--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was never a joiner. I tried - I had…" description: "\"I was never a joiner. I tried - I had people I admired and liked and wanted to hang with, but I ended up starting a theatre company and that took me ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/john-cusack-3209_admired_i-was-never-a-joiner-i-tried-i-had-peopl_2109620.jpg" --- # I was never a joiner. I tried - I had people I admired and… ![“I was never a joiner. I tried - I had people I admired and liked and wanted to hang with, but I ended up starting a theatre company and that took me back to Chicago... I guess I wasn't a scenester in the end. Something must have worked out right, as I'm still here - but I'm only a binge socialite.” quote by John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/john-cusack-3209_admired_i-was-never-a-joiner-i-tried-i-had-peopl_2109620.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/john-cusack-3209_admired_i-was-never-a-joiner-i-tried-i-had-peopl_2109620.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/john-cusack-3209_admired_i-was-never-a-joiner-i-tried-i-had-peopl_2109620.jpg) > “I was never a joiner. I tried - I had people I admired and liked and wanted to hang with, but I ended up starting a theatre company and that took me back to Chicago... I guess I wasn't a scenester in the end. Something must have worked out right, as I'm still here - but I'm only a binge socialite.” [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on preferring solo pursuits over fitting into social scenes, leading to founding a theatre group and remaining active socially but on his own terms. **In simple terms:** He chose independent work over being a typical social follower. Key Takeaway Embrace personal paths despite social pressure. Themes independence social dynamics career choices Mood reflective thoughtful introspective Type personal narrative reflective When to use this quote - theatre founding - career pivots - social networking - personal identity - creative collaborations Key Concepts self‑determination creative entrepreneurship Questions to Reflect On - Do you value independence over belonging? - How does solo work shape your identity? A Different Perspective May limit collaborative opportunities and broader exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Socialites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialites/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I worked as a scaffolder, worked as a chef, tried my hand working in a coffee shop, tried my hand as a joiner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cinnamon/i-worked-as-a-scaffolder-worked-as-a-chef-tried-my-hand-working-in-a/) [Gerry Cinnamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cinnamon/) > [I'm not so much of a joiner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-so-much-of-a-joiner/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I cannot say I ever enjoyed working as a joiner, but it was a means to an end at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-dallas/i-cannot-say-i-ever-enjoyed-working-as-a-joiner-but-it-was-a-means-to/) [Stuart Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-dallas/) > [I'm not a joiner. I don't like organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-m-not-a-joiner-i-don-t-like-organizations/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“I’m for equal wages, too! But I’m not a joiner. I wouldn’t fit with your group. In most cases, I don’t even like women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hanley/i-m-for-equal-wages-too-but-i-m-not-a-joiner-i-wouldn-t-fit-with-your/) Tim Hanley > [I'm for everybody. There are no set rules. But if one's not a joiner. To hell with all of them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/i-m-for-everybody-there-are-no-set-rules-but-if-one-s-not-a-joiner-to/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [I've never been much of a joiner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-parker/i-ve-never-been-much-of-a-joiner/) [Sean Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-parker/) > [I'm not a natural joiner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-a-natural-joiner/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'd love to be a joiner or a wood turner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-d-love-to-be-a-joiner-or-a-wood-turner/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [“I tried to get other people to do things,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gertner/i-tried-to-get-other-people-to-do-things/) [Jon Gertner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gertner/) > [I don't think I've ever tried to be something that I'm not. People do that for you. People try to pigeonhole you. People tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-tried-to-be-something-that-i-m-not-people-do/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [I've always tried to please people, make them laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/i-ve-always-tried-to-please-people-make-them-laugh/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Ive tried being other people and myself suits me the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/ive-tried-being-other-people-and-myself-suits-me-the-best/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [She tried to be someone people liked. She tried to be someone people disliked. But all I became was someone who didn't succeed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/she-tried-to-be-someone-people-liked-she-tried-to-be-someone-people/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I tried to please people instead of believing in my own strength, until the only thing I could do was walk away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-manchester/i-tried-to-please-people-instead-of-believing-in-my-own-strength/) [Melissa Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-manchester/) ## More by John Cusack > [The elderly have so much to offer. They're our link with history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/the-elderly-have-so-much-to-offer-they-re-our-link-with-history/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [You just try to get the best jobs that you can get. Sometimes I produce my own movies, so that's your own sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/you-just-try-to-get-the-best-jobs-that-you-can-get-sometimes-i/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [But, you know, I'm sorry, I think democracy requires participation. I mean, I don't want to proselytize but I do feel some sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/but-you-know-i-m-sorry-i-think-democracy-requires-participation-i/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [If you help manufacture an enemy that's really evil, you can point to the fact that it's really evil, and say, "Hey, it's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/if-you-help-manufacture-an-enemy-that-s-really-evil-you-can-point-to/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [My point was that it's hard to make good films, but I'm not under any illusion that you do all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/my-point-was-that-it-s-hard-to-make-good-films-but-i-m-not-under-any/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [I read Noam Chomsky. I like some of Gore Vidal's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-read-noam-chomsky-i-like-some-of-gore-vidal-s-stuff/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [There's also some element of coming of age during the Reagan administration, which everybody has painted as some glorious time in America, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/there-s-also-some-element-of-coming-of-age-during-the-reagan/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [You can only really judge yourself in comparison to other people. How bad you are, but you're not as bad as someone else. