---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always felt like such an outsider in…"
description: "\"I've always felt like such an outsider in this industry. Because I'm so insane I guess.\" — Robert Downey, Jr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/robert-downey-jr-3620_insane_i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-i_1403582.png"
---

#  I've always felt like such an outsider in this industry…

![“I've always felt like such an outsider in this industry. Because I'm so insane I guess.” quote by Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/robert-downey-jr-3620_insane_i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-i_1403582.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/robert-downey-jr-3620_insane_i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-i_1403582.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/robert-downey-jr-3620_insane_i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-i_1403582.png)

> “I've always felt like such an outsider in this industry. Because I'm so insane I guess.”

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

## About This Quote

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

Feeling like an outsider stems from self‑doubt and perceived difference, often amplified by personal insecurities.

**In simple terms:** Feeling out of place due to self‑doubt.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your uniqueness and seek supportive communities.

Themes

identity self‑esteem belonging

Mood

reflective determined

Type

motivational self‑help inspirational

When to use this quote

- new job
- industry networking
- creative projects
- seeking mentors

Key Concepts

impostor syndrome social anxiety

Questions to Reflect On

- What strengths do you bring that others overlook?
- How can you reframe “outsider” as “pioneer”?

A Different Perspective

Self‑labeling as “insane” may reinforce isolation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Industry Insane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry-insane-2245591/) [Insane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insane/) [Like Outsider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-outsider/) [Outsider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outsider/) [Outsider Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outsider-industry-407507/) [Outsiders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outsiders/)

## Related quotes

> [“I've always felt like an outsider in this industry. Because I'm so insane I guess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr-2/i-ve-always-felt-like-an-outsider-in-this-industry-because-i-m-so/)

[Robert Downey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr-2/)

> [I never felt like an outsider in the industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-fatehi/i-never-felt-like-an-outsider-in-the-industry/)

[Nora Fatehi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-fatehi/)

> [I've felt like an outsider all my life. It comes from my mother, who always felt like an outsider in my father's family. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-ve-felt-like-an-outsider-all-my-life-it-comes-from-my-mother-who/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [At some point in our lives there's something about every one of us that makes us feel like an outsider, I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-bass/at-some-point-in-our-lives-there-s-something-about-every-one-of-us/)

[Lance Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-bass/)

> [When you feel like an outsider - for whatever reason - you spend a lot of time alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/when-you-feel-like-an-outsider-for-whatever-reason-you-spend-a-lot-of/)

[Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/)

> [I always felt like an outsider growing up. In school, I felt like I never fit in. But it didn't help when my mother,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-always-felt-like-an-outsider-growing-up-in-school-i-felt-like-i/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I think you only really feel like an outsider if you've been an insider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/i-think-you-only-really-feel-like-an-outsider-if-you-ve-been-an/)

[Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/)

> [I always felt like an outsider to the music world in a certain way. There was so much less of an art culture in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gordon/i-always-felt-like-an-outsider-to-the-music-world-in-a-certain-way/)

[Kim Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gordon/)

> [I've always felt like an outsider across the board, since day one. The challenge has been to simply not pay attention to my outsider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/i-ve-always-felt-like-an-outsider-across-the-board-since-day-one-the/)

[Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/)

> [As a kid I just felt like an outsider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/as-a-kid-i-just-felt-like-an-outsider/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

> [I've always straddled a weird line - there's a lot of mainstream stuff that I love. At the same, I still feel like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-ve-always-straddled-a-weird-line-there-s-a-lot-of-mainstream-stuff/)

[Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/)

> [Do I wish I had it easier being an outsider in the industry? Yes, of course, I wish had it easier. Why would we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/do-i-wish-i-had-it-easier-being-an-outsider-in-the-industry-yes-of/)

[Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/)

> [I always felt like an outsider of the industry, and now I feel quite comfortable as an independent artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-nash/i-always-felt-like-an-outsider-of-the-industry-and-now-i-feel-quite/)

[Kate Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-nash/)

> [I feel like an outsider, and I always will feel like one. I've always felt that I wasn't a member of any particular group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-feel-like-an-outsider-and-i-always-will-feel-like-one-i-ve-always/)

[Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/)

> [While I have always, felt like an outsider, it's because of the professional choices I have made, so it's not like I am planning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/while-i-have-always-felt-like-an-outsider-it-s-because-of-the/)

[Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/)

