---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once I got to be about twenty-five, I got…"
description: "\"Once I got to be about twenty-five, I got interested in the music of the time. I started smokin' dope, I started drinking, I started slowing down and t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/gregory-hines-24660_dope_once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got_264615.jpg"
---

#  Once I got to be about twenty-five, I got interested in…

![“Once I got to be about twenty-five, I got interested in the music of the time. I started smokin' dope, I started drinking, I started slowing down and trying to find myself. I didn't want to work in nightclubs.” quote by Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/gregory-hines-24660_dope_once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got_264615.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/gregory-hines-24660_dope_once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got_264615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/gregory-hines-24660_dope_once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got_264615.jpg)

> “Once I got to be about twenty-five, I got interested in the music of the time. I started smokin' dope, I started drinking, I started slowing down and trying to find myself. I didn't want to work in nightclubs.”

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

## About This Quote

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

At twenty-five, he explored music, experimented with substances, and sought self-discovery, rejecting nightlife work.

**In simple terms:** He pursued music and self-exploration, avoiding club jobs.

Key Takeaway

Seek authentic personal growth.

Themes

self-discovery music rebellion

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

personal philosophical

When to use this quote

- music education
- counseling
- career coaching

Key Concepts

youth culture creative exploration personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives your search for identity?
- How can you find purpose without harmful habits?

A Different Perspective

Substance use poses health risks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Nightclubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightclubs/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't know if my wife left me because of my drinking or I started drinking 'cause my wife left me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-don-t-know-if-my-wife-left-me-because-of-my-drinking-or-i-started/)

[Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/)

> [At some point, I started listening to music a little differently. Rather than being like, 'Yo, this is dope - who made this?' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/at-some-point-i-started-listening-to-music-a-little-differently/)

[Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/)

> [“As I suspected, Jonathan was already home when I got there. Deep breaths, Kate. Dignity. There will be no crying, whining, or punching anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-lyon/as-i-suspected-jonathan-was-already-home-when-i-got-there-deep/)

[Erin Lyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-lyon/)

> [I seriously started drinking probably when I was about twelve. Kids are doing a lot of stuff very early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-arquette/i-seriously-started-drinking-probably-when-i-was-about-twelve-kids/)

[David Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-arquette/)

> [When I first started drinking, everybody was doing it. That was before they discovered marijuana and all that. It was the late 50s, early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/when-i-first-started-drinking-everybody-was-doing-it-that-was-before/)

[Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/)

> [“I suffered the misfortune that I sat down at a table and started drinking one glass of beer after another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaroslav-ha-ek/i-suffered-the-misfortune-that-i-sat-down-at-a-table-and-started/)

[Jaroslav Hašek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaroslav-ha-ek/)

> [I started drinking BodyArmor as a daily deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/i-started-drinking-bodyarmor-as-a-daily-deal/)

[Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/)

> [I started drinking in my late teen years and continued through college and into the early years of my career. I had a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-nadler/i-started-drinking-in-my-late-teen-years-and-continued-through/)

[Marissa Nadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-nadler/)

> [I started drinking red wine after I stopped drinking sake and whiskey, because it's better for your heart - it's about the only thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-started-drinking-red-wine-after-i-stopped-drinking-sake-and-whiskey/)

[Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/)

> [When I first started drinking, it was working for me. It was great. Like when you're doing a gig and you're in a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/when-i-first-started-drinking-it-was-working-for-me-it-was-great-like/)

[Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/)

> [“Really? You’ve started drinking whiskey before lunch?” Rush wasn’t giving in... “He’s fucking your sister. Hell, anyone that stupid has to drink to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/really-you-ve-started-drinking-whiskey-before-lunch-rush-wasn-t/)

[Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/)

> [“That was the last time she was allowed back at the Bennigan's. From then on, she started drinking at the T.G.I. Friday's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/that-was-the-last-time-she-was-allowed-back-at-the-bennigan-s-from/)

[Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/)

> [“That should sober him up" "Actually, he hasn't started drinking yet”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-somper/that-should-sober-him-up-actually-he-hasn-t-started-drinking-yet/)

[Justin Somper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-somper/)

> [When I first started, I was really nervous. You could hear my voice quiver. So I started drinking a bit and that helped. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mcgraw/when-i-first-started-i-was-really-nervous-you-could-hear-my-voice/)

[Tim McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mcgraw/)

> [I started drinking when I was like 15, and by the time I was 19 everybody knew I was an alcoholic. So I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-esparza/i-started-drinking-when-i-was-like-15-and-by-the-time-i-was-19/)

[Felipe Esparza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-esparza/)

