--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know nothing of what it is to be a…" description: "\"I know nothing of what it is to be a gangster.\" — Michael K. Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/michael-k-williams-10566_gangster_i-know-nothing-of-what-it-is-to-be-a-gan_717349.png" --- # I know nothing of what it is to be a gangster. ![“I know nothing of what it is to be a gangster.” quote by Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/michael-k-williams-10566_gangster_i-know-nothing-of-what-it-is-to-be-a-gan_717349.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/michael-k-williams-10566_gangster_i-know-nothing-of-what-it-is-to-be-a-gan_717349.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/michael-k-williams-10566_gangster_i-know-nothing-of-what-it-is-to-be-a-gan_717349.png) > “I know nothing of what it is to be a gangster.” [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a role requires humility and learning, not assuming experience. **In simple terms:** Never claim knowledge you lack. Key Takeaway Stay humble and learn continuously. Themes humility learning authenticity Mood reflective candid Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - new roles - career transitions - skill development - creative projects Key Concepts acting method personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you admit gaps in knowledge? - When is it safe to claim expertise? A Different Perspective Pretending expertise can damage credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangster/) [Gangsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangsters/) ## Related quotes > [“How do you know a gangster?” “Usually, the room goes a little quiet when he walks in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/how-do-you-know-a-gangster-usually-the-room-goes-a-little-quiet-when/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Let me say for the record, I am not a gangster and never have been. I'm not the thief who grabs your purse. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/let-me-say-for-the-record-i-am-not-a-gangster-and-never-have-been-i-m/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-far-back-as-i-can-remember-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-gangster/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An archetypal gangster is always at a remove. We can't get into his mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-audiard/an-archetypal-gangster-is-always-at-a-remove-we-can-t-get-into-his/) [Jacques Audiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-audiard/) > [I ain't no gangster. I'm a grown man trying to run a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/i-ain-t-no-gangster-i-m-a-grown-man-trying-to-run-a-business/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [I love the gangster genre, but how many gangster movies are there? If I get a good gangster movie script, I'll do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-king/i-love-the-gangster-genre-but-how-many-gangster-movies-are-there-if-i/) [Graham King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-king/) > [I'm not an educated man, but I've read some history. Every kingdom comes up bloody. Every castle is built on a pile of bones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-cohen/i-m-not-an-educated-man-but-i-ve-read-some-history-every-kingdom/) [Mickey Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-cohen/) > [Your main contribution is spray painting your nickname on other people's things. And my cousin, who's a 'gangster', he's like, 'No, Tash, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-leggero/your-main-contribution-is-spray-painting-your-nickname-on-other/) [Natasha Leggero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-leggero/) > [I'm a gangster, and gangsters don't ask questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-m-a-gangster-and-gangsters-don-t-ask-questions/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [In my career, I have played a gangster, an ex cop, a journalist and a film director. Yet, the label of a serial kisser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emraan-hashmi/in-my-career-i-have-played-a-gangster-an-ex-cop-a-journalist-and-a/) [Emraan Hashmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emraan-hashmi/) > [Some of my friends became gangsters. You became a gangster depending upon how fast you wanted a suit. Gangsters weren't the stereotypes you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/some-of-my-friends-became-gangsters-you-became-a-gangster-depending/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [The classy gangster is a Hollywood invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-classy-gangster-is-a-hollywood-invention/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I think I could totally be a gangster, but I could never be the kind of gangster that carries things out myself. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-satine/i-think-i-could-totally-be-a-gangster-but-i-could-never-be-the-kind/) [Elena Satine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-satine/) > [Especially in gangster films, with the gangster's moll - she would always be more or less of an object. And I'm not convinced of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/especially-in-gangster-films-with-the-gangster-s-moll-she-would/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) > [You know, I often thought that the gangster and the artist are the same in the eyes of the masses. They're admired and hero-worshipped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/you-know-i-often-thought-that-the-gangster-and-the-artist-are-the/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) ## More by Michael K. Williams > [I am the epitome of the underdog. By societies standards I should have been dead a long time ago, and I was nobody's gangster,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/i-am-the-epitome-of-the-underdog-by-societies-standards-i-should-have/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [My job is to bring to life the character, not to put the words on the paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/my-job-is-to-bring-to-life-the-character-not-to-put-the-words-on-the/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/our-criminal-justice-system-has-swallowed-up-too-many-people-i-love-i/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [I know plenty of adults who act like teenagers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/i-know-plenty-of-adults-who-act-like-teenagers/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [All my characters have playlists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/all-my-characters-have-playlists/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [Music is always a part of