--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would prefer it if people thought that…" description: "\"I would prefer it if people thought that I didn't work hard, that I just played the guitar for three minutes a week and was like, 'Check out this song ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/julian-casablancas-3841_check_i-would-prefer-it-if-people-thought-that_2391915.png" --- # I would prefer it if people thought that I didn't work… ![“I would prefer it if people thought that I didn't work hard, that I just played the guitar for three minutes a week and was like, 'Check out this song - what do you think?' That would be ideal. I would prefer telling people that I'm just truly talented.” quote by Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/julian-casablancas-3841_check_i-would-prefer-it-if-people-thought-that_2391915.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/julian-casablancas-3841_check_i-would-prefer-it-if-people-thought-that_2391915.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/julian-casablancas-3841_check_i-would-prefer-it-if-people-thought-that_2391915.png) > “I would prefer it if people thought that I didn't work hard, that I just played the guitar for three minutes a week and was like, 'Check out this song - what do you think?' That would be ideal. I would prefer telling people that I'm just truly talented.” [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desiring recognition for talent rather than effort reflects insecurity and a need for validation. **In simple terms:** Want praise for talent, not hard work. Key Takeaway Earn respect through genuine skill. Themes validation insecurity talent Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative work - public performance - career reputation - personal branding Key Concepts self‑image authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humility with confidence? - What does true talent mean to you? A Different Perspective Talent alone may not sustain long‑term success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Check](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/check/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-minutes-4758716/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played/) [Played Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-guitar/) [Prefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer/) [Prefer Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-telling-5960404/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Song Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-think/) [Talented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talented/) [Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling/) [Telling People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-people/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Even at a McFly show, if I don't have a guitar for a few minutes... and suddenly being on my own, without my band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/even-at-a-mcfly-show-if-i-don-t-have-a-guitar-for-a-few-minutes-and/) [Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/) > [ I would say a great song \[is where\] you like everything in the song. The lyrics move you, the beat makes you want to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aino-jawo/i-would-say-a-great-song-is-where-you-like-everything-in-the-song-the/) [Aino Jawo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aino-jawo/) > [The best way to write a song is to think of something else and then the song kind of creeps in. The beginning makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/the-best-way-to-write-a-song-is-to-think-of-something-else-and-then/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [If I hear another line dance song I think I'm going to puke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/if-i-hear-another-line-dance-song-i-think-i-m-going-to-puke/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Songwriting is something that's very daunting until you have your first successful song, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-sambora/songwriting-is-something-that-s-very-daunting-until-you-have-your/) [Richie Sambora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-sambora/) > [“It was like waking up or being born or falling out of the sky. It was an answer and a song, and she could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/it-was-like-waking-up-or-being-born-or-falling-out-of-the-sky-it-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I make my songs slightly abstract so that people can interpret them their own way. I think that's a lot more special, so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-make-my-songs-slightly-abstract-so-that-people-can-interpret-them/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [When you have Julio Iglesias on a song, I think that's golden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-santos/when-you-have-julio-iglesias-on-a-song-i-think-that-s-golden/) [Romeo Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-santos/) > [You just do the best you can. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to get worse the more you do it. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/you-just-do-the-best-you-can-it-doesn-t-necessarily-mean-that-you/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Glen Campbell told me, 'Stay out of the way of a good song.' I think it's true. If a song's good, don't overdo it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-isaak/glen-campbell-told-me-stay-out-of-the-way-of-a-good-song-i-think-it-s/) [Chris Isaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-isaak/) > [I hear this song and I think, Man, this is ... great. This is the best I ever heard this. I forget I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-clark/i-hear-this-song-and-i-think-man-this-is-great-this-is-the-best-i/) [Guy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-clark/) > [Is 'Raindrops' a country song? I think it's a little bit of a stretch, but OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/is-raindrops-a-country-song-i-think-it-s-a-little-bit-of-a-stretch/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [When I create a song, I immediately think about what I'm going to wear when I perform that song. I think about the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/when-i-create-a-song-i-immediately-think-about-what-i-m-going-to-wear/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [If I ever write a love song. I think I will write about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mee/if-i-ever-write-a-love-song-i-think-i-will-write-about-you/) [Mee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mee/) > [You write a song about how you think at the time, and then gradually you drift away from that, and when it's far enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/you-write-a-song-about-how-you-think-at-the-time-and-then-gradually/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) ## More by Julian Casablancas > [When the Strokes first started playing gigs, instead of getting into a costume for the shows, we talked about how we should dress every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/when-the-strokes-first-started-playing-gigs-instead-of-getting-into-a/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [Can