## More by Gregory Hines

> [I'm going to tap until I can't: I'll be so old, all I can do is walk out from the wings to stage center.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/i-m-going-to-tap-until-i-can-t-i-ll-be-so-old-all-i-can-do-is-walk/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [I don't remember not dancing. When I realized I was alive and these were my parents, and I could walk and talk, I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/i-don-t-remember-not-dancing-when-i-realized-i-was-alive-and-these/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [I wanted to make a movie, because the whole life of the movies appealed to me. You work hard for three or four months,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/i-wanted-to-make-a-movie-because-the-whole-life-of-the-movies/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [They were very generous with me. Everybody was willing to talk about their particular accident, what they had to deal with and how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/they-were-very-generous-with-me-everybody-was-willing-to-talk-about/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [One of the things about working on stage - actually, about working in show business, that is - is that it's such a collaborative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/one-of-the-things-about-working-on-stage-actually-about-working-in/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [It turned out to be exactly that, but more challenging emotionally. I looked at it in a more physical way, having to act in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/it-turned-out-to-be-exactly-that-but-more-challenging-emotionally-i/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [My father has always been my hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/my-father-has-always-been-my-hero/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [You know the first time I sat in the chair I felt anything but up, it was very emotional for me. I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/you-know-the-first-time-i-sat-in-the-chair-i-felt-anything-but-up-it/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [I felt that I didn't want to be in show business anymore. I felt that I wanted to be a farmer. I was milking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/i-felt-that-i-didn-t-want-to-be-in-show-business-anymore-i-felt-that/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [My roots are on the live performing stage, so while I enjoy making films and the other things that I do, when I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/my-roots-are-on-the-live-performing-stage-so-while-i-enjoy-making/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [I can remember feeling very angry, and saying no! I can do it myself! From that point of view it was very emotional for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/i-can-remember-feeling-very-angry-and-saying-no-i-can-do-it-myself/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [I've had times when I've done what seems like a thousand interviews to promote a film that I'm in. I start to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/i-ve-had-times-when-i-ve-done-what-seems-like-a-thousand-interviews/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [My character had been in the chair for seven years. He had gone through his anger, depression, drug and alcohol abuse. He had gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/my-character-had-been-in-the-chair-for-seven-years-he-had-gone/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [It would be like the films I've seen where wardens would decide to be in a jail cell for a week, to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/it-would-be-like-the-films-i-ve-seen-where-wardens-would-decide-to-be/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [I read the script, and I knew it was a good part. It was written for a white actor. That's what I'm up against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/i-read-the-script-and-i-knew-it-was-a-good-part-it-was-written-for-a/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

[Explore all 24 Gregory Hines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

## More Dope quotes

> [I'm just a fan of all music. My family owned a record shop so I grew up taking it all in on a daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-soul/i-m-just-a-fan-of-all-music-my-family-owned-a-record-shop-so-i-grew/)

[Ab-Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-soul/)

> [I wanna say I'm detached, but I'm an Aquarius that's sensitive as hell. That's dope, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-wanna-say-i-m-detached-but-i-m-an-aquarius-that-s-sensitive-as-hell/)

[Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/)

> [I do not have to be high to be great. I do not have to be drunk to have a good idea. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-do-not-have-to-be-high-to-be-great-i-do-not-have-to-be-drunk-to/)

[Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/)

> [It's always amusing to see how much less the political class knows than the rest of us do. ... it's never occurred to \[the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-cox/it-s-always-amusing-to-see-how-much-less-the-political-class-knows/)

Stephen D. Cox

> [My experiences with dope were not good for me. I had to go another route. Because in my experience, dope didn't give me those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/my-experiences-with-dope-were-not-good-for-me-i-had-to-go-another/)

[Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/)

> [The last show we played, I was straight as a die. It did feel weird not to be hiding behind alcohol or dope, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-last-show-we-played-i-was-straight-as-a-die-it-did-feel-weird-not/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I sold dope once, I'd sell it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti/i-sold-dope-once-i-d-sell-it-again/)

TI

> [I thank God for Hip Hop because Marvin Gaye didn't have that and he was able to be that dope. For us to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-the-chicago-kid/i-thank-god-for-hip-hop-because-marvin-gaye-didn-t-have-that-and-he/)

[B.J. The Chicago Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-the-chicago-kid/)

> [The '60s are gone, dope will never be as cheap, sex never as free, and the rock and roll never as great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbie-hoffman/the-60s-are-gone-dope-will-never-be-as-cheap-sex-never-as-free-and/)

[Abbie Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbie-hoffman/)

> [I just want to be remembered as a dope MC. As somebody who really covered a lot of ground and became internationally known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-just-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-dope-mc-as-somebody-who-really/)

[Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/)

> [I simply decided that dope wasn't worth the ritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-simply-decided-that-dope-wasn-t-worth-the-ritual/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [“What's in a #firstlady title? The rest of their #bickeringbook, and look who's reading each other in proton-order? These kittens have taken off their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-bond/what-s-in-a-firstlady-title-the-rest-of-their-bickeringbook-and-look/)

[Tracey Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-bond/)

> [Reading was like a drug, a dope. The novels created moods in which I lived for days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wright/reading-was-like-a-drug-a-dope-the-novels-created-moods-in-which-i/)

[Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wright/)

> [Apparently, an undocumented side effect of dope is a gross overestimation of one's own intelligence. Dopers become convinced they've hidden their stash so well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/apparently-an-undocumented-side-effect-of-dope-is-a-gross/)

[Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/)

> [Is Adele embarrassing? I think she's dope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-wagner/is-adele-embarrassing-i-think-she-s-dope/)

[Bobby Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-wagner/)

Browse all 400 Dope quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Once I got to be about twenty-five, I got interested in the music of the time. I started smokin' dope, I started drinking, I started slowing down and trying to find myself. I didn't want to work in nightclubs.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gregory Hines"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got-interested-in-the-music-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dope"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got-interested-in-the-music-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/gregory-hines-24660_dope_once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got_264615.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/gregory-hines-24660_dope_once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got_264615.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/gregory-hines-24660_dope_once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got_264615.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Once I got to be about twenty-five, I got interested in the music of the time. I started smokin' dope, I…” — Gregory Hines",
                "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": "Gregory Hines",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Once I got to be about...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got-interested-in-the-music-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/once-i-got-to-be-about-twenty-five-i-got-interested-in-the-music-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
