--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never cared about how successful or…" description: "\"I've never cared about how successful or how big I was going to be. I just wanted to be part of a story that affected people, made them laugh or cry. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/matt-bomer-2221_affected_i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or_2475080.jpg" --- # I've never cared about how successful or how big I was… ![“I've never cared about how successful or how big I was going to be. I just wanted to be part of a story that affected people, made them laugh or cry. To me, that was more important than having my face on some billboard.” quote by Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/matt-bomer-2221_affected_i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or_2475080.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/matt-bomer-2221_affected_i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or_2475080.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/matt-bomer-2221_affected_i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or_2475080.jpg) > “I've never cared about how successful or how big I was going to be. I just wanted to be part of a story that affected people, made them laugh or cry. To me, that was more important than having my face on some billboard.” [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker values meaningful impact over fame, preferring to contribute to stories that move people emotionally rather than seeking personal publicity. **In simple terms:** He cares more about influencing others than being famous. Key Takeaway Prioritize purpose over publicity. Themes purpose artistic integrity humility Mood inspirational thoughtful Type career philosophical When to use this quote - film projects - charitable work - community theater Key Concepts storytelling emotional impact legacy Questions to Reflect On - What story has moved you most? - How can you create impact without fame? A Different Perspective Fame can distract from genuine connection; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affected/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Billboard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billboard/) [Billboards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billboards/) [Cared Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cared-successful-802484/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Face Billboard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-billboard-802483/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-big-802482/) [Ve Cared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-cared-650021/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [Your face is a billboard advertising your philosophy of life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/your-face-is-a-billboard-advertising-your-philosophy-of-life/) [Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/) > [The billboard for 'All Rise' is in the same area where I used to wait tables when I first got to L.A. I'll take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-missick/the-billboard-for-all-rise-is-in-the-same-area-where-i-used-to-wait/) [Simone Missick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-missick/) > [I don't really make movies because I want to see my face on a billboard or because I want to get good reviews or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-don-t-really-make-movies-because-i-want-to-see-my-face-on-a/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Every public space is like a billboard, with messages from the collective subconscious of the nation. There one can read passivity, rage indifference, fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavenka-drakuli/every-public-space-is-like-a-billboard-with-messages-from-the/) [Slavenka Drakulic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavenka-drakuli/) > [We pass the billboard and I console myself in two ways. First, I know that most photographs taken are a gamble at best. Second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mcphee/we-pass-the-billboard-and-i-console-myself-in-two-ways-first-i-know/) [Laura McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mcphee/) > [One night in the early sixties I passed something on the Long Island Expressway just before the Queens tunnel that I must have seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-rivers/one-night-in-the-early-sixties-i-passed-something-on-the-long-island/) [Larry Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-rivers/) > [I remember when I first came to America and I saw posters for TV shows and I was like, "What?! Why does a television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bell/i-remember-when-i-first-came-to-america-and-i-saw-posters-for-tv/) [Jamie Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bell/) > [It's totally weird to see myself on a billboard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-caldwell/it-s-totally-weird-to-see-myself-on-a-billboard/) [Kimberly Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-caldwell/) > [Advertisers and marketers should be looking to bring new experiences to different parts of the brain. It's a more profound idea than just dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/advertisers-and-marketers-should-be-looking-to-bring-new-experiences/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [We're a walking billboard... You want to look good to everyone who is watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandler-parsons/we-re-a-walking-billboard-you-want-to-look-good-to-everyone-who-is/) [Chandler Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandler-parsons/) > [Oh Beautiful for smoggy skies, insecticide grain, For strip-mined mountain's majesty above the asphalt plain. America, America, man sheds his waste on thee, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/oh-beautiful-for-smoggy-skies-insecticide-grain-for-strip-mined/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [If you're a conscious rap artist and you're worried about Billboard charts, you're gonna have a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/if-you-re-a-conscious-rap-artist-and-you-re-worried-about-billboard/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I think that I shall never see A billboard lovely as a tree. Perhaps, unless the billboards fall, I'll never see a tree at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/i-think-that-i-shall-never-see-a-billboard-lovely-as-a-tree-perhaps/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [I've been on a show before where I was on a billboard and then, after like three or four weeks, they took the billboard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/i-ve-been-on-a-show-before-where-i-was-on-a-billboard-and-then-after/) [Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/) > [Try Jesus, you won't regret it, a billboard read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/try-jesus-you-won-t-regret-it-a-billboard-read/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) ## More by Matt Bomer > [The last thing I want to do is having someone get behind a Montgomery Clift biopic, and then just do the first script that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/the-last-thing-i-want-to-do-is-having-someone-get-behind-a-montgomery/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [There's a security, a validity of knowing that it's legal. It's hard to put into words. It's just a feeling, I guess - something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/there-s-a-security-a-validity-of-knowing-that-it-s-legal-it-s-hard-to/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [My favorite actors are people who I don't know anything about, and I can project any character onto them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/my-favorite-actors-are-people-who-i-don-t-know-anything-about-and-i/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [Certainly, when you're dealing with more deep, emotional work and sensory work, for me, it helps me to just stay in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/certainly-when-you-re-dealing-with-more-deep-emotional-work-and/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [When you are the avatar for the writer/director, a lot of times, I just trusted him. If he had a choice, even if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/when-you-are-the-avatar-for-the-writer-director-a-lot-of-times-i-just/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [I grew up on theater, and honestly, I'm trying to figure out a way with a family and kids and living in Los Angeles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-grew-up-on-theater-and-honestly-i-m-trying-to-figure-out-a-way-with/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [When I was 8 years old, I asked my parents to get me head shots, and they were like, 'What are you talking about?