--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never wanted to look back on my career…" description: "\"I never wanted to look back on my career and be embarrassed about work that I chose to do.\" — Malcolm-Jamal Warner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_back_i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career_2935788.jpg" --- # I never wanted to look back on my career and be… ![“I never wanted to look back on my career and be embarrassed about work that I chose to do.” quote by Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_back_i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career_2935788.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_back_i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career_2935788.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_back_i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career_2935788.jpg) > “I never wanted to look back on my career and be embarrassed about work that I chose to do.” [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He wants a career he can look back on without regret, choosing work he can be proud of. **In simple terms:** Avoid career regret by choosing meaningful work. Key Takeaway Choose work you can be proud of. Themes career pride regret integrity Mood reflective determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - job selection - career planning - personal branding Key Concepts self‑fulfillment long‑term satisfaction Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your career choices? - How do you balance passion and practicality? A Different Perspective Choosing pride may limit financial gain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I never wanted to look back on my career and be embarrassed about work that I chose to do. I never wanted to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-be-embarrassed-about/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [It takes me out of that acting moment to be mis-gendered because it feels embarrassing. And I don't think a lot of other actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-fightmaster/it-takes-me-out-of-that-acting-moment-to-be-mis-gendered-because-it/) [E. R. Fightmaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-fightmaster/) > [Some people would ask: 'You are not the one who does the painting, or shot the work, how can it be your work?' But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-bolin/some-people-would-ask-you-are-not-the-one-who-does-the-painting-or/) [Liu Bolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-bolin/) > [“whatever work you chose to do in life, make sure it's what you love, otherwise, you'll spend half your life worried about the time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzette-francis/whatever-work-you-chose-to-do-in-life-make-sure-it-s-what-you-love/) [Suzette Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzette-francis/) > [I don't dig ditches for a living, so I don't really hate going to work. I chose this for a reason. I would much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-zea/i-don-t-dig-ditches-for-a-living-so-i-don-t-really-hate-going-to-work/) [Natalie Zea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-zea/) > [You just have to keep trying to do good work, and hope that it leads to more good work. I want to look back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-just-have-to-keep-trying-to-do-good-work-and-hope-that-it-leads/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [When you look back at your career, there are moments that are levels that you hit and you bounce off them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guido-palau/when-you-look-back-at-your-career-there-are-moments-that-are-levels/) [Guido Palau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guido-palau/) > [But on the other hand, I look back at my career sometimes and can't believe how fast everything has gone and how much I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrie-webb/but-on-the-other-hand-i-look-back-at-my-career-sometimes-and-can-t/) [Karrie Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrie-webb/) > [If you look at my career path, I was a human rights and refugees officer for the United Nations. I helped research a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-simone/if-you-look-at-my-career-path-i-was-a-human-rights-and-refugees/) [Hannah Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-simone/) > [If you look at my career, it's been nothing but consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-brunson/if-you-look-at-my-career-it-s-been-nothing-but-consistency/) [Derek Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-brunson/) > [I look back on my career with pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/i-look-back-on-my-career-with-pleasure/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [When I look back at my career, I want to say I accomplished certain things and ran certain times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/when-i-look-back-at-my-career-i-want-to-say-i-accomplished-certain/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [If you look at my career it has always been about overcoming difficulties in different places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/if-you-look-at-my-career-it-has-always-been-about-overcoming/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [I don't look back at my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/i-don-t-look-back-at-my-career/) [Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/) > [I want to look back on my career and be proud of the work, and be proud that I tried everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-want-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-be-proud-of-the-work-and-be/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) ## More by Malcolm-Jamal Warner > [Our differences - in race, sexual preference, economic - have always been used as distractions to keep us divided. We get so wrapped up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/our-differences-in-race-sexual-preference-economic-have-always-been/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [Doing 'Malcolm and Eddie' was probably the foremost miserable years of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/doing-malcolm-and-eddie-was-probably-the-foremost-miserable-years-of/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I never wanted to be one of those 'Where are they now?' kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-never-wanted-to-be-one-of-those-where-are-they-now-kids/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I was doing community theater since I was about nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-was-doing-community-theater-since-i-was-about-nine/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [People kind of have a misconception, because when someone calls me Theo and I correct them, say, 'No, my name is Malcolm,' they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/people-kind-of-have-a-misconception-because-when-someone-calls-me/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [When we've had images that perpetuate the negative stereotype of people of color, we've always had 'The Cosby Show' to hold up against that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/when-we-ve-had-images-that-perpetuate-the-negative-stereotype-of/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [Being a celebrity can be very intoxicating and very addicting. And I've always been afraid of that, because I've grown up post-almost every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/being-a-celebrity-can-be-very-intoxicating-and-very-addicting-and-i/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [In spite of what some people claim, we are not in a post-racial era. I think it's still an important issue to bring up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/in-spite-of-what-some-people-claim-we-are-not-in-a-post-racial-era-i/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [People who feel under-appreciated sometimes make desperate moves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/people-who-feel-under-appreciated-sometimes-make-desperate-moves/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I didn't go into acting because I wanted to be a role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-didn-t-go-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-be-a-role-model/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [But theres a huge blessing that comes from being a part of a show like The Cosby Show that sets such a high standard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/but-theres-a-huge-blessing-that-comes-from-being-a-part-of-a-show/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [Theater is such its own living, breathing animal. You do a show every night, but it's different every night. Being on stage, you're experiencing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/theater-is-such-its-own-living-breathing-animal-you-do-a-show-every/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I think one of the greatest advantages we had on the show growing up was being exposed to Mr. Cosby - being exposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-think-one-of-the-greatest-advantages-we-had-on-the-show-growing-up/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [My perspective was always being on a number one show doesn't mean anything if I'm not still working consistently at 40 to 50 and 60 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/my-perspective-was-always-being-on-a-number-one-show-doesn-t-mean/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [I'm trying to break the stereotypical role now of the Theo-type character because, in my post-'Cosby' life, as I call it, I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-m-trying-to-break-the-stereotypical-role-now-of-the-theo-type/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) [Explore all 46 Malcolm-Jamal Warner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) ## More Back quotes > [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 honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) Browse all 9,709 Back quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never wanted to look back on my career and be embarrassed about work that I chose to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm-Jamal Warner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-be-embarrassed-about-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Back" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-be-embarrassed-about-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_back_i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career_2935788.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_back_i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career_2935788.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/malcolm-jamal-warner-14415_back_i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career_2935788.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never wanted to look back on my career and be embarrassed about work that I chose to do.” — Malcolm-Jamal Warner", "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": "Malcolm-Jamal Warner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never wanted to look back...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-be-embarrassed-about-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-never-wanted-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-be-embarrassed-about-2/#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 } } ] } ```