--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a time that I would have…" description: "\"There was a time that I would have carried a briefcase and worn a monocle were it to even border on socially acceptable.\" — Maya Hawke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/maya-hawke-11372_border_there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carri_1278163.jpg" --- # There was a time that I would have carried a briefcase and… ![“There was a time that I would have carried a briefcase and worn a monocle were it to even border on socially acceptable.” quote by Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/maya-hawke-11372_border_there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carri_1278163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/maya-hawke-11372_border_there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carri_1278163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/maya-hawke-11372_border_there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carri_1278163.jpg) > “There was a time that I would have carried a briefcase and worn a monocle were it to even border on socially acceptable.” [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She reflects on past aspirations that felt pretentious, noting how social norms limited her self‑expression. **In simple terms:** She once imagined a fancy look that wasn't socially okay. Key Takeaway Accept yourself without trying to fit outdated images. Themes identity social norms self‑image Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal cultural When to use this quote - career networking - personal branding - social events - self‑acceptance Key Concepts conformity authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Do you still feel pressure to appear a certain way? - How can you express authenticity in professional settings? A Different Perspective Societal expectations can pressure people to hide true selves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Border](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I was bullied every day at school because I carried a briefcase. I could have left it at home. But I thought it looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/i-was-bullied-every-day-at-school-because-i-carried-a-briefcase-i/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [No, I was not born with a monocle in my eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-veidt/no-i-was-not-born-with-a-monocle-in-my-eye/) [Conrad Veidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-veidt/) > [On the other hand, I'm drawn to top hats, and spats, and mustaches. I haven't read a Missed Connection yet with someone wearing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-blackall/on-the-other-hand-i-m-drawn-to-top-hats-and-spats-and-mustaches-i/) [Sophie Blackall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-blackall/) > [One of my favorite products at Warby Parker also happens to be our worst-selling item: the monocle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-blumenthal/one-of-my-favorite-products-at-warby-parker-also-happens-to-be-our/) [Neil Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-blumenthal/) > [I would like to see a president with a monocle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-would-like-to-see-a-president-with-a-monocle/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [“The dandy cleans his monocle every day, a silver monocle with a lens of smoked gold, given him by a beautiful lady but, suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-satie/the-dandy-cleans-his-monocle-every-day-a-silver-monocle-with-a-lens/) [Erik Satie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-satie/) > [When I travel, I just take what I need and I run. I always have my briefcase stuffed with work, even when I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-schrager/when-i-travel-i-just-take-what-i-need-and-i-run-i-always-have-my/) [Ian Schrager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-schrager/) > [It's a briefcase with my laptop, my DSLR, a microphone, my mouse, and rechargeable batteries. I could set up right here and film an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-woods/it-s-a-briefcase-with-my-laptop-my-dslr-a-microphone-my-mouse-and/) [Xavier Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-woods/) > [You may be less likely to pick on someone if you don't know what's in their briefcase or purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/you-may-be-less-likely-to-pick-on-someone-if-you-don-t-know-what-s-in/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Me carrying a briefcase is like a hotdog wearing earrings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/me-carrying-a-briefcase-is-like-a-hotdog-wearing-earrings/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [I've always wanted to walk up to a stranger and hand him a briefcase and whisper, 'You know what to do.' and walk away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-always-wanted-to-walk-up-to-a-stranger-and-hand-him-a-briefcase/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/a-lawyer-with-his-briefcase-can-steal-more-than-a-hundred-men-with/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“Lawyers can steal more money with a briefcase than a thousand men with guns and masks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/lawyers-can-steal-more-money-with-a-briefcase-than-a-thousand-men/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [I think I won the Feast or Fired briefcase every time I was in the match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-drake/i-think-i-won-the-feast-or-fired-briefcase-every-time-i-was-in-the/) [Eli Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-drake/) > [A man with a briefcase can steal millions more than any man with a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/a-man-with-a-briefcase-can-steal-millions-more-than-any-man-with-a-gun/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) ## More by Maya Hawke > [I would recommend any young person who wants to be an actor to go and get some training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-would-recommend-any-young-person-who-wants-to-be-an-actor-to-go-and/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I've never been interested in a career in modelling, I was interested in my independence. When I was in school, modelling was what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-ve-never-been-interested-in-a-career-in-modelling-i-was-interested/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I keep a diary because I love this writer, David Sedaris, and he writes a lot about his diary, and he inspired me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-keep-a-diary-because-i-love-this-writer-david-sedaris-and-he-writes/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [When I was in my early and mid-teens, my style changed constantly. My clothing was inspired by 'Annie Hall' for a while, by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/when-i-was-in-my-early-and-mid-teens-my-style-changed-constantly-my/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I think success is when the way you talk about who you want to be and what you want to do lines up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-think-success-is-when-the-way-you-talk-about-who-you-want-to-be-and/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I really enjoyed shooting in Ireland. The people are so lovely. I hope I don't offend anyone in saying this, but the nature reminded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-really-enjoyed-shooting-in-ireland-the-people-are-so-lovely-i-hope/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Style icons always