--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was 18, I went into the army as a…" description: "\"When I was 18, I went into the army as a payroll clerk because otherwise I was headed for Korea.\" — Julian Bream" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/julian-bream-9656_army_when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a_2156996.jpg" --- # When I was 18, I went into the army as a payroll clerk… ![“When I was 18, I went into the army as a payroll clerk because otherwise I was headed for Korea.” quote by Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/julian-bream-9656_army_when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a_2156996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/julian-bream-9656_army_when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a_2156996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/julian-bream-9656_army_when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a_2156996.jpg) > “When I was 18, I went into the army as a payroll clerk because otherwise I was headed for Korea.” [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected career choices can arise from practical circumstances, shaping life paths. **In simple terms:** Life can take unexpected turns due to necessity. Key Takeaway Stay adaptable to new opportunities. Themes career choice adaptability Mood reflective thoughtful Type biographical philosophical When to use this quote - military service - career change - financial necessity Key Concepts sociology personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - What would you have chosen if not for circumstance? - How did this path influence your art? A Different Perspective Practical decisions may limit other possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Clerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clerk/) ## Related quotes > [I travelled to California when I was 18 and went to Los Angeles State College.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-vaughn/i-travelled-to-california-when-i-was-18-and-went-to-los-angeles-state/) [Robert Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-vaughn/) > [When I was 18, I went to the East Coast of America, got mugged, and came straight home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/when-i-was-18-i-went-to-the-east-coast-of-america-got-mugged-and-came/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [When I was 18 and went to RADA in London, my weekends calmed down a lot. I lived in halls in Gower Street and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/when-i-was-18-and-went-to-rada-in-london-my-weekends-calmed-down-a/) [Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/) > [I went to Paris when I was about 18 and then went to Miami and New York. I did all of that alone. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-mabrey/i-went-to-paris-when-i-was-about-18-and-then-went-to-miami-and-new/) [Sunny Mabrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-mabrey/) > [It would come as quite a shock to my younger self that my first job was modelling. I was scouted, aged 18, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-cox/it-would-come-as-quite-a-shock-to-my-younger-self-that-my-first-job/) [Sara Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-cox/) > [I went into the Army, and one day, in the middle of a bull session, somebody called me an atheist. Believe it or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/i-went-into-the-army-and-one-day-in-the-middle-of-a-bull-session/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [Elvis shaved his head when he went into the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beastie-boys/elvis-shaved-his-head-when-he-went-into-the-army/) [Beastie Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beastie-boys/) > [I made hats until I went into the Army. I was drafted during the Korean War.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cunningham/i-made-hats-until-i-went-into-the-army-i-was-drafted-during-the/) [Bill Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cunningham/) > [Elvis died the day he went into the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/elvis-died-the-day-he-went-into-the-army/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [At my school, when kids went into the army at 16, they didn't do it in a gung-ho, Tom Cruise, 'Born on the Fourth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-thorne/at-my-school-when-kids-went-into-the-army-at-16-they-didn-t-do-it-in/) [Jack Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-thorne/) > [I was taking chemical engineering. But I went into the army after that. When I came out of the army, I was a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-was-taking-chemical-engineering-but-i-went-into-the-army-after-that/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I idolized my mother. I didn't realize she was a lousy cook until I went into the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-gayle/i-idolized-my-mother-i-didn-t-realize-she-was-a-lousy-cook-until-i/) Jackie Gayle > [I went into the army worth a million and a half dollars, and came out a beggar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-bedford-forrest/i-went-into-the-army-worth-a-million-and-a-half-dollars-and-came-out/) [Nathan Bedford Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-bedford-forrest/) > [You must remember that I won an Oscar for my role Johnny Eager. Then I went into the Army. But before I did, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/you-must-remember-that-i-won-an-oscar-for-my-role-johnny-eager-then-i/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I didn't finish high school - left home when I was 15. I moved away to Fresno and worked as a grocery clerk. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-covey/i-didn-t-finish-high-school-left-home-when-i-was-15-i-moved-away-to/) [Joy Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-covey/) ## More by Julian Bream > [In 1984, I was contacted by Michael Taylor, who had won a commission from a sponsor and decided he would like to paint a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/in-1984-i-was-contacted-by-michael-taylor-who-had-won-a-commission/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [Ideally the performer has a special function. Which is to bring the listener to the edge of that experience and to open the doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/ideally-the-performer-has-a-special-function-which-is-to-bring-the/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [A violin is tuned to a fifth. But a guitar is tuned to a fourth with a one-third middle. It is very perplexing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/a-violin-is-tuned-to-a-fifth-but-a-guitar-is-tuned-to-a-fourth-with-a/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [I'm a very bad teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/i-m-a-very-bad-teacher/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [I went to college to study the piano and cello.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/i-went-to-college-to-study-the-piano-and-cello/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [I found I could speak through the guitar. Because you have the feel of the strings with both hands and it's up against your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/i-found-i-could-speak-through-the-guitar-because-you-have-the-feel-of/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [Segovia was a Spaniard and it seemed natural that he should play the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/segovia-was-a-spaniard-and-it-seemed-natural-that-he-should-play-the/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [Wanting to play the guitar was neither a wild dream nor a realistic ambition. It was simply inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/wanting-to-play-the-guitar-was-neither-a-wild-dream-nor-a-realistic/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [It takes a lifetime and a half to master the classical guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/it-takes-a-lifetime-and-a-half-to-master-the-classical-guitar/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [Music has been my real solace. And that's why I play music. And that's why I'm so determined, or have been so determined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/music-has-been-my-real-solace-and-that-s-why-i-play-music-and-that-s/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [The guitar is the most beautiful of all instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/the-guitar-is-the-most-beautiful-of-all-instruments/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [My father started me off on the guitar, and we learned classical guitar together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/my-father-started-me-off-on-the-guitar-and-we-learned-classical/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [The guitar speaks for me and it says things - hopefully - for everybody that I play for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/the-guitar-speaks-for-me-and-it-says-things-hopefully-for-everybody/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [You have to be serious, and you must have a constantly inquiring mind. But I find it's new music that really stretches me, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/you-have-to-be-serious-and-you-must-have-a-constantly-inquiring-mind/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [Some specialist guitar music is not of the highest intellectual calibre, so I must make it sound as though it is. If it bores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/some-specialist-guitar-music-is-not-of-the-highest-intellectual/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) [Explore all 71 Julian Bream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was 18, I went into the army as a payroll clerk because otherwise I was headed for Korea.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Julian Bream" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a-payroll-clerk-because/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a-payroll-clerk-because/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/julian-bream-9656_army_when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a_2156996.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/julian-bream-9656_army_when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a_2156996.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/julian-bream-9656_army_when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a_2156996.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was 18, I went into the army as a payroll clerk because otherwise I was headed for Korea.” — Julian Bream", "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": "Julian Bream", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was 18, I went...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a-payroll-clerk-because/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a-payroll-clerk-because/#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 } } ] } ```