---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I remember back to when I wasn't open…"
description: "\"If I remember back to when I wasn't open about my sexuality, I spent a great deal of time worried about it.\" — Richard Quest"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/richard-quest-9170_back_if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open_177617.jpg"
---

#  If I remember back to when I wasn't open about my…

![“If I remember back to when I wasn't open about my sexuality, I spent a great deal of time worried about it.” quote by Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/richard-quest-9170_back_if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open_177617.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/richard-quest-9170_back_if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open_177617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/richard-quest-9170_back_if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open_177617.jpg)

> “If I remember back to when I wasn't open about my sexuality, I spent a great deal of time worried about it.”

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker reflects on past anxiety caused by hiding their sexual orientation, highlighting the emotional burden of secrecy.

**In simple terms:** Hiding sexuality caused worry and stress.

Key Takeaway

Embrace openness to reduce anxiety.

Themes

identity self‑acceptance mental health

Mood

anxious hopeful

Type

personal reflective

When to use this quote

- coming out
- personal relationships
- workplace environments
- social media
- family gatherings

Key Concepts

stigma self‑disclosure

Questions to Reflect On

- How did secrecy affect your well‑being?
- What steps can you take to feel safer being open?

A Different Perspective

Openness may lead to discrimination or loss of support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Maybe I've limited my opportunities by being so open about my sexuality, but my thinking is that, if I come out of the gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/maybe-i-ve-limited-my-opportunities-by-being-so-open-about-my/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [“I'm one of those people who spent so much time worried about other people, I forget to take care of myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabatha-beshears/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-spent-so-much-time-worried-about-other/)

[Tabatha Beshears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabatha-beshears/)

> [“When you wake up, think about winning the day. Don't worry about a week or a month from now -- just think about one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-brees/when-you-wake-up-think-about-winning-the-day-don-t-worry-about-a-week/)

[Drew Brees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-brees/)

> [“Sorry, cariño, but there is no time to be worried about your delightful ass bouncing on the seat when we have to find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milly-taiden/sorry-cari-o-but-there-is-no-time-to-be-worried-about-your-delightful/)

[Milly Taiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milly-taiden/)

> [A good friend of mine once told me that each morning when you wake up, think about winning the day. Don't worry about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-brees/a-good-friend-of-mine-once-told-me-that-each-morning-when-you-wake-up/)

[Drew Brees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-brees/)

> [“We believe this sharing behavior extended to sex as well. A great deal of research from primatology, anthropology, anatomy, and psychology points to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/we-believe-this-sharing-behavior-extended-to-sex-as-well-a-great-deal/)

[Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/)

> [I'm very honest and open about my sexuality, being sensuous, being powerful as a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina/i-m-very-honest-and-open-about-my-sexuality-being-sensuous-being/)

[Trina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina/)

> [I've always been really open about my sexuality and who I am. I never thought a big coming out was necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-ve-always-been-really-open-about-my-sexuality-and-who-i-am-i-never/)

[Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/)

> [I've always been open about who I am and my sexuality. So, it wasn't hard at all. If I can show that I'm out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-ve-always-been-open-about-who-i-am-and-my-sexuality-so-it-wasn-t/)

[Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/)

> [I think there is much more queer visibility than there was when I was a kid. There is marriage, more trans visibility, and many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-think-there-is-much-more-queer-visibility-than-there-was-when-i-was/)

[Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/)

> [Someone said on social media that I was the son of Satan for being open about my sexuality. I told my mother, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/someone-said-on-social-media-that-i-was-the-son-of-satan-for-being/)

[Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/)

> [When I speak, I ask the people, particularly since there are many of us, 'Where will you spend your hard-earned money? Why spend it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/when-i-speak-i-ask-the-people-particularly-since-there-are-many-of-us/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [I've never hidden my sexuality from anyone - my whole life, in fact - and I've been waiting for someone to ask about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristian-nairn/i-ve-never-hidden-my-sexuality-from-anyone-my-whole-life-in-fact-and/)

