--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like the tradition of ordinary men in…" description: "\"I like the tradition of ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances and how they react to events which force them to be heroic in a way that is not in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/rob-lowe-855_circumstances_i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in_470662.jpg" --- # I like the tradition of ordinary men in extraordinary… ![“I like the tradition of ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances and how they react to events which force them to be heroic in a way that is not in their natures.” quote by Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/rob-lowe-855_circumstances_i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in_470662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/rob-lowe-855_circumstances_i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in_470662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/rob-lowe-855_circumstances_i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in_470662.jpg) > “I like the tradition of ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances and how they react to events which force them to be heroic in a way that is not in their natures.” [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the tension between ordinary identity and unexpected heroic demands. **In simple terms:** Ordinary people can become heroes. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected challenges. Themes heroism ordinary life circumstance Mood inspirational reflective Type narrative philosophical When to use this quote - crisis response - team leadership - personal growth Key Concepts character courage identity Questions to Reflect On - When have you faced a heroic moment? - How do you stay authentic under pressure? A Different Perspective Heroic expectations can be unrealistic for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary/) [Extraordinary circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary-circumstances/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroic/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-extraordinary-2813952/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Ordinary Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-men/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Tradition Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition-ordinary-4069688/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“In a sport like this—hard work, not much glory, but still popular in every century—well, there must be some beauty which ordinary men can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-james-brown/in-a-sport-like-this-hard-work-not-much-glory-but-still-popular-in/) [Daniel James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-james-brown/) > [A L L men are ORDINARY men; the EXTRAORDINARY men are those who KNOW it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton-3/a-l-l-men-are-ordinary-men-the-extraordinary-men-are-those-who-know-it/) [G K Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton-3/) > [Great men are ordinary men with an extraordinary amount of determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/great-men-are-ordinary-men-with-an-extraordinary-amount-of/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [All men are ordinary men; the extraordinary men are those who know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/all-men-are-ordinary-men-the-extraordinary-men-are-those-who-know-it/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“Ordinary men with extraordinary power Common men with uncommon results Usual men with unusual anointing Unschooled mortal men with immortal vision Weak men with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-joseph/ordinary-men-with-extraordinary-power-common-men-with-uncommon/) [Ikechukwu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-joseph/) > [There are no extraordinary men... just extraordinary circumstances that ordinary men are forced to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-halsey/there-are-no-extraordinary-men-just-extraordinary-circumstances-that/) [William Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-halsey/) > [I never do research unless it's extraordinary circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-mcdowell/i-never-do-research-unless-it-s-extraordinary-circumstances/) [Malcolm McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-mcdowell/) > [The taste for glory can make ordinary men behave in extraordinary ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-shah/the-taste-for-glory-can-make-ordinary-men-behave-in-extraordinary-ways/) [Tahir Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-shah/) > [Men of extraordinary success, in their honest moments, have always sung, "Not unto us, not unto us." According to the faith of their times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/men-of-extraordinary-success-in-their-honest-moments-have-always-sung/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If, by chance, someone among those men of extraordinary talent is found who has firmness of soul and who refuses to yield to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/if-by-chance-someone-among-those-men-of-extraordinary-talent-is-found/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-was-not-a-messiah-but-an-ordinary-man-who-had-become-a-leader/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Ive always been a champion of kids pursuing their dreams. But sometimes in life, extraordinary circumstances may force us to temporarily put our dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/ive-always-been-a-champion-of-kids-pursuing-their-dreams-but/) [Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/) > [When I'm playing a character like Jonathan in Ripley's Game I want to be in the moment when he's feeling pain; this very ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dougray-scott/when-i-m-playing-a-character-like-jonathan-in-ripley-s-game-i-want-to/) [Dougray Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dougray-scott/) > [“We all have to make tough decisions, and when faced with extraordinary circumstances, even the greatest of us can choose wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-berg/we-all-have-to-make-tough-decisions-and-when-faced-with-extraordinary/) [J.L. Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-berg/) > [Don't Wait For Extraordinary Circumstances To Do Good Try To Use Ordinary Situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/don-t-wait-for-extraordinary-circumstances-to-do-good-try-to-use/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) ## More by Rob Lowe > [I'm perfectly flawed... I've got tons of flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-perfectly-flawed-i-ve-got-tons-of-flaws/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [When I hear that I realize how quickly time passes and how everybody goes on their journeys and they're always unbelievable and they never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/when-i-hear-that-i-realize-how-quickly-time-passes-and-how-everybody/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [ \[Virginia Madsen\] big part in that movie \['Class'\] required her shirt to get ripped off, and looking back, it couldn't be a more egregious,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/virginia-madsen-big-part-in-that-movie-class-required-her-shirt-to/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I always like stories where the egg ends up on my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-always-like-stories-where-the-egg-ends-up-on-my-face/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I would've loved Jack Kennedy. I would've loved to have campaigned for him and supported him. I wish there were more like him today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-would-ve-loved-jack-kennedy-i-would-ve-loved-to-have-campaigned-for/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [ David Mamet, Tim Kazurinsky, and Denise DeClue, who adapted \[ About Last Night\]. Between the three of them... I mean, it's always down to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/david-mamet-tim-kazurinsky-and-denise-declue-who-adapted-about-last/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [ 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/) > [I'm not unashamed to say that I like movies that make me verklempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-not-unashamed-to-say-that-i-like-movies-that-make-me-verklempt/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“I try to hold on to the things I believe to be good and true. Good things happen to good people. Karma is real.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-try-to-hold-on-to-the-things-i-believe-to-be-good-and-true-good/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [The cast of 'Parks & Rec' is just a group of unbelievably nice, humble, down to earth, hilarious friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/the-cast-of-parks-rec-is-just-a-group-of-unbelievably-nice-humble/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I was a child of the '80s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-was-a-child-of-the-80s/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I've always been involved in politics, since I was 8 or 9 years old. I sold Kool-Aid for McGovern - I could always pick a winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-ve-always-been-involved-in-politics-since-i-was-8-or-9-years-old-i/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I'd like to build a TV company for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-d-like-to-build-a-tv-company-for-myself/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [So I came to the realization: Nothing in life is unfair. It's just life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/so-i-came-to-the-realization-nothing-in-life-is-unfair-it-s-just-life/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) [Explore all 348 Rob Lowe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like the tradition of ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances and how they react to events which force them to be heroic in a way that is not in their natures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rob Lowe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in-extraordinary-circumstances/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circumstances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in-extraordinary-circumstances/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/rob-lowe-855_circumstances_i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in_470662.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/rob-lowe-855_circumstances_i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in_470662.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/rob-lowe-855_circumstances_i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in_470662.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like the tradition of ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances and how they react to events which force…” — Rob Lowe", "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": "Rob Lowe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like the tradition of ordinary...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in-extraordinary-circumstances/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-like-the-tradition-of-ordinary-men-in-extraordinary-circumstances/#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 } } ] } ```