our mind evolve to be something other than an extension of our animal needs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/can-our-mind-evolve-to-be-something-other-than-an-extension-of-our/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [Watching the urban decay all around us, oh boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/watching-the-urban-decay-all-around-us-oh-boy/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [I over-think stuff a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/i-over-think-stuff-a-lot/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [I see myself out of my own eyes, which means I have no idea what's going on the other way around. I just think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/i-see-myself-out-of-my-own-eyes-which-means-i-have-no-idea-what-s/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [It's like an inner struggle for me, between saying I don't give a \*\*\*\* and trying to make it work. You want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/it-s-like-an-inner-struggle-for-me-between-saying-i-don-t-give-a-and/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [The Strokes can play anything. They could play 'Thriller,' and it would just sound like 'Thriller' as played by the Strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/the-strokes-can-play-anything-they-could-play-thriller-and-it-would/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [You are looking for your own voice, but in others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/you-are-looking-for-your-own-voice-but-in-others/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [My parents separated when I was eight. I grew up with my mom alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/my-parents-separated-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up-with-my-mom-alone/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [I guess the best thing about marriage is the fact you've got the coolest partner you can imagine by your side for all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/i-guess-the-best-thing-about-marriage-is-the-fact-you-ve-got-the/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [The best artists are the ones that work the hardest, and if you work hard enough, you'll eventually experience the happy accidents that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/the-best-artists-are-the-ones-that-work-the-hardest-and-if-you-work/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [So when's it coming? This life's new great movement that I can join](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/so-when-s-it-coming-this-life-s-new-great-movement-that-i-can-join/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [Oh I got music, coming outta my hands and feet and kisses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/oh-i-got-music-coming-outta-my-hands-and-feet-and-kisses/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [I'm just going to try and be a good dad and not spoil the kid: give him love and encouragement but also discipline. Me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/i-m-just-going-to-try-and-be-a-good-dad-and-not-spoil-the-kid-give/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [No matter who I'm talking to, I always talk like I'm doing an interview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/no-matter-who-i-m-talking-to-i-always-talk-like-i-m-doing-an-interview/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) [Explore all 121 Julian Casablancas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) ## More Check quotes > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I'm an emotional eater. If something's worth celebrating, we're going to grab pizza. If it's going bad, girl, pass me the chocolate. Gotta keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/i-m-an-emotional-eater-if-something-s-worth-celebrating-we-re-going/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) [Tasha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-marie/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [I want people to get from 'Pariah' that it's okay to be you and not to check a box as a parent or child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-rees/i-want-people-to-get-from-pariah-that-it-s-okay-to-be-you-and-not-to/) [Dee Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-rees/) > [Check your testosterone levels. Every study on evolutionary psychology has correlated testosterone levels with dominance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-cernovich/check-your-testosterone-levels-every-study-on-evolutionary-psychology/) [Mike Cernovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-cernovich/) > [Spell check bails me out on the constant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yvars/spell-check-bails-me-out-on-the-constant/) [Daniel Yvars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yvars/) > [If you try to check my homie.Then you better check yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erdem-gezer/if-you-try-to-check-my-homie-then-you-better-check-yourself/) [Erdem Gezer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erdem-gezer/) > [People never around when you are down but they are present when you got a big check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-polydor/people-never-around-when-you-are-down-but-they-are-present-when-you/) [Steve Polydor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-polydor/) > [Check It Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-whitmore/check-it-out/) [Corey Whitmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-whitmore/) > [“If a problem can be solved by writing a check, it's not a problem, it's an expense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/if-a-problem-can-be-solved-by-writing-a-check-it-s-not-a-problem-it-s/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [By far the most difficult skill I learned as a C.E.O. was the ability to manage my own psychology. Organizational design, process design, metrics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/by-far-the-most-difficult-skill-i-learned-as-a-c-e-o-was-the-ability/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Reminding myself that I have a tailbone keeps me in check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/reminding-myself-that-i-have-a-tailbone-keeps-me-in-check/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [Spending should be transparent. All spending by the Pentagon should be online. Every check. Exceptions should be made for legitimate national security issues. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/spending-should-be-transparent-all-spending-by-the-pentagon-should-be/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [New G-shock (check).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/new-g-shock-check/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) [Browse all 506 Check quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/check/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would prefer it if people thought that I didn't work hard, that I just played the guitar for three minutes a week and was like, 'Check out this song - what do you think?' That would be ideal. 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