--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was taking chemical engineering. But I…" description: "\"I was taking chemical engineering. But I went into the army after that. When I came out of the army, I was a different person. I met a lot of good jazz..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/mose-allison-11837_army_i-was-taking-chemical-engineering-but-i_750955.jpg" --- # I was taking chemical engineering. But I went into the… ![“I was taking chemical engineering. But I went into the army after that. When I came out of the army, I was a different person. I met a lot of good jazz players in the army.” quote by Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/mose-allison-11837_army_i-was-taking-chemical-engineering-but-i_750955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/mose-allison-11837_army_i-was-taking-chemical-engineering-but-i_750955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/mose-allison-11837_army_i-was-taking-chemical-engineering-but-i_750955.jpg) > “I was taking chemical engineering. But I went into the army after that. When I came out of the army, I was a different person. I met a lot of good jazz players in the army.” [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A career shift can profoundly change a person, exposing them to new cultures and influences. **In simple terms:** Changing paths reshapes identity. Key Takeaway Embrace new experiences. Themes identity growth music military Mood reflective inspired Type personal transformative When to use this quote - career change - military service - music collaboration - personal development Key Concepts cultural exchange personal transformation Questions to Reflect On - How did the army alter your worldview? - What role did jazz play in your transformation? A Different Perspective New paths may bring unexpected challenges and loss of previous direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Chemical engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-engineering/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [After graduating in engineering I went to the University of Kansas to get an MA in economics as a vehicle for allowing me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-l-smith/after-graduating-in-engineering-i-went-to-the-university-of-kansas-to/) [Vernon L. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-l-smith/) > [“But you think it because you don’t trust your colleagues. Not all of them. You don’t believe in them. Which leaves you isolated. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/but-you-think-it-because-you-don-t-trust-your-colleagues-not-all-of/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“A few days later, from a wall along the river, Martha Gellhorn watched the Soviet troops move on. ‘The army came in like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-mak/a-few-days-later-from-a-wall-along-the-river-martha-gellhorn-watched/) [Geert Mak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-mak/) > [“Add the shortage of blankets, warm clothing, and vegetables, and the result was likely to be more suffering and more death than had occurred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-levy/add-the-shortage-of-blankets-warm-clothing-and-vegetables-and-the/) [George Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-levy/) > [“Out on the Nevsky, in the deepening dusk, a long double file of cyclists came riding, guns slung on their shoulders. They halted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reed/out-on-the-nevsky-in-the-deepening-dusk-a-long-double-file-of/) [John Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reed/) > [I went into the Army, and one day, in the middle of a bull session, somebody called me an atheist. Believe it or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/i-went-into-the-army-and-one-day-in-the-middle-of-a-bull-session/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [When I was 18, I went into the army as a payroll clerk because otherwise I was headed for Korea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a-payroll-clerk-because/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [Elvis shaved his head when he went into the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beastie-boys/elvis-shaved-his-head-when-he-went-into-the-army/) [Beastie Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beastie-boys/) > [I made hats until I went into the Army. I was drafted during the Korean War.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cunningham/i-made-hats-until-i-went-into-the-army-i-was-drafted-during-the/) [Bill Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cunningham/) > [Elvis died the day he went into the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/elvis-died-the-day-he-went-into-the-army/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [At my school, when kids went into the army at 16, they didn't do it in a gung-ho, Tom Cruise, 'Born on the Fourth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-thorne/at-my-school-when-kids-went-into-the-army-at-16-they-didn-t-do-it-in/) [Jack Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-thorne/) > [I idolized my mother. I didn't realize she was a lousy cook until I went into the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-gayle/i-idolized-my-mother-i-didn-t-realize-she-was-a-lousy-cook-until-i/) Jackie Gayle > [I went into the army worth a million and a half dollars, and came out a beggar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-bedford-forrest/i-went-into-the-army-worth-a-million-and-a-half-dollars-and-came-out/) [Nathan Bedford Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-bedford-forrest/) > [You must remember that I won an Oscar for my role Johnny Eager. Then I went into the Army. But before I did, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/you-must-remember-that-i-won-an-oscar-for-my-role-johnny-eager-then-i/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I wanted to pursue chemical engineering because I thought it was the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-ambani/i-wanted-to-pursue-chemical-engineering-because-i-thought-it-was-the/) [Mukesh Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-ambani/) ## More by Mose Allison > [I never bothered about keeping track.Every now and then someone records one of my songs, and I get credit for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-never-bothered-about-keeping-track-every-now-and-then-someone/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I just try to do as good job with the material as I can and play some jazz as well, some improvised music, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-just-try-to-do-as-good-job-with-the-material-as-i-can-and-play-some/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I'm happy whenever anybody does my material. I don't care what they do with it. I do what I want to with other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-m-happy-whenever-anybody-does-my-material-i-don-t-care-what-they-do/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I'm not inspired by songwriting at all; that took place years ago. I'm pretty well established, as far as my influences go. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-m-not-inspired-by-songwriting-at-all-that-took-place-years-ago-i-m/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [Ever since the world ended, I don't go out as much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/ever-since-the-world-ended-i-don-t-go-out-as-much/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [There's a lot of terrible things goin' on all the time, but you gotta try and have some fun in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/there-s-a-lot-of-terrible-things-goin-on-all-the-time-but-you-gotta/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I finally decided if I was going to make a living, I was gonna have to come to New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-finally-decided-if-i-was-going-to-make-a-living-i-was-gonna-have-to/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I started going to a piano teacher at 5 years old, but pretty soon I started picking things out on my own and stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-started-going-to-a-piano-teacher-at-5-years-old-but-pretty-soon-i/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [The idea was I'd never amount to anything in music, The theme there was that I was talented, but I wouldn't work hard enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/the-idea-was-i-d-never-amount-to-anything-in-music-the-theme-there/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I haven't stopped and I don't plan on stoppin' any time soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-haven-t-stopped-and-i-don-t-plan-on-stoppin-any-time-soon/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [You always want to write the perfect song. But no one will ever write the perfect song, I guess. I would just like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/you-always-want-to-write-the-perfect-song-but-no-one-will-ever-write/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I been getting good crowds. It only took 50 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-been-getting-good-crowds-it-only-took-50-years/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [My main influences have always been the classic jazz players who sang, like Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole and Jack Teagarden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/my-main-influences-have-always-been-the-classic-jazz-players-who-sang/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I just have a lot off different influences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-just-have-a-lot-off-different-influences/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [I've been able to do pretty well. I don't work as many consecutive nights as I used to, but I'm still working over 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-ve-been-able-to-do-pretty-well-i-don-t-work-as-many-consecutive/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) [Explore all 57 Mose Allison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was taking chemical engineering. But I went into the army after that. When I came out of the army, I was a different person. 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