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/when-i-was-8-years-old-i-asked-my-parents-to-get-me-head-shots-and/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [I've definitely had crazy acting teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-ve-definitely-had-crazy-acting-teachers/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [I would say confidence and security and comfortability in one's own skin. I think that's so attractive. Truly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-would-say-confidence-and-security-and-comfortability-in-one-s-own/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [It's better to be in love than watch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/it-s-better-to-be-in-love-than-watch-it/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [My parents knew if they kept me active, I'd stay out of trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/my-parents-knew-if-they-kept-me-active-i-d-stay-out-of-trouble/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [ I at least felt the obligation to speak clearly \[in 'The Last Tycoon'\]. This is pre-Brando and pre-James Dean. Nobody mumbled back then. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-at-least-felt-the-obligation-to-speak-clearly-in-the-last-tycoon/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [I'd like to get a chance to wear two different hats in the business. I also think it would be really great to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-d-like-to-get-a-chance-to-wear-two-different-hats-in-the-business-i/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [When I was in high school, there was no safe haven, there was no outlet for you to speak your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/when-i-was-in-high-school-there-was-no-safe-haven-there-was-no-outlet/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [Human beings are good, they have shadow, every single one of us has redeeming qualities and every single one of us has qualities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/human-beings-are-good-they-have-shadow-every-single-one-of-us-has/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) [Explore all 178 Matt Bomer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) ## More Affected quotes > [To tell you the truth I am hard put to think of anyone who's career was affected significantly by making all those phone calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabney-coleman/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-anyone-who-s-career/) [Dabney Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabney-coleman/) > [First, climate change is the greatest long-term threat faced by humanity. It could cause more human and financial suffering than the two world wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/first-climate-change-is-the-greatest-long-term-threat-faced-by/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [At first I thought I would have to put on an English accent and try a sort of affected Shakespeare thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/at-first-i-thought-i-would-have-to-put-on-an-english-accent-and-try-a/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Every culture, if its natural development is not too much affected by political restrictions, experiences a perpetual renewal of the formative urge, and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/every-culture-if-its-natural-development-is-not-too-much-affected-by/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [Don't show them that you are affected.. Instead, show them that you are happy even without them.. To put a sad face on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlene05/don-t-show-them-that-you-are-affected-instead-show-them-that-you-are/) [Sharlene05](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharlene05/) > [I wish we could go back to the time when the private lives of our public figures were relevant only if they directly affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-wish-we-could-go-back-to-the-time-when-the-private-lives-of-our/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Don't be intimidated by people who seem to be experts. Hear their points of view and get their judgements. But at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/don-t-be-intimidated-by-people-who-seem-to-be-experts-hear-their/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Who what am I? My answer: I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/who-what-am-i-my-answer-i-am-the-sum-total-of-everything-that-went/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I have wondered why is it that some people are less affected and torn by the verities of life and death that others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-wondered-why-is-it-that-some-people-are-less-affected-and-torn/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Then, the other thing that affected my interest in choices growing up was the fact that I was going blind and that meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/then-the-other-thing-that-affected-my-interest-in-choices-growing-up/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [I don't think Wayne Rooney would be affected if you booed him, that's just how he is, but others go under. They really suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lampard/i-don-t-think-wayne-rooney-would-be-affected-if-you-booed-him-that-s/) [Frank Lampard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lampard/) > [I'm not good at standing on platforms and persuading people to my political point of view. Nor would I seek to. My gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-m-not-good-at-standing-on-platforms-and-persuading-people-to-my/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [I was trying to hold up a mirror to this country, to reflect the past years or so, and the varying degrees in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-sayrafiezadeh/i-was-trying-to-hold-up-a-mirror-to-this-country-to-reflect-the-past/) [Said Sayrafiezadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-sayrafiezadeh/) > [We know COVID-19 hasn't affected communities equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/we-know-covid-19-hasn-t-affected-communities-equally/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) [Browse all 1,050 Affected quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affected/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never cared about how successful or how big I was going to be. I just wanted to be part of a story that affected people, made them laugh or cry. To me, that was more important than having my face on some billboard.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Bomer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or-how-big-i-was-going-to-be-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affected" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or-how-big-i-was-going-to-be-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/matt-bomer-2221_affected_i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or_2475080.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/matt-bomer-2221_affected_i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or_2475080.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/matt-bomer-2221_affected_i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or_2475080.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've never cared about how successful or how big I was going to be. I just wanted to be part of a story that…” — Matt Bomer", "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": "Matt Bomer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've never cared about how successful...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or-how-big-i-was-going-to-be-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-ve-never-cared-about-how-successful-or-how-big-i-was-going-to-be-i/#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 } } ] } ```