change, and they usually inspire my haircuts more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/style-icons-always-change-and-they-usually-inspire-my-haircuts-more/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [My parents are actors, and I'm the oldest of my siblings - I have three younger sisters and a brother who's my best friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/my-parents-are-actors-and-i-m-the-oldest-of-my-siblings-i-have-three/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I really love my family. The more independence that I get and the more freedom that I have, the more interested I am in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-really-love-my-family-the-more-independence-that-i-get-and-the-more/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [As an actor on a film, you have no control over the final product - your job is to make a director's vision come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/as-an-actor-on-a-film-you-have-no-control-over-the-final-product-your/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Men should be able to see themselves in female characters and female strength, just as much as women are able to see themselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in-female-characters-and-female/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I have definitely emulated my mom's style more than anyone's. But that may be mostly to do with how often I steal her clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-have-definitely-emulated-my-mom-s-style-more-than-anyone-s-but-that/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Eventually, I realized that there was only so much that I could put in the way of my happiness, and acting made me happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/eventually-i-realized-that-there-was-only-so-much-that-i-could-put-in/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Reminding myself that listening is just as important a creative act as thinking is key for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/reminding-myself-that-listening-is-just-as-important-a-creative-act/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I hate technology and cellphones. I hate having to have one all of the time. I don't tweet or buzz or bing or whatever!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-hate-technology-and-cellphones-i-hate-having-to-have-one-all-of-the/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) [Explore all 60 Maya Hawke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) ## More Border quotes > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [“Tear down your border of thicket and vine creating a free world, yours and mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-cosgrove/tear-down-your-border-of-thicket-and-vine-creating-a-free-world-yours/) [Stephen Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-cosgrove/) > [We believe that there are aspects of border security that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-believe-that-there-are-aspects-of-border-security-that-democrats/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [My message to everyone: the next time you hear about migrant children near the border, just picture them as your own. Then think what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/my-message-to-everyone-the-next-time-you-hear-about-migrant-children/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I think there are definitely a lot of subjects I don't share with people, but I'm not sure where that border is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/i-think-there-are-definitely-a-lot-of-subjects-i-don-t-share-with/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [Border security is not only related to resources competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailemariam-desalegn/border-security-is-not-only-related-to-resources-competition/) [Hailemariam Desalegn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailemariam-desalegn/) > [In 2019 folks were coming across the border and were sitting down, they were sitting down waiting for Border Patrol to come up because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-wolf/in-2019-folks-were-coming-across-the-border-and-were-sitting-down/) [Chad Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-wolf/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The border is varied depending on the geography, depending on the specific venue, and depending on the conduct of individuals around it. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [It's not rocket science. It's not super high technology to construct border barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/it-s-not-rocket-science-it-s-not-super-high-technology-to-construct/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [The president has promised greater border security. We can agree to that. A literal wall might not be the most effective means to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-president-has-promised-greater-border-security-we-can-agree-to/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“All of the things that wore you down, even as that was balanced by the electric feeling of being on the side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/all-of-the-things-that-wore-you-down-even-as-that-was-balanced-by-the/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“Love for one's country is great but why should that love stop at that border?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/love-for-one-s-country-is-great-but-why-should-that-love-stop-at-that/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [ I'm not an expert on the ways of Washington \[but\] it makes no sense to me that we're not funding control of our border. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-m-not-an-expert-on-the-ways-of-washington-but-it-makes-no-sense-to/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [The Biden administration is not just letting a record number of illegal immigrants cross our border, they are bringing them here. They are prohibiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/the-biden-administration-is-not-just-letting-a-record-number-of/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) [Browse all 475 Border quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was a time that I would have carried a briefcase and worn a monocle were it to even border on socially acceptable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maya Hawke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carried-a-briefcase-and-worn-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Border" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carried-a-briefcase-and-worn-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/maya-hawke-11372_border_there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carri_1278163.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/maya-hawke-11372_border_there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carri_1278163.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/maya-hawke-11372_border_there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carri_1278163.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was a time that I would have carried a briefcase and worn a monocle were it to even border on socially…” — Maya Hawke", "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": "Maya Hawke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There was a time that I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carried-a-briefcase-and-worn-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/there-was-a-time-that-i-would-have-carried-a-briefcase-and-worn-a/#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 } } ] } ```