--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I walked out and I got a standing ovation…" description: "\"“I walked out and I got a standing ovation from all these people, and it's like a creepy thing... either you've become a cultural icon, or they are app..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/neil-gaiman-29_applause_i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovatio_823504.jpg" --- # I walked out and I got a standing ovation from all these… ![“I walked out and I got a standing ovation from all these people, and it's like a creepy thing... either you've become a cultural icon, or they are applauding the fact that you are not dead yet.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/neil-gaiman-29_applause_i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovatio_823504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/neil-gaiman-29_applause_i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovatio_823504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/neil-gaiman-29_applause_i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovatio_823504.jpg) > ““I walked out and I got a standing ovation from all these people, and it's like a creepy thing... either you've become a cultural icon, or they are applauding the fact that you are not dead yet.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being celebrated can feel unsettling; it may signal iconic status or simply relief at being alive **In simple terms:** Celebration can feel odd, either fame or survival Key Takeaway Recognize gratitude for life, not just fame Themes celebration identity mortality Mood reflective ambivalent Type observational personal When to use this quote - award ceremonies - public speaking - personal milestones Key Concepts iconic status public perception existential relief Questions to Reflect On - What does this applause mean to you? - How do you balance humility with public acclaim? A Different Perspective Fame can mask deeper insecurities about relevance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Ovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ovation/) ## Related quotes > [I did a picture called 'Lovely, Still' with Ellen Burstyn, We screened it to the AARP people in Las Vegas, 2000 of them. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-did-a-picture-called-lovely-still-with-ellen-burstyn-we-screened-it/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [It is a brave man who is the first to sit down during a standing ovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-is-a-brave-man-who-is-the-first-to-sit-down-during-a-standing/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [You don't get a standing ovation and get boos, by the way. They don't go hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-don-t-get-a-standing-ovation-and-get-boos-by-the-way-they-don-t/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world. -Auggie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio-2/everyone-in-the-world-should-get-a-standing-ovation-at-least-once-in/) [R. J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio-2/) > [The standing ovation threw me... to be held in such regard in a town so full of talent is quite something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/the-standing-ovation-threw-me-to-be-held-in-such-regard-in-a-town-so/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-there-should-be-a-rule-that-everyone-in-the-world-should-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And as I walked up the steps to the stage, the most amazing thing happened: everyone started standing up. Not just the front rows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/and-as-i-walked-up-the-steps-to-the-stage-the-most-amazing-thing/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [The bow is so old, its horsehair is glue Sent to the factory, just like me and like you So how come they stayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/the-bow-is-so-old-its-horsehair-is-glue-sent-to-the-factory-just-like/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [The atmosphere was even greater than in Winnipeg last year. The place was almost packed for warm-ups, which was fun for us. You look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-botterill/the-atmosphere-was-even-greater-than-in-winnipeg-last-year-the-place/) Jennifer Botterill > [I was blown away by the standing ovation. I've had tributes before, sure, but I don't retain that feeling, and I wasn't prepared for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-bacharach/i-was-blown-away-by-the-standing-ovation-i-ve-had-tributes-before/) [Burt Bacharach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-bacharach/) > [I get a standing ovation just standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/i-get-a-standing-ovation-just-standing/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [You have to go out there and give a piece of yourself -- your life, your soul. And you better give the audience everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/you-have-to-go-out-there-and-give-a-piece-of-yourself-your-life-your/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [One night in Pittsburgh, thirty-thousand fans gave me a standing ovation when I caught a hot dog wrapper on the fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-stuart/one-night-in-pittsburgh-thirty-thousand-fans-gave-me-a-standing/) Dick Stuart > [“I think there should be a rule that everyone should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives because they overcometh the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/i-think-there-should-be-a-rule-that-everyone-should-get-a-standing/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [“I stumbled in a chlamydia support group and received a standing ovation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-w-gagnon/i-stumbled-in-a-chlamydia-support-group-and-received-a-standing/) Eric W Gagnon ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Applause quotes > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/) [Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/) Mak\_786 > [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/) Oem Software Buy [Browse all 556 Applause quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I walked out and I got a standing ovation from all these people, and it's like a creepy thing... either you've become a cultural icon, or they are applauding the fact that you are not dead yet.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Gaiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovation-from-all-these-people-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Applause" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovation-from-all-these-people-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/neil-gaiman-29_applause_i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovatio_823504.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/neil-gaiman-29_applause_i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovatio_823504.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/neil-gaiman-29_applause_i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovatio_823504.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I walked out and I got a standing ovation from all these people, and it's like a creepy thing... either…” — Neil Gaiman", "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": "Neil Gaiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I walked out and I got...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovation-from-all-these-people-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-walked-out-and-i-got-a-standing-ovation-from-all-these-people-and/#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 } } ] } ```