--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a shy kid growing up in Sheffield, I…" description: "\"As a shy kid growing up in Sheffield, I fantasized about how it would be great to be famous so I wouldn't actually have to talk to people and feel awkw..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/jarvis-cocker-4176_achieve_as-a-shy-kid-growing-up-in-sheffield-i-f_2852246.png" --- # As a shy kid growing up in Sheffield, I fantasized about… ![“As a shy kid growing up in Sheffield, I fantasized about how it would be great to be famous so I wouldn't actually have to talk to people and feel awkward. And of course, as we all know from fairy stories, when you achieve that ambition, you find out you don't want it.” quote by Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/jarvis-cocker-4176_achieve_as-a-shy-kid-growing-up-in-sheffield-i-f_2852246.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/jarvis-cocker-4176_achieve_as-a-shy-kid-growing-up-in-sheffield-i-f_2852246.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1c/jarvis-cocker-4176_achieve_as-a-shy-kid-growing-up-in-sheffield-i-f_2852246.png) > “As a shy kid growing up in Sheffield, I fantasized about how it would be great to be famous so I wouldn't actually have to talk to people and feel awkward. And of course, as we all know from fairy stories, when you achieve that ambition, you find out you don't want it.” [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A desire for fame can be a way to avoid social discomfort, but achieving it often reveals the underlying wish was misplaced. **In simple terms:** Fame as a shield from awkwardness; Key Takeaway Recognize true motivations before chasing fame. Themes self‑image celebrity social anxiety Mood reflective hopeful Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career planning - social skill building - self‑reflection - public speaking - personal branding Key Concepts psychology identity self‑protection Questions to Reflect On - What do you truly seek beyond fame? - How might you address social awkwardness directly? A Different Perspective Fame may not solve underlying social fears and can create new pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Awkward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awkward/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Famous Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famous-wouldn-666700/) [Fantasized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasized/) [Fantasized Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasized-great-3801941/) [Feel Awkward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-awkward/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-growing-up/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheffield/) [Sheffield Fantasized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheffield-fantasized-3801940/) [Shy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shy/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I recently spent quite a bit of time in Sheffield, England, which is where I'm from. I wouldn't move back there, but it's funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-recently-spent-quite-a-bit-of-time-in-sheffield-england-which-is/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [I'm not Madonna-famous and wouldn't want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-hughes/i-m-not-madonna-famous-and-wouldn-t-want-to-be/) [Benji Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-hughes/) > [Me being an actor was an accident, and not something I wanted to do, because I knew what happened eventually. Yeah, maybe you'd get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/me-being-an-actor-was-an-accident-and-not-something-i-wanted-to-do/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I'm hardly famous. I wouldn't want to trade places with anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-cox/i-m-hardly-famous-i-wouldn-t-want-to-trade-places-with-anyone-else/) [Nikki Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-cox/) > [You're asking the wrong girl about fame. I'm hardly famous. I wouldn't want to trade places with anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-cox/you-re-asking-the-wrong-girl-about-fame-i-m-hardly-famous-i-wouldn-t/) [Nikki Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-cox/) > [Sheffield has everything as far as I'm concerned and the football club is right in the heart of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wilder/sheffield-has-everything-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-and-the-football/) [Chris Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wilder/) > [We're getting a lot of new music together. It's all about our adventures at the moment. We don't see Sheffield much anymore ? it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-turner/we-re-getting-a-lot-of-new-music-together-it-s-all-about-our/) [Alex Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-turner/) > [I remember queuing around the block in Sheffield when I was growing up. At that time, going to the cinema was really something special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palin/i-remember-queuing-around-the-block-in-sheffield-when-i-was-growing/) [Michael Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palin/) > [Elisabeth Sheffield's new novel is multilayered, smart, beautifully written, and funny. I was taken in by the first paragraph and held firmly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percival-everett/elisabeth-sheffield-s-new-novel-is-multilayered-smart-beautifully/) [Percival Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percival-everett/) > [I'm very happy to have moved to West Ham, because I can play for a better team than Sheffield