---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Playing guitar was a calling, but I never…"
description: "\"Playing guitar was a calling, but I never realized that it was going to be a career. It was just something I did out of love.\" — Jose Feliciano"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/jose-feliciano-5723_career_playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never_1572533.jpg"
---

#  Playing guitar was a calling, but I never realized that it…

![“Playing guitar was a calling, but I never realized that it was going to be a career. It was just something I did out of love.” quote by Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/jose-feliciano-5723_career_playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never_1572533.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/jose-feliciano-5723_career_playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never_1572533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/jose-feliciano-5723_career_playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never_1572533.jpg)

> “Playing guitar was a calling, but I never realized that it was going to be a career. It was just something I did out of love.”

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

## About This Quote

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

A passion can unexpectedly become a profession, turning love for an activity into a livelihood.

**In simple terms:** Passion can become a career.

Key Takeaway

Pursue what you love.

Themes

career passion identity artistry

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- music practice
- career planning
- personal fulfillment

Key Concepts

vocational psychology creative industries

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you love your work?
- How can you balance passion and practicality?

A Different Perspective

Financial stability may be uncertain.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Calling Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling-realized-5922428/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Going Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-career-639093/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-calling-5922427/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Playing guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-guitar/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/)

## Related quotes

> [I got a chance to work with Stallone and De Niro - pretty much sums it up for me. You can tell where you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/i-got-a-chance-to-work-with-stallone-and-de-niro-pretty-much-sums-it/)

[Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/)

> [I find it difficult enough as it is to keep some kind of normality in my life. I enjoy this experience, but I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-find-it-difficult-enough-as-it-is-to-keep-some-kind-of-normality-in/)

[George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/)

> [I spent ten years being told there was no way I was going to have a career because I was so effeminate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anohni/i-spent-ten-years-being-told-there-was-no-way-i-was-going-to-have-a/)

[Anohni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anohni/)

> [All I'm doing now is extra. I've already did what I am going to do in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/all-i-m-doing-now-is-extra-i-ve-already-did-what-i-am-going-to-do-in/)

[Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/)

> [I had no idea I was going to have a career in the theater. I did not plan it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-had-no-idea-i-was-going-to-have-a-career-in-the-theater-i-did-not/)

[Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/)

> [Had anyone told me that I was going to have a career in business, I would have said, 'No way.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/had-anyone-told-me-that-i-was-going-to-have-a-career-in-business-i/)

[Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/)

> [I've said it before, the way things are going for me in my career, it's only a matter of time before I get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-ve-said-it-before-the-way-things-are-going-for-me-in-my-career-it-s/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [You don't even know are we going to have a career? Are we going to be able to sell records? Are we going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/you-don-t-even-know-are-we-going-to-have-a-career-are-we-going-to-be/)

[Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/)

> [I got involved in the Surrey Country youth theatre which led me to go to drama school where I realised that this was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-got-involved-in-the-surrey-country-youth-theatre-which-led-me-to-go/)

[Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/)

> [I'm either going to have the career I want doing films, or I'll do something else - I'll be gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-m-either-going-to-have-the-career-i-want-doing-films-or-i-ll-do/)

[Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/)

> [You should just enjoy it, but as soon as you decide that it is going to be your career, no matter whether you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-forget/you-should-just-enjoy-it-but-as-soon-as-you-decide-that-it-is-going/)

[Guy Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-forget/)

> [I'm gonna do four or five of these movies, and it's going to become my career. I'll have to keep expanding the bat suit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/i-m-gonna-do-four-or-five-of-these-movies-and-it-s-going-to-become-my/)

[Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/)

> [I no longer think in terms of, Ooh, this is a great role and what is it going to do for - actually, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-no-longer-think-in-terms-of-ooh-this-is-a-great-role-and-what-is-it/)

[Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/)

> [I took piano lessons when I was really young, like five years old, and I didn't really enjoy that very much. It was kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washed-out/i-took-piano-lessons-when-i-was-really-young-like-five-years-old-and/)

[Washed Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washed-out/)

> [There was a lot of camaraderie among the bands. I remember a lot of times when I'd be driving up Laurel Canyon and pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-millington/there-was-a-lot-of-camaraderie-among-the-bands-i-remember-a-lot-of/)

[June Millington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-millington/)

## More by Jose Feliciano

> [I made history and nothing can besmirch that. Nothing can erase that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-made-history-and-nothing-can-besmirch-that-nothing-can-erase-that/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [I've been playing in Israel since 1971.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-ve-been-playing-in-israel-since-1971/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [RCA wanted me to change my name. They asked me around 1965, when they first signed me. They said, 'Feliciano is too Latin.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/rca-wanted-me-to-change-my-name-they-asked-me-around-1965-when-they/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [If I were to travel with all my instruments, I would need a truck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/if-i-were-to-travel-with-all-my-instruments-i-would-need-a-truck/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [I never knew whether I'd make it as a star but I always wanted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-never-knew-whether-i-d-make-it-as-a-star-but-i-always-wanted-to/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [I went through the immigration thing. But when I got to New York it wasn't so tough for me. I went to school. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-went-through-the-immigration-thing-but-when-i-got-to-new-york-it/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [Music. It has always showed me that I could do what the other kids couldn't do. So I will keep playing and singing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/music-it-has-always-showed-me-that-i-could-do-what-the-other-kids/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [I became a teen idol. At the time, it embarrassed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-became-a-teen-idol-at-the-time-it-embarrassed-me/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [I felt bad about the controversy because they stopped playing my songs on American radio stations. But there was nothing wrong with what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-felt-bad-about-the-controversy-because-they-stopped-playing-my/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [I write with my brain. I don't need a computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-write-with-my-brain-i-don-t-need-a-computer/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [No one can pigeon-hole me because I play everything, and I did that on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/no-one-can-pigeon-hole-me-because-i-play-everything-and-i-did-that-on/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [Everyone is my equal, and that is transferred to my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/everyone-is-my-equal-and-that-is-transferred-to-my-music/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [I have genuine respect for women and I want to win their respect. I don't want them to look at me and say, 'Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-have-genuine-respect-for-women-and-i-want-to-win-their-respect-i/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [You can't write much quality, original music on a concertina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/you-can-t-write-much-quality-original-music-on-a-concertina/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

> [I just happened to be Latino, and like any artist, I was trying to forge a career. If I opened doors for others, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/i-just-happened-to-be-latino-and-like-any-artist-i-was-trying-to/)

[Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

[Explore all 100 Jose Feliciano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/)

## More Career quotes

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

[Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/)

> [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/)

[Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/)

> [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/)

[Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/)

> [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/)

[Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/)

> [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/)

[Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/)

[John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/)

[Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/)

[Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/)

[Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Playing guitar was a calling, but I never realized that it was going to be a career. It was just something I did out of love.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jose Feliciano"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never-realized-that-it-was-going/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Career"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never-realized-that-it-was-going/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/jose-feliciano-5723_career_playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never_1572533.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/jose-feliciano-5723_career_playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never_1572533.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fda/jose-feliciano-5723_career_playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never_1572533.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Playing guitar was a calling, but I never realized that it was going to be a career. It was just something I…” — Jose Feliciano",
                "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": "Jose Feliciano",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Playing guitar was a calling, but...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never-realized-that-it-was-going/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/playing-guitar-was-a-calling-but-i-never-realized-that-it-was-going/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
