--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to say I'm not a hero." description: "\"I like to say I'm not a hero.\" — Norman Schwarzkopf" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/norman-schwarzkopf-6969_hero_i-like-to-say-i-m-not-a-hero-1850227_1850227.jpg" --- # I like to say I'm not a hero. ![“I like to say I'm not a hero.” quote by Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/norman-schwarzkopf-6969_hero_i-like-to-say-i-m-not-a-hero-1850227_1850227.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/norman-schwarzkopf-6969_hero_i-like-to-say-i-m-not-a-hero-1850227_1850227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/norman-schwarzkopf-6969_hero_i-like-to-say-i-m-not-a-hero-1850227_1850227.jpg) > “I like to say I'm not a hero.” [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He modestly claims he is not a hero, emphasizing humility despite notable achievements. **In simple terms:** He says he's not a hero. Key Takeaway Stay humble despite success. Themes humility leadership self‑perception Mood thoughtful modest Type leadership personal When to use this quote - military ceremonies - leadership seminars - media interviews - personal memoirs Key Concepts public image heroism Questions to Reflect On - Why do leaders often deny heroism? - How does humility affect public perception? A Different Perspective Some may view humility as downplaying genuine contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-say/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Say Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-hero-524301/) ## Related quotes > [I like to say I'm not a hero. I was lucky enough to lead a very successful war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-like-to-say-i-m-not-a-hero-i-was-lucky-enough-to-lead-a-very/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [“some would say that the hero of any story is the one who changes the most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-would-say-that-the-hero-of-any-story-is-the-one-who-changes-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The day when a person looking at me, and my works will say "Here's my Hero!", that will be my triumph.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeren-n-turoonju/the-day-when-a-person-looking-at-me-and-my-works-will-say-here-s-my/) [Jeren N. Turoonju](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeren-n-turoonju/) > [What the myths say, is that you have to be the hero of your own life. You're the one who has to take charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/what-the-myths-say-is-that-you-have-to-be-the-hero-of-your-own-life/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Success rests with having the courage and endurance and, above all, the will to become the person you are, however peculiar that may be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/success-rests-with-having-the-courage-and-endurance-and-above-all-the/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [“You say you’re not a hero? Well, I’m going to tell you the best and the worst thing you’ve ever heard. Heroes aren’t born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/you-say-you-re-not-a-hero-well-i-m-going-to-tell-you-the-best-and-the/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [“I am my own hero,” he repeated slowly. “Say…it.” Claire said it hesitantly. “I am my own hero.” “Say it again.” “I am my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-my-own-hero-he-repeated-slowly-say-it-claire-said-it-hesitantly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In history, in a movie, in a book, you can always tell who the heroes are; they're the ones rushing into a burning building,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-koja/in-history-in-a-movie-in-a-book-you-can-always-tell-who-the-heroes/) [Kathe Koja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-koja/) > [I think, at the end of the day, the most special thing is when a mother or a gay person comes up to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-ayanbadejo/i-think-at-the-end-of-the-day-the-most-special-thing-is-when-a-mother/) [Brendon Ayanbadejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-ayanbadejo/) > [Dost thou know what a hero is? Why, a hero is as much as one should say, a hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/dost-thou-know-what-a-hero-is-why-a-hero-is-as-much-as-one-should-say/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Finally he turned his head toward her face and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “I love you and I believe with all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/finally-he-turned-his-head-toward-her-face-and-brushed-a-kiss-over/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [My idea as far as comedy goes has always been to push the limits of what's acceptable for a woman to do or say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-delaria/my-idea-as-far-as-comedy-goes-has-always-been-to-push-the-limits-of/) [Lea DeLaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-delaria/) > [I'm saying to be a hero is means you step across the line and are willing to make a sacrifice, so heroes always are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/i-m-saying-to-be-a-hero-is-means-you-step-across-the-line-and-are/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Like say no be GOD , I for don kpeme .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-say-no-be-god-i-for-don-kpeme/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People come up to me and say 'I wouldn't want to live if I was like you.' And I say 'Actually, my life's pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/people-come-up-to-me-and-say-i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-if-i-was-like/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) ## More by Norman Schwarzkopf > [War is a profane thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/war-is-a-profane-thing/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I am an environmentalist, but I'm not a wacko environmentalist. I believe that mankind and nature can live side-by-side for the mutual benefit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-am-an-environmentalist-but-i-m-not-a-wacko-environmentalist-i/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [Fish are a renewable resource, and one of the problems we've had is people feel obliged to catch the limit, then throw 'em in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/fish-are-a-renewable-resource-and-one-of-the-problems-we-ve-had-is/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [You can't help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/you-can-t-help-someone-get-up-a-hill-without-getting-closer-to-the/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [Tanks being deployed far forward is an indication of offensive action; tanks in depth is an indication of defensive action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/tanks-being-deployed-far-forward-is-an-indication-of-offensive-action/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [It's nice to feel that you have a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/it-s-nice-to-feel-that-you-have-a-purpose/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [If it had been our intention to take Iraq, if it had been our intention to destroy the country, if it had been our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/if-it-had-been-our-intention-to-take-iraq-if-it-had-been-our/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [For the entire first part of my career, I prided myself on being unflappable even in the most chaotic of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/for-the-entire-first-part-of-my-career-i-prided-myself-on-being/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [More than 200 ships from 13 nations conducted over 10,000 flawless intercepts, which formed a steel wall around the waters leading to Iraq. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/more-than-200-ships-from-13-nations-conducted-over-10-000-flawless/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I believe that forgiving them is god's function, our job is to arrange the meeting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-believe-that-forgiving-them-is-god-s-function-our-job-is-to-arrange/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I've got to tell you what, the soldier doesn't fight very hard for a leader who is going to shoot him, okay, on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-ve-got-to-tell-you-what-the-soldier-doesn-t-fight-very-hard-for-a/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [I do not want to be a pawn in a political campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/i-do-not-want-to-be-a-pawn-in-a-political-campaign/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [“Success is sweet, but the secret is sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/success-is-sweet-but-the-secret-is-sweat/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [When I fish, I stop thinking about anything else. But truth be told, if you want to declare victories, I can tell you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/when-i-fish-i-stop-thinking-about-anything-else-but-truth-be-told-if/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/it-takes-a-hero-to-be-one-of-those-men-who-goes-into-battle/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) [Explore all 96 Norman Schwarzkopf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) ## More Hero quotes > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [Once the state has been founded, there can no longer be any heroes. They come on the scene only in uncivilized conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/once-the-state-has-been-founded-there-can-no-longer-be-any-heroes/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [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/) > [“A hero is not know by the number of battles he has won, but rather by the kind of battles he chooses to fight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonny-k-brown/a-hero-is-not-know-by-the-number-of-battles-he-has-won-but-rather-by/) [Tonny K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonny-k-brown/) > [The last act in the biography of the hero is that of the death or departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-last-act-in-the-biography-of-the-hero-is-that-of-the-death-or/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Teachers are heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/teachers-are-heroes/) [Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/) > [“Forgotten hero was never the real hero, real hero can not be forgotten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/forgotten-hero-was-never-the-real-hero-real-hero-can-not-be-forgotten/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > ['Sex and The City' was made to correct the myth that if you were single at a certain age, you were a leper. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-patrick-king/sex-and-the-city-was-made-to-correct-the-myth-that-if-you-were-single/) [Michael Patrick King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-patrick-king/) > [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. 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