---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a time I desperately needed for…"
description: "\"There was a time I desperately needed for the world to know that I was no category guy. My whole goal in life was to reach that certain success where p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/r-kelly-2614_anything_there-was-a-time-i-desperately-needed-fo_2332977.jpg"
---

#  There was a time I desperately needed for the world to…

![“There was a time I desperately needed for the world to know that I was no category guy. My whole goal in life was to reach that certain success where people will say, 'Hey, that guy can do anything. He's the Evel Knievel of music. He's jumping over 15 buses!'” quote by R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/r-kelly-2614_anything_there-was-a-time-i-desperately-needed-fo_2332977.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/r-kelly-2614_anything_there-was-a-time-i-desperately-needed-fo_2332977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/r-kelly-2614_anything_there-was-a-time-i-desperately-needed-fo_2332977.jpg)

> “There was a time I desperately needed for the world to know that I was no category guy. My whole goal in life was to reach that certain success where people will say, 'Hey, that guy can do anything. He's the Evel Knievel of music. He's jumping over 15 buses!'”

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The desire for recognition drives ambition; fame is framed as extraordinary feats.

**In simple terms:** Seeking fame fuels ambition.

Key Takeaway

Pursue authentic goals, not just fame.

Themes

ambition recognition identity celebrity music

Mood

reflective motivational

Type

inspirational psychological

When to use this quote

- Career planning
- creative projects
- personal branding
- mental health

Key Concepts

Self‑actualization performance pressure public image

Questions to Reflect On

- What does success truly mean to you?
- How can you balance ambition with well‑being?

A Different Perspective

Fame can distort self‑worth and lead to burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [Buses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buses/) [Category](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/category/) [Category Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/category-guy-5618831/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Desperately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperately/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evel-knievel/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goal Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal-life/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guy Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy-goal-4794601/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [Jumping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jumping/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needed World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-world-287540/) [Over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reach/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [My whole goal in life was to reach that certain success where people will say, 'Hey, that guy can do anything. He's the Evel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/my-whole-goal-in-life-was-to-reach-that-certain-success-where-people/)

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> [I'm not really a numbers guy, but I always have a goal in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-garrett/i-m-not-really-a-numbers-guy-but-i-always-have-a-goal-in-mind/)

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> [“She loved when he looked at her like that, as if she were all he needed in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-force/she-loved-when-he-looked-at-her-like-that-as-if-she-were-all-he/)

[Marie Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-force/)

> [“I thought I needed to see the world with you, but I didn't. I saw the world in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yeh/i-thought-i-needed-to-see-the-world-with-you-but-i-didn-t-i-saw-the/)

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> [To be alive is sufficient evidence that we are needed in the world. Otherwise we wouldn't be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-wilson/to-be-alive-is-sufficient-evidence-that-we-are-needed-in-the-world/)

[Margery Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-wilson/)

> [Where there is an absence of international political leadership, civil society should step in to fill the gap, providing the energy and vision needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/where-there-is-an-absence-of-international-political-leadership-civil/)

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> [What if all everybody needed in the world was to be sure of one friend? What if you were the one, and you refused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/what-if-all-everybody-needed-in-the-world-was-to-be-sure-of-one/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [We needed to become world-famous soon, while there was still that kind of world to be famous in...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/we-needed-to-become-world-famous-soon-while-there-was-still-that-kind/)

[Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/)

> [I think that when Evel Knievel crashed over the fountain at Caesars, it kind of gave you a credibility and then anticipation for everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blaine/i-think-that-when-evel-knievel-crashed-over-the-fountain-at-caesars/)

[David Blaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blaine/)

> [To get to wear the costume of Evel Knievel, are you kidding me? When I was a kid, I had Superman. I had Spiderman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eads/to-get-to-wear-the-costume-of-evel-knievel-are-you-kidding-me-when-i/)

[George Eads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eads/)

> [ You can't ask a guy like me why \[I performed\]. I really wanted to fly through the air. I was a daredevil, a performer.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/you-can-t-ask-a-guy-like-me-why-i-performed-i-really-wanted-to-fly/)

[Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/)

> [Evel Knievel bet me $25,000 I couldn't ride a motorcycle 650 miles from Las Vegas to Twin Falls, Idaho.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/evel-knievel-bet-me-25-000-i-couldn-t-ride-a-motorcycle-650-miles/)

[Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/)

> [I've just got back from Oklahoma where I was shooting Mat Hoffman's tribute to Evel Knievel. I had a ball, too, even though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-knoxville/i-ve-just-got-back-from-oklahoma-where-i-was-shooting-mat-hoffman-s/)

[Johnny Knoxville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-knoxville/)

> [I'm grateful for my whole family, but my dad is like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Superman, and Evel Knievel all at one time. I can think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-m-grateful-for-my-whole-family-but-my-dad-is-like-obi-wan-kenobi/)

[Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/)

> [“While the vision he had shown in building Trump Tower remained, the discipline he had summoned to get the skyscraper built evaporated. Emboldened by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-l-o-brien/while-the-vision-he-had-shown-in-building-trump-tower-remained-the/)

[Timothy L. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-l-o-brien/)

## More by R. Kelly

> [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/)

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> [If there's no fire, there's no scream. If there's no scream, then no one hears you and no one comes to help you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/if-there-s-no-fire-there-s-no-scream-if-there-s-no-scream-then-no-one/)

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> [Well, I believe that the depth of your struggle can determine the height of your success. I was inspired to come out of everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/well-i-believe-that-the-depth-of-your-struggle-can-determine-the/)

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> [You know, I'm no different from a fireman. You got to run into a fire no matter how big the blaze is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/you-know-i-m-no-different-from-a-fireman-you-got-to-run-into-a-fire/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

> [Sometimes silence can seem so loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/sometimes-silence-can-seem-so-loud/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

> [They say marriage will change you but it didn't change me. Being in love changed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/they-say-marriage-will-change-you-but-it-didn-t-change-me-being-in/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

> [I have always been infatuated with country music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-have-always-been-infatuated-with-country-music/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

> [I gave a Christmas party last year - well, two Christmases ago - where I did a Sam Cooke show. I didn't perform as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-gave-a-christmas-party-last-year-well-two-christmases-ago-where-i/)

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> [I will always do R. Kelly - I'm not perfect, but I'm perfectly me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-will-always-do-r-kelly-i-m-not-perfect-but-i-m-perfectly-me/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

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> [I want people to notice my writing abilities are real and that I'm not just stuck in one situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-want-people-to-notice-my-writing-abilities-are-real-and-that-i-m/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

> [I'm not very good at picking stuff up off the radio. It takes me way too long to learn other people's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-m-not-very-good-at-picking-stuff-up-off-the-radio-it-takes-me-way/)

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> [I've really been writing a lot of country songs. I used to get criticized for doing a 'Bump Grind,' then turning around and doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/i-ve-really-been-writing-a-lot-of-country-songs-i-used-to-get/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

[Explore all 158 R. Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

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> [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/)

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> [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/)

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