--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm always taken aback by things that are…" description: "\"I'm always taken aback by things that are successful that I think are just crap, and then I'm completely surprised when things I do end up being succes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/kevin-spacey-931_always_i-m-always-taken-aback-by-things-that-ar_2435333.png" --- # I'm always taken aback by things that are successful that… ![“I'm always taken aback by things that are successful that I think are just crap, and then I'm completely surprised when things I do end up being successful because you walk into things and you never know... It's just really remarkable.” quote by Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/kevin-spacey-931_always_i-m-always-taken-aback-by-things-that-ar_2435333.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/kevin-spacey-931_always_i-m-always-taken-aback-by-things-that-ar_2435333.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/kevin-spacey-931_always_i-m-always-taken-aback-by-things-that-ar_2435333.png) > “I'm always taken aback by things that are successful that I think are just crap, and then I'm completely surprised when things I do end up being successful because you walk into things and you never know... It's just really remarkable.” [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success can be unpredictable; sometimes low‑quality work succeeds while personal efforts surprise you. **In simple terms:** Success is unpredictable; surprise can happen. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and keep trying. Themes uncertainty success surprise Mood curious reflective Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - career projects - creative endeavors - personal goals - market launches Key Concepts probability perception effort Questions to Reflect On - What factors could turn a "crap" idea into success? - How can you prepare for unexpected outcomes? A Different Perspective Success may still depend on skill and timing, not just randomness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Completely Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completely-surprised-333062/) [Crap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crap/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Really Remarkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-remarkable-333061/) [Remarkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remarkable/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [Surprised Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised-things-333060/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-successful-230869/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Im always taken aback by things that are successful that I think are just crap, and then Im completely surprised when things I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/im-always-taken-aback-by-things-that-are-successful-that-i-think-are/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I am sure of very little, and I shouldn't be surprised if those things were wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-am-sure-of-very-little-and-i-shouldn-t-be-surprised-if-those-things/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I generally don’t become overexcited about things anyway, I’m just not one of those people. I’m not easily surprised by things either. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/i-generally-don-t-become-overexcited-about-things-anyway-i-m-just-not-2/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“You'd be surprised at the things you can discover by barging into someone's bedchamber unannounced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/you-d-be-surprised-at-the-things-you-can-discover-by-barging-into/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I'm always surprised by things that happen to my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bogosian/i-m-always-surprised-by-things-that-happen-to-my-work/) [Eric Bogosian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bogosian/) > [“She was daily surprised by the things he knew and the things he did not know; both, at the time, added to his attraction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/she-was-daily-surprised-by-the-things-he-knew-and-the-things-he-did/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [I tend not to get too excited and surprised about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-tend-not-to-get-too-excited-and-surprised-about-things/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I've been completely surprised at the outpouring of just incredible amounts of positive feedback and love from people all day long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-march/i-ve-been-completely-surprised-at-the-outpouring-of-just-incredible/) [Chris March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-march/) > [I'd had no particular interest in the Southwest at all as a young girl, and I was completely surprised that the desert stole my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/i-d-had-no-particular-interest-in-the-southwest-at-all-as-a-young/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) > [It's really remarkable when you think about what we don't like about government, we, the people created. So if we created it, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-pahlka/it-s-really-remarkable-when-you-think-about-what-we-don-t-like-about/) [Jennifer Pahlka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-pahlka/) > [Its really most remarkable how the human race is so seldom satisfied with what its got. Give a man the world and he's pining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/its-really-most-remarkable-how-the-human-race-is-so-seldom-satisfied/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [I am so impressed by UNHCR staff who live and work side by side with the refugees. It's really remarkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alek-wek/i-am-so-impressed-by-unhcr-staff-who-live-and-work-side-by-side-with/) [Alek Wek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alek-wek/) > [As athletes, just looking at it from an outside perspective, it's really remarkable, the impact you could have on somebody that you have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/as-athletes-just-looking-at-it-from-an-outside-perspective-it-s/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [The true bureaucrat is a man of really remarkable talents. He writes a kind of English that is unknown elsewhere in the world, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-true-bureaucrat-is-a-man-of-really-remarkable-talents-he-writes-a/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More by Kevin Spacey > [Its extremely dangerous to compare anyone else to Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/its-extremely-dangerous-to-compare-anyone-else-to-shakespeare/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Theres nothing like standing in a place and wanting nothing so much as to change but simply not being able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/theres-nothing-like-standing-in-a-place-and-wanting-nothing-so-much/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Clarence Darrow was a unique and courageous man. Several of my favourite actors have played Darrow... Henry Fonda, Orson Welles and Spencer Tracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/clarence-darrow-was-a-unique-and-courageous-man-several-of-my/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [If you look back through history in the United States, there have been very few landslide elections. Half the country always voted for someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/if-you-look-back-through-history-in-the-united-states-there-have-been/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I'm a relatively ugly character who's done pretty damn well in film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-m-a-relatively-ugly-character-who-s-done-pretty-damn-well-in-film/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [The audience has spoken, they want stories. They're dying for them. They're rooting for us to give them the right thing and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/the-audience-has-spoken-they-want-stories-they-re-dying-for-them-they/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I've taken the experiences that I've had in the theatre and applied them to film and television and now games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-ve-taken-the-experiences-that-i-ve-had-in-the-theatre-and-applied/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I believe this: If an actor wants a role or wants to work with somebody, then you do everything within reason to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-believe-this-if-an-actor-wants-a-role-or-wants-to-work-with/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Fundamentally, I like to accomplish things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/fundamentally-i-like-to-accomplish-things/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [The more shows that are produced, the more writers are hired, producers are hired, actors are hired, directors are hired, it means the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/the-more-shows-that-are-produced-the-more-writers-are-hired-producers/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [The less you know about me the easier it is to convince you that I'm the character on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/the-less-you-know-about-me-the-easier-it-is-to-convince-you-that-i-m/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [At the end of the day, people have to respect people's differences. I am different than some people would like me to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/at-the-end-of-the-day-people-have-to-respect-people-s-differences-i/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [ \[Washington, DC\] feels like you're watching performance art. A lot of the time. I don't believe them, I don't believe what they say, I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/washington-dc-feels-like-you-re-watching-performance-art-a-lot-of-the/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [For years, particularly with the advent of the Internet, people have been griping about lessening attention spans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/for-years-particularly-with-the-advent-of-the-internet-people-have/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [If you wanna compete, you've got to get into the original content game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/if-you-wanna-compete-you-ve-got-to-get-into-the-original-content-game/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) [Explore all 327 Kevin Spacey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm always taken aback by things that are successful that I think are just crap, and then I'm completely surprised when things I do end up being successful because you walk into things and you never know... 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