## More by Robert Downey, Jr

> [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [Discipline for me is about respect. It's not even about self-respect; it's about respect for life and all it offers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/discipline-for-me-is-about-respect-it-s-not-even-about-self-respect/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [Give me a scotch, I'm starving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/give-me-a-scotch-i-m-starving/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [People never change because they are under threat or under duress. Never. They change because they see something that makes their life seem valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/people-never-change-because-they-are-under-threat-or-under-duress/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [Remember that just because you hit bottom doesn't mean you have to stay there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/remember-that-just-because-you-hit-bottom-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [I don't like words coming out of a character's mouth that I adore because not only is he a little bit duplicitous but he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-don-t-like-words-coming-out-of-a-character-s-mouth-that-i-adore/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [I don't want to be so confident in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-don-t-want-to-be-so-confident-in-myself/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [Pick a dysfunction and it's a family problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/pick-a-dysfunction-and-it-s-a-family-problem/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [My old man had a philosophy: peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/my-old-man-had-a-philosophy-peace-means-having-a-bigger-stick-than/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [Nobody learns a German aria overnight, except Jared Harris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/nobody-learns-a-german-aria-overnight-except-jared-harris/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [You can't go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary, and really understand it, and come out a liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/you-can-t-go-from-a-2-000-a-night-suite-at-la-mirage-to-a/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [I'm an actor, a husband, a father of two, and a full-time Avenger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-m-an-actor-a-husband-a-father-of-two-and-a-full-time-avenger/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [I take some pride in... representing myself exactly how I would like to have my son remember me to his kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-take-some-pride-in-representing-myself-exactly-how-i-would-like-to/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [Peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/peace-means-having-a-bigger-stick-than-the-other-guy/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

> [I've always just shown up and tried to figure out what's for lunch and am I going to get to play some racquetball that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-ve-always-just-shown-up-and-tried-to-figure-out-what-s-for-lunch/)

[Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

[Explore all 126 Robert Downey, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/)

## More Insane quotes

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

[David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/)

[Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/)

> [Grew up in a small town where there was only one crazy guy. He didn't even go insane doing anything good, like going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/grew-up-in-a-small-town-where-there-was-only-one-crazy-guy-he-didn-t/)

[Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/)

> [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/)

[August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/)

> [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/)

[Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/)

> [I don’t like keeping her in the dark,” Jace said. “We’ll tell her in a week. What difference does a week make?” Jace gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-like-keeping-her-in-the-dark-jace-said-we-ll-tell-her-in-a/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I'm just insane. So what usually drives me is pure joy for something stupid. I'm also very visual. I'll have an idea in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-roiland/i-m-just-insane-so-what-usually-drives-me-is-pure-joy-for-something/)

[Justin Roiland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-roiland/)

> [ Of course I think it's a movie for everybody \[Insane Farting Corpse\], but that's probably just because it's a movie for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/of-course-i-think-it-s-a-movie-for-everybody-insane-farting-corpse/)

[Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/)

> [They used to be seen as insane or unthinkable acts of madmen. But if they take place they'll be called 'war' too. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/they-used-to-be-seen-as-insane-or-unthinkable-acts-of-madmen-but-if/)

[Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/)

> [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [Your daddy is a wine, and your mommy's quite insane. From altar boy to sewer rat, you don't give a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megadeth/your-daddy-is-a-wine-and-your-mommy-s-quite-insane-from-altar-boy-to/)

[Megadeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megadeth/)

> [“Die in your dreams, wake up insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/die-in-your-dreams-wake-up-insane/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“Called her a whore and attacked her walls, tearing down her posters and throwing her books everywhere. I found out because some whitegirl ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/called-her-a-whore-and-attacked-her-walls-tearing-down-her-posters/)

[Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/)

[Browse all 2,046 Insane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insane/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've always felt like such an outsider in this industry. Because I'm so insane I guess.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Downey, Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-in-this-industry-because-i-m/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Insane"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-in-this-industry-because-i-m/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/robert-downey-jr-3620_insane_i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-i_1403582.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/robert-downey-jr-3620_insane_i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-i_1403582.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/robert-downey-jr-3620_insane_i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-i_1403582.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've always felt like such an outsider in this industry. Because I'm so insane I guess.” — Robert Downey, Jr",
                "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": "Robert Downey, Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've always felt like such an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-in-this-industry-because-i-m/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-ve-always-felt-like-such-an-outsider-in-this-industry-because-i-m/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