[Kristian Nairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristian-nairn/)

> [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

## More by Richard Quest

> [Go to The Spaniards Inn on Hampstead Heath. It's an old-fashioned pub, and from there, you can look out over the London skyline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/go-to-the-spaniards-inn-on-hampstead-heath-it-s-an-old-fashioned-pub/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [When there's a firestorm going on around you, you have very little idea of what's next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/when-there-s-a-firestorm-going-on-around-you-you-have-very-little/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [It is a very cynical, skeptical, foolish person that suggests Israel does not need a peace process to have a growing economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/it-is-a-very-cynical-skeptical-foolish-person-that-suggests-israel/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [I don't think many people would disagree that the world is fractured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/i-don-t-think-many-people-would-disagree-that-the-world-is-fractured/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [I would have become a pilot if it wasn't for my poor eyesight and the fact that I am hopeless in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/i-would-have-become-a-pilot-if-it-wasn-t-for-my-poor-eyesight-and-the/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> ['Selfie' is the word du jour, and it became cause celebre at Nelson Mandela's funeral when the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt took a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/selfie-is-the-word-du-jour-and-it-became-cause-celebre-at-nelson/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [Whenever there's a big story with vast potential to get social media content and find out what's happening, your first object is to prod…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/whenever-there-s-a-big-story-with-vast-potential-to-get-social-media/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [Any idiot can throw together a program or report and shove it out, but to get the balance and to get the skill set,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/any-idiot-can-throw-together-a-program-or-report-and-shove-it-out-but/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [The big story of the day is always going to be driven by what's happened and by the facts and the events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/the-big-story-of-the-day-is-always-going-to-be-driven-by-what-s/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [When I speak, I ask the people, particularly since there are many of us, 'Where will you spend your hard-earned money? Why spend it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/when-i-speak-i-ask-the-people-particularly-since-there-are-many-of-us/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [I hope I'm wrong, but I think the victory of the screen is going to win out. It raises the fundamental question: is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/i-hope-i-m-wrong-but-i-think-the-victory-of-the-screen-is-going-to/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [The fundamental rule of the business traveller must be nothing must stop you from getting there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/the-fundamental-rule-of-the-business-traveller-must-be-nothing-must/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [Markets don't like instability, investors shy away from uncertainty, and consumer confidence goes down in difficult times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/markets-don-t-like-instability-investors-shy-away-from-uncertainty/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [When you travel on Christmas, for you as the traveler - whether you're in 1A or 39D - there is a mental state that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/when-you-travel-on-christmas-for-you-as-the-traveler-whether-you-re/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [If I try and be something I am not, if I try and be cool, and I am not, I am a boring white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/if-i-try-and-be-something-i-am-not-if-i-try-and-be-cool-and-i-am-not/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

[Explore all 75 Richard Quest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

## More Back quotes

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/)

[Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/)

> [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/)

[Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/)

[Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/)

> [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/)

[George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/)

> [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/)

[Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/)

> [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/)

[Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/)

> [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/)

[Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/)

> [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/)

[Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/)

> [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/)

[Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/)

> [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/)

[Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/)

Browse all 9,709 Back quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If I remember back to when I wasn't open about my sexuality, I spent a great deal of time worried about it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Quest"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open-about-my-sexuality-i-spent-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Back"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open-about-my-sexuality-i-spent-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/richard-quest-9170_back_if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open_177617.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/richard-quest-9170_back_if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open_177617.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e68/richard-quest-9170_back_if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open_177617.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I remember back to when I wasn't open about my sexuality, I spent a great deal of time worried about it.” — Richard Quest",
                "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": "Richard Quest",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I remember back to when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open-about-my-sexuality-i-spent-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/if-i-remember-back-to-when-i-wasn-t-open-about-my-sexuality-i-spent-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```