--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a big dreamer and never…" description: "\"“I was a big dreamer and never particularly good at anything--a real dilemma. I wasn't terrible. I was just... okay. If you're terrible, you can write ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/mike-birbiglia-1343_idiots_i-was-a-big-dreamer-and-never-particular_1633657.png" --- # I was a big dreamer and never particularly good at… ![“I was a big dreamer and never particularly good at anything--a real dilemma. I wasn't terrible. I was just... okay. If you're terrible, you can write everybody off, like, "I don't know what the hell those idiots are doing?" I knew what those idiots were doing. And I knew that they did it better…” quote by Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/mike-birbiglia-1343_idiots_i-was-a-big-dreamer-and-never-particular_1633657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/mike-birbiglia-1343_idiots_i-was-a-big-dreamer-and-never-particular_1633657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/mike-birbiglia-1343_idiots_i-was-a-big-dreamer-and-never-particular_1633657.png) > ““I was a big dreamer and never particularly good at anything--a real dilemma. I wasn't terrible. I was just... okay. If you're terrible, you can write everybody off, like, "I don't know what the hell those idiots are doing?" I knew what those idiots were doing. And I knew that they did it better than me.”” [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on being a dreamer who never excelled, recognizing mediocrity and the temptation to dismiss others. **In simple terms:** He sees himself as average and worries about judging others. Key Takeaway Accept mediocrity, focus on personal growth. Themes self‑doubt humor self‑awareness Mood self‑critical humorous Type comedic monologue personal reflection When to use this quote - creative work - career development - personal expectations Key Concepts impostor syndrome comparative judgment Questions to Reflect On - What does “okay” mean to you? - How can you turn mediocrity into motivation? A Different Perspective Humor can mask deeper insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [If life is so hard, how come so many idiots are doing it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-life-is-so-hard-how-come-so-many-idiots-are-doing-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Studio people are idiots. Until they see someone else doing it and make a success of it, they don't open their minds. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-schneider/studio-people-are-idiots-until-they-see-someone-else-doing-it-and/) [Rob Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-schneider/) > [“Mostly, it’s a matter of getting other people to do your work for you. Pushing the right idiots into doing the right stupid things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mancour/mostly-it-s-a-matter-of-getting-other-people-to-do-your-work-for-you/) [Terry Mancour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mancour/) > [Humanity is OK, but 99% of people are boring idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/humanity-is-ok-but-99-of-people-are-boring-idiots/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [Missing out an apostrophe or two does not make you an idiot. But equating party allegiance with nationhood certainly makes you a thug. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/missing-out-an-apostrophe-or-two-does-not-make-you-an-idiot-but/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [Forget the idiots, they're going to see what they want to see, even if you change. They don't want to see you happy. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forget-the-idiots-they-re-going-to-see-what-they-want-to-see-even-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God preserve me from idiots and men in love, which is the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-v-heberden/god-preserve-me-from-idiots-and-men-in-love-which-is-the-same-thing/) M. V. Heberden > [On entering this world our starting-point is ignorance. None, however, but idiots remain there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/on-entering-this-world-our-starting-point-is-ignorance-none-however/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Love should be between 2 people who love one another but some idiots dont know how to count](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mee/love-should-be-between-2-people-who-love-one-another-but-some-idiots/) [Mee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mee/) > [There are not enough retarded people on this earth because the idiots are still alive. Jennifer Amorelli.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-amorelli/there-are-not-enough-retarded-people-on-this-earth-because-the-idiots/) [Jennifer Amorelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-amorelli/) > [If Girl In Luv, Hr Parents Ask: Who Is Dat Idiot? If Boy In Luv, His Parents Ask: Idiot, Who Is Dat Girl? Moral:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie/if-girl-in-luv-hr-parents-ask-who-is-dat-idiot-if-boy-in-luv-his/) [Sadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie/) > [I'm fed up with the idiots... the ever-widening gap between people who know how to make movies and the people who green-light the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-m-fed-up-with-the-idiots-the-ever-widening-gap-between-people-who/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [Solemnity is the shield of idiots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/solemnity-is-the-shield-of-idiots/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Boy, did she love those idiots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emory-r-frie/boy-did-she-love-those-idiots/) [Emory R. Frie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emory-r-frie/) > [“By their very nature, idiots do not have the intellectual capacity to identify genius. All that idiots are mentally equipped to recognize are other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dermot-davis/by-their-very-nature-idiots-do-not-have-the-intellectual-capacity-to/) [Dermot Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dermot-davis/) ## More by Mike Birbiglia > [So I went to a club the other day, which is timely because my self esteem had been hovering right around 'normal' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/so-i-went-to-a-club-the-other-day-which-is-timely-because-my-self/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [My writing process is very feedback-based. When I do stand-up, I listen to the audience. I try to understand what's connecting, what's not connecting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/my-writing-process-is-very-feedback-based-when-i-do-stand-up-i-listen/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [I've actually always wanted to write like a one-person show that was sort of a romantic comedy - a show that was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-ve-actually-always-wanted-to-write-like-a-one-person-show-that-was/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [It's interesting how sleepwalking in a certain way becomes an accumulation of your outside stimuli that's actually there and what's happening in