--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I realized that it was great to have a…" description: "\"I realized that it was great to have a job, but it didn't have anything remotely to do with what I was striving for, so why was I doing it?\" — Johnny Depp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/johnny-depp-658_doing_i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-j_2760228.jpg" --- # I realized that it was great to have a job, but it didn't… ![“I realized that it was great to have a job, but it didn't have anything remotely to do with what I was striving for, so why was I doing it?” quote by Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/johnny-depp-658_doing_i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-j_2760228.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/johnny-depp-658_doing_i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-j_2760228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/johnny-depp-658_doing_i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-j_2760228.jpg) > “I realized that it was great to have a job, but it didn't have anything remotely to do with what I was striving for, so why was I doing it?” [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A job may provide income but not align with personal purpose, prompting existential questioning of work’s meaning. **In simple terms:** Jobs can lack purpose. Key Takeaway Seek work that aligns with your goals. Themes purpose career meaning self‑discovery motivation Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career counseling - entrepreneurship - creative pursuits - life planning Key Concepts existentialism career fulfillment values alignment Questions to Reflect On - What does meaningful work look like for you? - How can you bridge the gap between job and purpose? A Different Perspective Financial necessity may force misaligned work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Striving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving/) ## Related quotes > [For suffering and enduring there is no remedy, but striving and doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/for-suffering-and-enduring-there-is-no-remedy-but-striving-and-doing/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [It wasnt love at first sight. But once time went by,I realized what a great person you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasnt-love-at-first-sight-but-once-time-went-by-i-realized-what-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I realized that, for me, great records always moved me with the lyrics and the melodies. And so I said, 'I think I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/i-realized-that-for-me-great-records-always-moved-me-with-the-lyrics/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [To the family is entrusted the task of striving, first and foremost, to unleash the forces of good...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/to-the-family-is-entrusted-the-task-of-striving-first-and-foremost-to/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [I do write about people who are complex and are striving with something and can't quite get past their own stuff, which would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bogosian/i-do-write-about-people-who-are-complex-and-are-striving-with/) [Eric Bogosian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bogosian/) > [Be in this moment, and free yourself of striving for something more or someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-this-moment-and-free-yourself-of-striving-for-something-more-or/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Those with certain temperaments find no way to endure themselves except by striving towards going under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/those-with-certain-temperaments-find-no-way-to-endure-themselves/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Striving for excellence is a positive quality. Striving for perfection is self-defeating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/striving-for-excellence-is-a-positive-quality-striving-for-perfection/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Then what difference does human striving make: mortal struggle, valor, pain? If you live, then live for the test of spirit, for the celebration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/then-what-difference-does-human-striving-make-mortal-struggle-valor/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [I'm constantly striving to break through to something new. You try to maintain a neutral approach to your work, and not be too hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-m-constantly-striving-to-break-through-to-something-new-you-try-to/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [In striving for the best, in losing onself in others, one is lifted above the common material furniture of life, above the gaudy trappings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-brown/in-striving-for-the-best-in-losing-onself-in-others-one-is-lifted/) [Olympia Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-brown/) > [Our salvation is in striving to achieve what we know we'll never achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/our-salvation-is-in-striving-to-achieve-what-we-know-we-ll-never/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-important-human-endeavor-is-the-striving-for-morality-in-our/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [It's not about perfection; it's about the joy of striving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keller/it-s-not-about-perfection-it-s-about-the-joy-of-striving/) [Thomas Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keller/) > [“When you finally give up striving, you will be left with what you have been striving for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-finally-give-up-striving-you-will-be-left-with-what-you-have/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## More by Johnny Depp > [I still approach a scene as one would approach a solo. There's nothing set or pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-still-approach-a-scene-as-one-would-approach-a-solo-there-s-nothing/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I think the thing to do is to enjoy the ride while you're on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-think-the-thing-to-do-is-to-enjoy-the-ride-while-you-re-on-it/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I just watched cartoons for three years, and that had a strong affect on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-just-watched-cartoons-for-three-years-and-that-had-a-strong-affect/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [An actor shouldn't have to leave the set and go home and write a bunch of stuff for a bunch of other people, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/an-actor-shouldn-t-have-to-leave-the-set-and-go-home-and-write-a/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [That pipe, just so happens to lead to the room where I make the most delicious flavored chocolate covered fudge." Then he will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/that-pipe-just-so-happens-to-lead-to-the-room-where-i-make-the-most/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [How 'bout we make it three shillings and we forget the name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/how-bout-we-make-it-three-shillings-and-we-forget-the-name/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Trips to the dentist - I like to postpone that kind of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/trips-to-the-dentist-i-like-to-postpone-that-kind-of-thing/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [The beauty, the poetry of the fear in their eyes. I didn't mind going to jail for, what, five, six hours? It was absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/the-beauty-the-poetry-of-the-fear-in-their-eyes-i-didn-t-mind-going/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'm attracted to the extreme light and the extreme dark. I'm interested in the human condition and what makes people tick. I'm interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-m-attracted-to-the-extreme-light-and-the-extreme-dark-i-m/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [They say the world used to be bigger. The world's still the same--there's just less in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/they-say-the-world-used-to-be-bigger-the-world-s-still-the-same-there/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I was definitely never a crowd pleaser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-was-definitely-never-a-crowd-pleaser/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I don't trust anyone who hasn't been self-destructiv e in some way, and who hasn't gone through some sort of bout of self-loathing. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-don-t-trust-anyone-who-hasn-t-been-self-destructiv-e-in-some-way/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I guess I'm attracted to these off beat roles because my life has been a bit abnormal. The only thing I have a problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-these-off-beat-roles-because-my-life-has/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it's just not acting. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/with-any-part-you-play-there-is-a-certain-amount-of-yourself-in-it/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/the-only-creatures-that-are-evolved-enough-to-convey-pure-love-are/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) [Explore all 425 Johnny Depp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) ## More Doing quotes > [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [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/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [.\*. why u hate me..Bitches be doing the most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty/why-u-hate-me-bitches-be-doing-the-most/) Kitty > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [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/) > [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) Browse all 10,133 Doing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I realized that it was great to have a job, but it didn't have anything remotely to do with what I was striving for, so why was I doing it?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Depp" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-job-but-it-didn-t-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-job-but-it-didn-t-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/johnny-depp-658_doing_i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-j_2760228.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/johnny-depp-658_doing_i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-j_2760228.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/johnny-depp-658_doing_i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-j_2760228.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I realized that it was great to have a job, but it didn't have anything remotely to do with what I was…” — Johnny Depp", "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": "Johnny Depp", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I realized that it was great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-job-but-it-didn-t-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-realized-that-it-was-great-to-have-a-job-but-it-didn-t-have/#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 } } ] } ```