Wednesday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-di-canio/i-m-very-happy-to-have-moved-to-west-ham-because-i-can-play-for-a/) [Paolo Di Canio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-di-canio/) > [I'm a born and bred Sheffield man and I just want the city to do well with sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kell-brook/i-m-a-born-and-bred-sheffield-man-and-i-just-want-the-city-to-do-well/) [Kell Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kell-brook/) > [This town of Sheffield is very populous and large, the streets narrow, and the houses dark and black, occasioned by the continued smoke of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/this-town-of-sheffield-is-very-populous-and-large-the-streets-narrow/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [If you lived in Sheffield and were called Sebastian, you had to learn to run fast at a very early stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/if-you-lived-in-sheffield-and-were-called-sebastian-you-had-to-learn/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [At heart, this job is about continuing to make great theatre for the people of Sheffield - a city I've known and loved since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-west/at-heart-this-job-is-about-continuing-to-make-great-theatre-for-the/) [Samuel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-west/) > [If the people of Sheffield could only receive a tenth part of what their knives sell for by retail in America, Sheffield might pave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/if-the-people-of-sheffield-could-only-receive-a-tenth-part-of-what/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) ## More by Jarvis Cocker > [The things in my songs are the edited highlights of my life. I don't go seeking out strange sexual experiences every day of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/the-things-in-my-songs-are-the-edited-highlights-of-my-life-i-don-t/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [I appreciate people who try and use language in an interesting way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-appreciate-people-who-try-and-use-language-in-an-interesting-way/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [You get to a certain age and you just want to prove that you can still rock - that you've still got it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/you-get-to-a-certain-age-and-you-just-want-to-prove-that-you-can/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [I don't think people should abuse the fact that they are in showbiz. You still have to be human. I think that's the point.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-don-t-think-people-should-abuse-the-fact-that-they-are-in-showbiz/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [I'm always nervous when I perform anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-m-always-nervous-when-i-perform-anyway/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [“I love your body 'cause I've lost my mind If you want someone to talk to, you're wasting your time If you want someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-love-your-body-cause-i-ve-lost-my-mind-if-you-want-someone-to-talk/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [It’s interesting that most gadgets are called ‘iPhone’ and ‘iPod,’ with that ‘i’ prefix, which is ego. But most creativity is not ego-led –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/it-s-interesting-that-most-gadgets-are-called-iphone-and-ipod-with/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [“And as I touch your shoulder tonight this room has become the centre of the entire universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/and-as-i-touch-your-shoulder-tonight-this-room-has-become-the-centre/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [Don't think that the things around you don't count, because they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/don-t-think-that-the-things-around-you-don-t-count-because-they-do/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [The good thing about people really is their iffy-ness and dodginess, isnt it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/the-good-thing-about-people-really-is-their-iffy-ness-and-dodginess/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [The thing with Disney songs is they're very manipulative, very sentimental, but they do get you, you know - there's a kind of sadness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/the-thing-with-disney-songs-is-they-re-very-manipulative-very/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [ \[Jeffrey Lewis is\] The best lyricist working in the US today. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/jeffrey-lewis-is-the-best-lyricist-working-in-the-us-today/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [I guess I'm fairly insistent and maybe consistent. If I decide I'll do something, I generally will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-guess-i-m-fairly-insistent-and-maybe-consistent-if-i-decide-i-ll-do/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [Pornography takes all the reality out of sex and Disney does that to family life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/pornography-takes-all-the-reality-out-of-sex-and-disney-does-that-to/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [My basic position is that the more mixed the society and the more mobility there is in it, the better. That's what makes things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/my-basic-position-is-that-the-more-mixed-the-society-and-the-more/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) [Explore all 115 Jarvis Cocker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. 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