your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/it-s-interesting-how-sleepwalking-in-a-certain-way-becomes-an/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [I went to the doctor, and they found something in my bladder. And whenever they find something, it's never anything good like, "We found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-went-to-the-doctor-and-they-found-something-in-my-bladder-and/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [Bears are simultaneously so graceful and so strong. Bears know who they are, but they often don’t know who you are, which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/bears-are-simultaneously-so-graceful-and-so-strong-bears-know-who/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [Once you start writing something obsessively, it's almost like someone has to rip it from your hands in order for you to put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/once-you-start-writing-something-obsessively-it-s-almost-like-someone/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [I always try to attack the most honest issues I can in my comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-always-try-to-attack-the-most-honest-issues-i-can-in-my-comedy/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [The list of fun and easily fixed brain diseases is very short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/the-list-of-fun-and-easily-fixed-brain-diseases-is-very-short/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [When I met my wife, I was a working comic, so the first week we went out, she saw me perform, and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/when-i-met-my-wife-i-was-a-working-comic-so-the-first-week-we-went/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [I think because I've been working in front of audiences for so many years, I'm able to take in the input, good or bad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-think-because-i-ve-been-working-in-front-of-audiences-for-so-many/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [Directing your first film is like showing up to the field trip in seventh grade, getting on the bus, and making an announcement, 'So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/directing-your-first-film-is-like-showing-up-to-the-field-trip-in/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [Media is so weird; everything is so accessible now. It used to be this thing where, if you did something on 'This American Life,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/media-is-so-weird-everything-is-so-accessible-now-it-used-to-be-this/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [As artists, we'd all love to not be commercial - to not sell out to the full extent that we are able. But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/as-artists-we-d-all-love-to-not-be-commercial-to-not-sell-out-to-the/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [Comedy is tragedy plus time, but the time is different for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/comedy-is-tragedy-plus-time-but-the-time-is-different-for-everybody/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) [Explore all 253 Mike Birbiglia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) ## More Idiots quotes > [“By their very nature, idiots do not have the intellectual capacity to identify genius. All that idiots are mentally equipped to recognize are other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dermot-davis/by-their-very-nature-idiots-do-not-have-the-intellectual-capacity-to/) [Dermot Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dermot-davis/) > [“Boy, did she love those idiots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emory-r-frie/boy-did-she-love-those-idiots/) [Emory R. Frie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emory-r-frie/) > [Solemnity is the shield of idiots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/solemnity-is-the-shield-of-idiots/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm fed up with the idiots... the ever-widening gap between people who know how to make movies and the people who green-light the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-m-fed-up-with-the-idiots-the-ever-widening-gap-between-people-who/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [If Girl In Luv, Hr Parents Ask: Who Is Dat Idiot? If Boy In Luv, His Parents Ask: Idiot, Who Is Dat Girl? Moral:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie/if-girl-in-luv-hr-parents-ask-who-is-dat-idiot-if-boy-in-luv-his/) [Sadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie/) > [Studio people are idiots. Until they see someone else doing it and make a success of it, they don't open their minds. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-schneider/studio-people-are-idiots-until-they-see-someone-else-doing-it-and/) [Rob Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-schneider/) > [There are not enough retarded people on this earth because the idiots are still alive. Jennifer Amorelli.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-amorelli/there-are-not-enough-retarded-people-on-this-earth-because-the-idiots/) [Jennifer Amorelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-amorelli/) > [Love should be between 2 people who love one another but some idiots dont know how to count](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mee/love-should-be-between-2-people-who-love-one-another-but-some-idiots/) [Mee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mee/) > [On entering this world our starting-point is ignorance. None, however, but idiots remain there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/on-entering-this-world-our-starting-point-is-ignorance-none-however/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [God preserve me from idiots and men in love, which is the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-v-heberden/god-preserve-me-from-idiots-and-men-in-love-which-is-the-same-thing/) M. V. Heberden > [Forget the idiots, they're going to see what they want to see, even if you change. They don't want to see you happy. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forget-the-idiots-they-re-going-to-see-what-they-want-to-see-even-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Missing out an apostrophe or two does not make you an idiot. But equating party allegiance with nationhood certainly makes you a thug. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/missing-out-an-apostrophe-or-two-does-not-make-you-an-idiot-but/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [Humanity is OK, but 99% of people are boring idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/humanity-is-ok-but-99-of-people-are-boring-idiots/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [Build a company that idiots could run because eventually they will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rabois/build-a-company-that-idiots-could-run-because-eventually-they-will/) [Keith Rabois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rabois/) > [Las Vegas turns women into men and men into idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugsy-siegel/las-vegas-turns-women-into-men-and-men-into-idiots/) Bugsy Siegel Browse all 465 Idiots quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was a big dreamer and never particularly good at anything--a real dilemma. 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