---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really had a chip on my shoulder…"
description: "\"I really had a chip on my shoulder, ... and it still comes out every now and then.\" — John Lennon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lennon-322_chip_i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i_623549.jpg"
---

#  I really had a chip on my shoulder, ... and it still comes…

![“I really had a chip on my shoulder, ... and it still comes out every now and then.” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lennon-322_chip_i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i_623549.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lennon-322_chip_i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i_623549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lennon-322_chip_i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i_623549.jpg)

> “I really had a chip on my shoulder, ... and it still comes out every now and then.”

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

## 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 acknowledges lingering resentment that occasionally resurfaces.

**In simple terms:** Past resentment still appears.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address lingering grievances.

Themes

resentment selfawareness healing

Mood

reflective somber

Type

personal emotional

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- conflict resolution
- stress management

Key Concepts

Psychology emotional baggage

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers your lingering resentment?
- How can you prevent it from resurfacing?

A Different Perspective

Unresolved issues can damage relationships if ignored.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [It's a big chip on my shoulder that I have not been to any of his parties - P. Diddy, Diddy Puff. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-blunt/it-s-a-big-chip-on-my-shoulder-that-i-have-not-been-to-any-of-his/)

[Emily Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-blunt/)

> [I got a chip on my shoulder from the Draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-clarkson/i-got-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-from-the-draft/)

[Jordan Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-clarkson/)

> [Hey people with a chip on your shoulder...you gonna eat that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-people-with-a-chip-on-your-shoulder-you-gonna-eat-that/)

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

> [I'm going to have a chip on my shoulder for as long as I'm in the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-wood/i-m-going-to-have-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-for-as-long-as-i-m-in-the-nba/)

[Christian Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-wood/)

> [If you're a fighter, you're an alpha male. You have a chip on your shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-johnson/if-you-re-a-fighter-you-re-an-alpha-male-you-have-a-chip-on-your/)

[Anthony Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-johnson/)

> [When I'm out there, I play with a chip on my shoulder regardless of the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-sexton/when-i-m-out-there-i-play-with-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-regardless-of/)

[Collin Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-sexton/)

> [There is a chip on my shoulder, both shoulders, yes sir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-jackson/there-is-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-both-shoulders-yes-sir/)

[Lamar Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-jackson/)

> [I've just always played with a big chip on my shoulder, and that keeps fueling me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kuzma/i-ve-just-always-played-with-a-big-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-that-keeps/)

[Kyle Kuzma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kuzma/)

> [I am a sport. And I don't have a chip on my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-colin-campbell/i-am-a-sport-and-i-don-t-have-a-chip-on-my-shoulder/)

[Lady Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-colin-campbell/)

> [I'm like always smiling but I'm superaggressive. I have like a different type of chip on my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/i-m-like-always-smiling-but-i-m-superaggressive-i-have-like-a/)

[Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/)

> [I always play with an edge. Play with a chip on my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/i-always-play-with-an-edge-play-with-a-chip-on-my-shoulder/)

[Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/)

> [I definitely have a chip on my shoulder after having transfered to Division I-AA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/i-definitely-have-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-after-having-transfered-to/)

[Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/)

> [I've had a chip on my shoulder every year that I've played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnamdi-asomugha/i-ve-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-every-year-that-i-ve-played/)

[Nnamdi Asomugha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnamdi-asomugha/)

> [Every player has a chip on their shoulder about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mcnabb/every-player-has-a-chip-on-their-shoulder-about-something/)

[Donovan McNabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mcnabb/)

> [I have a huge chip on my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-church/i-have-a-huge-chip-on-my-shoulder/)

[Eric Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-church/)

## More by John Lennon

> [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Today's folk song is rock and roll. Although it happened to emanate from America, that's not really important in the end because we wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/today-s-folk-song-is-rock-and-roll-although-it-happened-to-emanate/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. ... Think peace, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-want-to-get-peace-you-can-get-it-as-soon-as-you-like-if-we-all/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [The reason why kids are crazy is because nobody can face the responsibility of bringing them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-reason-why-kids-are-crazy-is-because-nobody-can-face-the/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Love is like a flower - you've got to let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/love-is-like-a-flower-you-ve-got-to-let-it-grow/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

[Explore all 681 John Lennon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

## More Chip quotes

> [People do the eye test and underestimate me, so I do play with a chip on my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mccaffrey/people-do-the-eye-test-and-underestimate-me-so-i-do-play-with-a-chip/)

[Christian McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mccaffrey/)

> [I've just got this huge chip on my shoulder because I've been out for three years and people think I'm dead and buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/i-ve-just-got-this-huge-chip-on-my-shoulder-because-i-ve-been-out-for/)

[Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/)

> [In 2011, I had a big chip on my shoulder, and I felt like I had a lot to prove every time I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-kidd/in-2011-i-had-a-big-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i-felt-like-i-had-a-lot/)

[Tyson Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-kidd/)

> [I think I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, but I think that's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/i-think-i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-but-i-think-that/)

[Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/)

> [Chip maker Nvidia is the new old thing, an overnight success story years in the making that is having its moment and then some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/chip-maker-nvidia-is-the-new-old-thing-an-overnight-success-story/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [Me and a buddy of mine would make up this saying, 'Just land it on the green and keep it on the green.' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/me-and-a-buddy-of-mine-would-make-up-this-saying-just-land-it-on-the/)

[Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/)

> [If you're wanting something salty, do air-popped popcorn. That, to me, would be a healthier choice than having any kind of fried chip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/if-you-re-wanting-something-salty-do-air-popped-popcorn-that-to-me/)

[Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/)

> [The only thing that big chip on your shoulder needs is some good dip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-big-chip-on-your-shoulder-needs-is-some-good-dip/)

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

> [“I have the brain of a malfunctioning supercomputer!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-have-the-brain-of-a-malfunctioning-supercomputer/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [Chip Kelly, he is a great guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/chip-kelly-he-is-a-great-guy/)

[DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/)

> [The chip comes from people saying I'm not good enough, or I can't score, or I'm not a real basketball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/the-chip-comes-from-people-saying-i-m-not-good-enough-or-i-can-t/)

[Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/)

> [PRINGLES: The only chip company in the world that doesn't sell air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pringles-the-only-chip-company-in-the-world-that-doesn-t-sell-air/)

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

> [“The Vanishing Chip”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-vanishing-chip/)

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

> [We came in today with a chip on our shoulder to prove who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/we-came-in-today-with-a-chip-on-our-shoulder-to-prove-who-we-are/)

[Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/)

> [When I fought Hall, people thought it was a fluke. I left that fight with a chip on my shoulder and said, well, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-gastelum/when-i-fought-hall-people-thought-it-was-a-fluke-i-left-that-fight/)

[Kelvin Gastelum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-gastelum/)

Browse all 162 Chip quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I really had a chip on my shoulder, ... and it still comes out every now and then.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Lennon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-it-still-comes-out-every-now/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chip"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-it-still-comes-out-every-now/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lennon-322_chip_i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i_623549.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lennon-322_chip_i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i_623549.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/john-lennon-322_chip_i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i_623549.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I really had a chip on my shoulder, ... and it still comes out every now and then.” — John Lennon",
                "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": "John Lennon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I really had a chip on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-it-still-comes-out-every-now/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-it-still-comes-out-every-now/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
