--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't work at being ordinary." description: "\"I don't work at being ordinary.\" — Paul McCartney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/paul-mccartney-987_ordinariness_i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary-2536752_2536752.png" --- # I don't work at being ordinary. ![“I don't work at being ordinary.” quote by Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/paul-mccartney-987_ordinariness_i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary-2536752_2536752.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/paul-mccartney-987_ordinariness_i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary-2536752_2536752.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/paul-mccartney-987_ordinariness_i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary-2536752_2536752.png) > “I don't work at being ordinary.” [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I strive to be anything but ordinary. **In simple terms:** I aim for extraordinary. Key Takeaway Pursue uniqueness in your work. Themes creativity individuality excellence Mood inspirational energetic Type creative motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - design - entrepreneurship - leadership - personal branding Key Concepts art music innovation self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - What makes your work stand out? - How do you resist ordinary norms? A Different Perspective Ordinary expectations can pressure conformity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I'm more true when I'm up onstage than I'm able to be in my regular life. It's not as exciting to be at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/sometimes-i-m-more-true-when-i-m-up-onstage-than-i-m-able-to-be-in-my/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [In real life, you just work for the ordinary self, but in the front of audience you become the superself. That's a completely different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/in-real-life-you-just-work-for-the-ordinary-self-but-in-the-front-of/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [The young artist... will discover out of ordinary things the meaning of ordinariness. He will not try to make them extraordinary. Only their real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-kaprow/the-young-artist-will-discover-out-of-ordinary-things-the-meaning-of/) [Allan Kaprow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-kaprow/) > [LDRs, 95% of them don't work, so deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-aka-hoe/ldrs-95-of-them-don-t-work-so-deal-with-it/) JoE\_AkA\_HoE > [I don't do well when I don't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-don-t-do-well-when-i-don-t-work/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [I don't work a 9 to 5. I celebrate every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nav/i-don-t-work-a-9-to-5-i-celebrate-every-day/) [Nav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nav/) > [It's a bad day when you don't get the work done that you need to get done or you don't get it done to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/it-s-a-bad-day-when-you-don-t-get-the-work-done-that-you-need-to-get/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [What's your hustle, I'm doin mine and if it don't work - fuck that, it got to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-grae/what-s-your-hustle-i-m-doin-mine-and-if-it-don-t-work-fuck-that-it/) [Jean Grae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-grae/) > [The only time I don't work is when I am asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-rukh-khan/the-only-time-i-don-t-work-is-when-i-am-asleep/) [Shah Rukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-rukh-khan/) > [Dreams don't work unless you do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dreams-don-t-work-unless-you-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I don't work out. I pay people to do that for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-goulet/but-i-don-t-work-out-i-pay-people-to-do-that-for-me/) [Robert Goulet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-goulet/) > [I don't work that hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ekta-kapoor/i-don-t-work-that-hard/) [Ekta Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ekta-kapoor/) > [You can't say I don't work hard and give all I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/you-can-t-say-i-don-t-work-hard-and-give-all-i-got/) [Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/) > [I don't get a work-life balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-don-t-get-a-work-life-balance/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I don't work with anybody I don't like, just for the attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/i-don-t-work-with-anybody-i-don-t-like-just-for-the-attention/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) ## More by Paul McCartney > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Hamburg totally wrecked us. I remember getting home to England and my dad thought I was half-dead. I looked like a skeleton, I hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/hamburg-totally-wrecked-us-i-remember-getting-home-to-england-and-my/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [The thing you must remember is that I'm the Number One John Lennon fan. I love him to this day and I always did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/the-thing-you-must-remember-is-that-i-m-the-number-one-john-lennon/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [He's (Ringo Starr) not even the best drummer in the Beatles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/he-s-ringo-starr-not-even-the-best-drummer-in-the-beatles/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I never really got on that well with Yoko anyway. Strangely enough, I only started to get to know her after John's death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-never-really-got-on-that-well-with-yoko-anyway-strangely-enough-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I think a domestic situation can change you and your attitudes. I suppose if you did get a bit content, then you might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-think-a-domestic-situation-can-change-you-and-your-attitudes-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Domesticity is the enemy of art. I don't know if that's true. You can write good happy songs. So, I don't think it's necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/domesticity-is-the-enemy-of-art-i-don-t-know-if-that-s-true-you-can/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [...We can work it out. Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/we-can-work-it-out-life-is-very-short-and-there-s-no-time-for-fussing/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I am quite happy that the Beatles came and went. There is even a sort of glory in not having it go on forever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-am-quite-happy-that-the-beatles-came-and-went-there-is-even-a-sort/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Buy, buy, says the sign in the shop window; Why, why, says the junk in the yard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/buy-buy-says-the-sign-in-the-shop-window-why-why-says-the-junk-in-the/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [My dad, bless him, was a musician. And his dad had thought that his music was rubbish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/my-dad-bless-him-was-a-musician-and-his-dad-had-thought-that-his/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I can't manage without homeopathy. In fact, I never go anywhere without homeopathic remedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-can-t-manage-without-homeopathy-in-fact-i-never-go-anywhere-without/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Live a little be a gypsy, get around. Get your feet up off the ground, live a little, get around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/live-a-little-be-a-gypsy-get-around-get-your-feet-up-off-the-ground/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [“Paul: 'After recording sessions, at two or three in the morning, we'd be careering through the villages on the way to Weybridge, shouting 'weyhey'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/paul-after-recording-sessions-at-two-or-three-in-the-morning-we-d-be/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [We live in hope of deliverance from the darkness that surrounds us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/we-live-in-hope-of-deliverance-from-the-darkness-that-surrounds-us/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) [Explore all 314 Paul McCartney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) ## More Ordinariness quotes > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [“Odd, don't you think? I have seen war, and invasions and riots. I have heard of massacres and brutalities beyond imagining, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/odd-don-t-you-think-i-have-seen-war-and-invasions-and-riots-i-have/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Becoming the beloved is pulling the truth revealed to me from above down into the ordinariness of what I am, in fact, thinking of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/becoming-the-beloved-is-pulling-the-truth-revealed-to-me-from-above/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One day the ordinariness will be terminally punctuated by the extraordinary full stop of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/one-day-the-ordinariness-will-be-terminally-punctuated-by-the/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [We are storytelling animals, and cannot bear to acknowledge the ordinariness of our daily lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/we-are-storytelling-animals-and-cannot-bear-to-acknowledge-the/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The theme of the collection this time is MONSTER. It's not about the typical Monster you find in sci-fi and video games. The expression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/the-theme-of-the-collection-this-time-is-monster-it-s-not-about-the/) [Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/) > [It is the ordinariness of us that is the same in all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-toussaint/it-is-the-ordinariness-of-us-that-is-the-same-in-all-of-us/) [Lorraine Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-toussaint/) > [“You always went through ordinary roads, what did you gain? Just ordinariness! Try an extraordinary road, your reward will be big, you will win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-always-went-through-ordinary-roads-what-did-you-gain-just/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The young artist... will discover out of ordinary things the meaning of ordinariness. He will not try to make them extraordinary. Only their real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-kaprow/the-young-artist-will-discover-out-of-ordinary-things-the-meaning-of/) [Allan Kaprow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-kaprow/) > [I admire photographers who can take much more ordinarily subject matter and make it transcend that ordinariness, so that it becomes something else fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/i-admire-photographers-who-can-take-much-more-ordinarily-subject/) [Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/) > [When my parents were liberated, four years before I was born, they found that the ordinary world outside the camp had been eradicated. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/when-my-parents-were-liberated-four-years-before-i-was-born-they/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [Gratitude places you in the energy field of plentitude. Perceiving life in a consciousness of gratitude is literally stepping into another dimension of living.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/gratitude-places-you-in-the-energy-field-of-plentitude-perceiving/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [“Not only the ships sink but minds also sink, most especially the minds who does not know the secrets of being happy with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/not-only-the-ships-sink-but-minds-also-sink-most-especially-the-minds/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Those who are looking for some extraordinary people must know that all the extraordinariness is hidden in the ordinary people!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/those-who-are-looking-for-some-extraordinary-people-must-know-that/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) Browse all 90 Ordinariness quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't work at being ordinary.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul McCartney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ordinariness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/paul-mccartney-987_ordinariness_i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary-2536752_2536752.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/paul-mccartney-987_ordinariness_i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary-2536752_2536752.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73d/paul-mccartney-987_ordinariness_i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary-2536752_2536752.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't work at being ordinary.” — Paul McCartney", "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": "Paul McCartney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't work at being ordinary.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-don-t-work-at-being-ordinary/#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 } } ] } ```