the-ability-occasionally-of-being-able-to-step-out-and-see-who/)

[Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/)

> [You have to accept gifts occasionally, because there are some things you can’t give yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/you-have-to-accept-gifts-occasionally-because-there-are-some-things/)

[Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/)

> [Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most times he will pick himself up and carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/man-will-occasionally-stumble-over-the-truth-but-most-times-he-will/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [I occasionally experience the discomfort of people assuming my work is autobiographical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-occasionally-experience-the-discomfort-of-people-assuming-my-work/)

[Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/)

## More by George Pelecanos

> [I want to be read. When you write a TV show like 'The Wire,' you've got three to four million readers watching your work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-want-to-be-read-when-you-write-a-tv-show-like-the-wire-you-ve-got/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [I'm more apt to shed a tear than my wife about family matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-m-more-apt-to-shed-a-tear-than-my-wife-about-family-matters/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [People like to talk to me. I don't know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/people-like-to-talk-to-me-i-don-t-know-why/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [I'm a very sentimental, emotional person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-m-a-very-sentimental-emotional-person/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [My goal is to get a real film industry started in Washington. An actual one, not where features come to town and shoot second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/my-goal-is-to-get-a-real-film-industry-started-in-washington-an/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [I do have shout-outs to bands and musicians I like in my books, but the musical references can be misunderstood. Often, I have people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-do-have-shout-outs-to-bands-and-musicians-i-like-in-my-books-but/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [“And Constantine thought: So this is how it is, at the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/and-constantine-thought-so-this-is-how-it-is-at-the-end/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [I never took a writing class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-never-took-a-writing-class/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [I've just been very interested in the living side of Washington, rather than the federal side, since I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-ve-just-been-very-interested-in-the-living-side-of-washington/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [I can't relax. I don't have any hobbies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-can-t-relax-i-don-t-have-any-hobbies/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [I've seen firsthand how books can change people's lives. It happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-ve-seen-firsthand-how-books-can-change-people-s-lives-it-happened/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [I was a movie freak before I was a book lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-was-a-movie-freak-before-i-was-a-book-lover/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [Is there a more violent book than the Bible?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/is-there-a-more-violent-book-than-the-bible/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [My father was a Marine who fought in the Pacific in WW II. He was a very tough guy, but after the war, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/my-father-was-a-marine-who-fought-in-the-pacific-in-ww-ii-he-was-a/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

> [But when I do book signings and personal appearances, the audiences are mostly white. Growing up here, I expected that and understand it. Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/but-when-i-do-book-signings-and-personal-appearances-the-audiences/)

[George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

[Explore all 126 George Pelecanos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/)

## More Expert quotes

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [I've always been a fan of old-time hymns and Scots-Irish dirges, though I wouldn't necessarily consider myself an expert on the type of music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bingham/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-old-time-hymns-and-scots-irish-dirges/)

[Ryan Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bingham/)

> [Whenever there's a speciality dance, such as the Charleston or the Argentine Tango, 'Strictly' enlists expert choreographers to work with the professional dancers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/whenever-there-s-a-speciality-dance-such-as-the-charleston-or-the/)

[Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/)

> [An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/an-expert-is-a-man-who-has-made-all-the-mistakes-which-can-be-made-in/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes, which can be made, in a very narrow field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/an-expert-is-someone-who-knows-some-of-the-worst-mistakes-which-can/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [“Talent alone does not make someone an expert.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-santrock/talent-alone-does-not-make-someone-an-expert/)

[John W. Santrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-santrock/)

> [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/)

[Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/)

> [I can play 'Guitar Hero,' most of the songs on Medium and some of the songs on Hard. No Expert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hansen/i-can-play-guitar-hero-most-of-the-songs-on-medium-and-some-of-the/)

[Ryan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hansen/)

> [A man who is invested takes the time to get to know you well, and his gifts will be a testament to his expert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hussey/a-man-who-is-invested-takes-the-time-to-get-to-know-you-well-and-his/)

[Matthew Hussey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hussey/)

> [An expert is somebody who is more than 50 miles from home, has no responsibility for implementing the advice he gives, and shows slides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-meese/an-expert-is-somebody-who-is-more-than-50-miles-from-home-has-no/)

[Edwin Meese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-meese/)

> [“Fit yourself where you are before you fix yourself where you can be!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/fit-yourself-where-you-are-before-you-fix-yourself-where-you-can-be/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Experts don't know exactly where the boundaries of their expertise are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/experts-don-t-know-exactly-where-the-boundaries-of-their-expertise-are/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Experts are human, and humans respond to incentives. How any given expert treats you, therefore, will depend on how that expert's incentives are set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitt/experts-are-human-and-humans-respond-to-incentives-how-any-given/)

[Steven Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitt/)

> [When you're an expert in a subject, you can retain new factoids on your favorite topic easily. This only works for the subjects you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/when-you-re-an-expert-in-a-subject-you-can-retain-new-factoids-on/)

[Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/)

> [“I’m a scientific expert; that means I know nothing about absolutely everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-m-a-scientific-expert-that-means-i-know-nothing-about-absolutely/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

[Browse all 431 Expert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expert/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I shoot occasionally, but I'm no gun expert.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Pelecanos"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expert/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Expert"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expert/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/george-pelecanos-3616_expert_i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expe_1891470.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/george-pelecanos-3616_expert_i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expe_1891470.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/george-pelecanos-3616_expert_i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expe_1891470.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I shoot occasionally, but I'm no gun expert.” — George Pelecanos",
                "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 Pelecanos",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I shoot occasionally, but I'm no...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expert/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-shoot-occasionally-but-i-m-no-gun-expert/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