my characters' make-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/music-is-always-a-part-of-my-characters-make-up/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [Writers will see your work and want to try you in different things but I think you have to stay true to your vehicle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/writers-will-see-your-work-and-want-to-try-you-in-different-things/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [Ending a television character that you've been, especially someone like Omar Little, it hurts. For me, it's a huge thing. You feel like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/ending-a-television-character-that-you-ve-been-especially-someone/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [Music's been part of my entire life. It's in my DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/music-s-been-part-of-my-entire-life-it-s-in-my-dna/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [My thing is to gain the respect as an actor, as a professional, and the friendship and everything else will happen from there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/my-thing-is-to-gain-the-respect-as-an-actor-as-a-professional-and-the/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [I'm totally comfortable today with the success that Omar and 'The Wire' have brought me - living with that character, being recognized and remembered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/i-m-totally-comfortable-today-with-the-success-that-omar-and-the-wire/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [My goal is to end mass incarceration and change the laws to stop locking up low-level, nonviolent drug charges. Stop charging drug addicts as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/my-goal-is-to-end-mass-incarceration-and-change-the-laws-to-stop/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [The streets would have chewed me up and spit me out and I knew that, but I found my own ways and different knacks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/the-streets-would-have-chewed-me-up-and-spit-me-out-and-i-knew-that/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [As we say in the hood, I'm a stoop kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/as-we-say-in-the-hood-i-m-a-stoop-kid/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [I love dealing with drama. I'm drawn to the painful side of storytelling, more so. I feel like that's where you get the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/i-love-dealing-with-drama-i-m-drawn-to-the-painful-side-of/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) [Explore all 64 Michael K. Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) ## More Gangster quotes > [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [You know, I often thought that the gangster and the artist are the same in the eyes of the masses. They're admired and hero-worshipped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/you-know-i-often-thought-that-the-gangster-and-the-artist-are-the/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-feel-as-if-i-have-been-blessed-to-undergo-a-transformation-from/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Hip-hop is not about crime. Hip-hop is not about being a gangster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/hip-hop-is-not-about-crime-hip-hop-is-not-about-being-a-gangster/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [Trump wants to be the first American tsar. With his hero worship of Putin, his admiration for the apparent omnipotence of the Kremlin, schoolboyish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/trump-wants-to-be-the-first-american-tsar-with-his-hero-worship-of/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [Giving a record company an album is like giving a gangster your baby or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/giving-a-record-company-an-album-is-like-giving-a-gangster-your-baby/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [Some girls are good Some girls are bad...I come in both flavours, I'm tha best you eva had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-girls-are-good-some-girls-are-bad-i-come-in-both-flavours-i-m/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He had no tolerance for acts of betrayal or cruelty and lacked Angelo's taste for the minute details of a business deal. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-carcaterra/he-had-no-tolerance-for-acts-of-betrayal-or-cruelty-and-lacked-angelo/) [Lorenzo Carcaterra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-carcaterra/) > [“When you understand the mechanincs of stress and master the techniques to manipulate someone's fears and dreams, you will be powerful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-understand-the-mechanincs-of-stress-and-master-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a culinary gangsta with a very spiritual side, so when I was introduced to the 'spiritual gangster' line, I had to have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-m-a-culinary-gangsta-with-a-very-spiritual-side-so-when-i-was/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [As long as I could remember I always wanted to be a gangster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hill/as-long-as-i-could-remember-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-gangster/) [Henry Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hill/) > [As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster. -Henry Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goodfellas/as-far-back-as-i-can-remember-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-gangster-henry/) [Goodfellas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goodfellas/) > [“Im not a gangster, I'm just a brother who fights back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-zarbailov/im-not-a-gangster-i-m-just-a-brother-who-fights-back/) Kevin Zarbailov > [I never could be a diva. I don't know if it's because of my size or how I was raised. Because more of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-never-could-be-a-diva-i-don-t-know-if-it-s-because-of-my-size-or/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [We want 'McMafia' to be a tense gangster story but also a family story. It's a collusion of those two worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-watkins/we-want-mcmafia-to-be-a-tense-gangster-story-but-also-a-family-story/) [James Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-watkins/) [Browse all 246 Gangster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangster/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know nothing of what it is to be a gangster.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael K. 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