--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the reason I've survived that…" description: "\"I think the reason I've survived that long is because I've taken my work so seriously. Maybe sometimes too seriously, but it's always been important fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/matt-dillon-8861_choices_i-think-the-reason-i-ve-survived-that-lo_2716702.png" --- # I think the reason I've survived that long is because I've… ![“I think the reason I've survived that long is because I've taken my work so seriously. Maybe sometimes too seriously, but it's always been important for me to do my best regardless of the film. I think the biggest compliment I get is when people on the street stop me and say they've liked the…” quote by Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/matt-dillon-8861_choices_i-think-the-reason-i-ve-survived-that-lo_2716702.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/matt-dillon-8861_choices_i-think-the-reason-i-ve-survived-that-lo_2716702.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/matt-dillon-8861_choices_i-think-the-reason-i-ve-survived-that-lo_2716702.png) > “I think the reason I've survived that long is because I've taken my work so seriously. Maybe sometimes too seriously, but it's always been important for me to do my best regardless of the film. I think the biggest compliment I get is when people on the street stop me and say they've liked the choices I've made.” [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking work seriously earns respect and compliments from strangers. **In simple terms:** Commitment to excellence draws positive feedback. Key Takeaway Give your best in every professional effort. Themes career dedication recognition Mood reflective motivational Type career personal When to use this quote - film sets - public appearances - industry events Key Concepts professionalism reputation excellence Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance seriousness with joy? - What defines success for you? A Different Perspective Perfectionism may cause stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biggest Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-compliment-543406/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-think/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Survived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survived/) [Survived Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survived-long-708170/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Ve Survived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-survived-263238/) [Work Seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-seriously/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a legend because I've survived over a long period of time and still seem to be master of my fate - I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-a-legend-because-i-ve-survived-over-a-long-period-of-time-and/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [I even move out onto the front porch and see my own limited view of the world. I want to take that world, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-even-move-out-onto-the-front-porch-and-see-my-own-limited-view-of/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [We've survived by believing our life is going to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/we-ve-survived-by-believing-our-life-is-going-to-get-better/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“Secrets are truths that show what we’ve been through—what we’ve survived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannika-dark/secrets-are-truths-that-show-what-we-ve-been-through-what-we-ve/) [Dannika Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannika-dark/) > [Every person you see has stories, and every person you see has a few that would break your heart. We deserve each other's respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/every-person-you-see-has-stories-and-every-person-you-see-has-a-few/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [I've survived quite a few generations. That's because I never lost my enthusiasm. I wake up every morning like on Christmas Day, waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/i-ve-survived-quite-a-few-generations-that-s-because-i-never-lost-my/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [“We've survived the Black Plague, the Titanic, and Pearl Harbor just to name a few. Not to mention the Disco Period.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-wisdom/we-ve-survived-the-black-plague-the-titanic-and-pearl-harbor-just-to/) [Linda Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-wisdom/) > [While I put forth the suntan and the teeth and the cavalier attitude, I've survived under the worst of eras and times, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/while-i-put-forth-the-suntan-and-the-teeth-and-the-cavalier-attitude/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [“Don’t you see, angel?” His arms tightened around me. “You’re still on your feet. You may hate yourself for every little mistake you make,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-c-gormley/don-t-you-see-angel-his-arms-tightened-around-me-you-re-still-on-your/) [Amelia C. Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-c-gormley/) > [I've survived inattention. I hope to God I survive attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-ve-survived-inattention-i-hope-to-god-i-survive-attention/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Trust yourself. You've survived a lot, and you'll survive whatever is coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-tew/trust-yourself-you-ve-survived-a-lot-and-you-ll-survive-whatever-is/) [Robert Tew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-tew/) > [I've survived a lot of managers, so I must have been doing something right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-ve-survived-a-lot-of-managers-so-i-must-have-been-doing-something/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I'm surprised that I've survived my own dysfunction, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-m-surprised-that-i-ve-survived-my-own-dysfunction-really/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [I think the fact that Rajamouli sir wrote the character of 'Baahubali' for me has been the biggest compliment in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhas/i-think-the-fact-that-rajamouli-sir-wrote-the-character-of-baahubali/) [Prabhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhas/) > [The biggest compliment to me is that guys really approach me and they have a connection with me, so there must be something I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-piven/the-biggest-compliment-to-me-is-that-guys-really-approach-me-and-they/) [Jeremy Piven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-piven/) ## More by Matt Dillon > [I don't fall in love easily. It's odd; one of the first things I think about when I go out with a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/i-don-t-fall-in-love-easily-it-s-odd-one-of-the-first-things-i-think/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [These are people who haven't gone through the legal means to becoming citizens like our forefathers did. They want all the benefits but none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/these-are-people-who-haven-t-gone-through-the-legal-means-to-becoming/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [It's really nice to be able to do something that you've never done. I think that's the gift of being an actor because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/it-s-really-nice-to-be-able-to-do-something-that-you-ve-never-done-i/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [It seems like a cliche, but you do grow up a lot faster when you travel a lot, go through things like this interview,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/it-seems-like-a-cliche-but-you-do-grow-up-a-lot-faster-when-you/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [I like conflict, drama's conflict and if you don't have that in the character it's really not a worthwhile role to play for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/i-like-conflict-drama-s-conflict-and-if-you-don-t-have-that-in-the/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [I've always wanted to do action stuff. I like it. You really want something that's special; that's got something special about it and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-action-stuff-i-like-it-you-really-want/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [I don't worry about whether a character is likable, as long as the character is believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/i-don-t-worry-about-whether-a-character-is-likable-as-long-as-the/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [One of the things I've learned over the years is that you only do what you can do as an actor. You do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/one-of-the-things-i-ve-learned-over-the-years-is-that-you-only-do/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [The worst thing I could be accused of is that I'm a one-way dude, only out for myself. But the worst thing a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/the-worst-thing-i-could-be-accused-of-is-that-i-m-a-one-way-dude-only/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [People get really nuts around cars. They get angry at cars, they get angry at their car, they get angry at people driving in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/people-get-really-nuts-around-cars-they-get-angry-at-cars-they-get/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [I'm not a Buddhist, or a card-carrying member of any religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/i-m-not-a-buddhist-or-a-card-carrying-member-of-any-religion/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [Obviously all religions get corrupted by man. The initial ideas are interesting but once they get organized they seem to become about politics and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/obviously-all-religions-get-corrupted-by-man-the-initial-ideas-are/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [The growing pains of being an actor, that was a little frustrating at times because you feel like you have great capacity to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/the-growing-pains-of-being-an-actor-that-was-a-little-frustrating-at/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [If people are reacting to films based on their degree of success or failure, then they're not really looking at the movie. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/if-people-are-reacting-to-films-based-on-their-degree-of-success-or/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [I look for really great characters. I say great because as long as they're really good, there's something you can do. And really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/i-look-for-really-great-characters-i-say-great-because-as-long-as/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) [Explore all 77 Matt Dillon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the reason I've survived that long is because I've taken my work so seriously. 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