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/you-can-only-really-judge-yourself-in-comparison-to-other-people-how/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [But no, I don't really like romantic comedies, so I don't really care. I never go see 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/but-no-i-don-t-really-like-romantic-comedies-so-i-don-t-really-care-i/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [I was a teen star. That's disgusting enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-was-a-teen-star-that-s-disgusting-enough/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [Well, acting itself is a form of rebellion, always. Getting up there in front of people, telling stories - you're kind of going against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/well-acting-itself-is-a-form-of-rebellion-always-getting-up-there-in/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [I think everything has some politics to it. It's just whether or not it admits to it. Politics is weird. I don't even know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-think-everything-has-some-politics-to-it-it-s-just-whether-or-not/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [I just love the process of working with other actors. It's like jamming with a musician, except it takes a little more effort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/i-just-love-the-process-of-working-with-other-actors-it-s-like/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [Maybe the absence of signs is a sign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/maybe-the-absence-of-signs-is-a-sign/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [Satire is meant to have teeth; satire is meant to be dangerous. But it also happens to be fun because subversion and telling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/satire-is-meant-to-have-teeth-satire-is-meant-to-be-dangerous-but-it/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) [Explore all 136 John Cusack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) ## More Admired quotes > [To me, true style icons have been few and far between. Elizabeth Taylor comes to mind. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I suppose I'm led to do so by the fact of what happened to my contemporaries - people whom I've admired, people who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-suppose-i-m-led-to-do-so-by-the-fact-of-what-happened-to-my/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I always admired virtue - but I could never imitate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-admired-virtue-but-i-could-never-imitate-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always looked at guys who I've admired, like John Williams and Lalo Schifrin and Max Steiner, and looked at the choices they made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-ve-always-looked-at-guys-who-i-ve-admired-like-john-williams-and/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [Admired as a saint, defined by my rank. Combined with my strength, my time and my length.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/admired-as-a-saint-defined-by-my-rank-combined-with-my-strength-my/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [ \[On her father's death:\] Gone was the person who had known me better than anyone else on earth and who had loved and admired… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-brody/on-her-father-s-death-gone-was-the-person-who-had-known-me-better/) [Jane Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-brody/) > [I've always admired actors such as Tabu, Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi and I'd like to do the kind of roles that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanam-saeed/i-ve-always-admired-actors-such-as-tabu-nandita-das-and-shabana-azmi/) [Sanam Saeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanam-saeed/) > [In life, if you are intelligent then you will be admired but if you are prominent then you are envied meanwhile if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeka/in-life-if-you-are-intelligent-then-you-will-be-admired-but-if-you/) [Jeka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeka/) > [ He \[A. J. Balfour\] was eminently one of the Cole Porter school of famous men, who only fell to rise again. Picking himself up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-balfour/he-a-j-balfour-was-eminently-one-of-the-cole-porter-school-of-famous/) [Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-balfour/) > [She never felt sorry for herself, and that was something I decided I admired most in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/she-never-felt-sorry-for-herself-and-that-was-something-i-decided-i/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Celebrity is never more admired than by the negligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/celebrity-is-never-more-admired-than-by-the-negligent/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I have loved, adored and admired Irrfan Khan's work. Some of his movies are remarkable. So, working with him has been an honor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/i-have-loved-adored-and-admired-irrfan-khan-s-work-some-of-his-movies/) [Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/) > [What! nothing grand and noble to be admired, obeyed, copied? Ah, the lack is not without you, but within you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/what-nothing-grand-and-noble-to-be-admired-obeyed-copied-ah-the-lack/) [Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/) Browse all 392 Admired quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was never a joiner. I tried - I had people I admired and liked and wanted to hang with, but I ended up starting a theatre company and that took me back to Chicago... I guess I wasn't a scenester in the end. 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