--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ever since I was a kid, I've just done…" description: "\"“Ever since I was a kid, I've just done what was assigned, made an A on it, and then waited for somebody to give me the next assignment. Now people are..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/robert-w-griggs-69656_democracy_ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-just-done-wh_537725.jpg" --- # Ever since I was a kid, I've just done what was assigned… ![“Ever since I was a kid, I've just done what was assigned, made an A on it, and then waited for somebody to give me the next assignment. Now people are telling me I get to choose, that it's a nonpunitive democracy. How am I supposed to know what I want? I want to get well, feel good, and enjoy the…” quote by Robert W Griggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/robert-w-griggs-69656_democracy_ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-just-done-wh_537725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/robert-w-griggs-69656_democracy_ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-just-done-wh_537725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/robert-w-griggs-69656_democracy_ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-just-done-wh_537725.jpg) > ““Ever since I was a kid, I've just done what was assigned, made an A on it, and then waited for somebody to give me the next assignment. Now people are telling me I get to choose, that it's a nonpunitive democracy. How am I supposed to know what I want? I want to get well, feel good, and enjoy the rest of my life. Would somebody please tell me what to do?”” [Robert W Griggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-griggs/) ## 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 feels lost without external direction and seeks guidance to discover personal goals and well‑being. **In simple terms:** Feeling confused about choosing one’s own path. Key Takeaway Seek self‑exploration and define personal values. Themes identity autonomy purpose well‑being Mood confused hopeful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - health goals - life coaching - personal development Key Concepts self‑determination decision making meaning Questions to Reflect On - What values truly matter to you? - How can you create your own “assignments”? A Different Perspective External structures can limit inner growth; self‑knowledge takes time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-supposed-230695/) [Nonpunitive Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonpunitive-democracy-4503891/) [Somebody Assignment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-assignment-4503890/) [Telling Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-choose-4503889/) ## Related quotes > [Are we Pakistanis, children of a lesser God? Is there one law for the west and one for us? Is our democracy supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imran-khan/are-we-pakistanis-children-of-a-lesser-god-is-there-one-law-for-the/) [Imran Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imran-khan/) > [“Democracy was supposed to champion freedom of speech, and yet the simple rules of table decorum could clamp down on the rights their forefathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/democracy-was-supposed-to-champion-freedom-of-speech-and-yet-the/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [American democracy is supposed to be the paradigm for the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/american-democracy-is-supposed-to-be-the-paradigm-for-the-rest-of-the-2/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [Imagine that -- a country that's supposed to be a democracy, supposed to be for freedom and all of that kind of stuff when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/imagine-that-a-country-that-s-supposed-to-be-a-democracy-supposed-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [If there was one decision I would overrule, it would be Citizens United. I think the notion that we have all the democracy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-there-was-one-decision-i-would-overrule-it-would-be-citizens/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [American democracy is supposed to be the paradigm for the rest of the world, and it no longer is. Citizens cannot be guaranteed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/american-democracy-is-supposed-to-be-the-paradigm-for-the-rest-of-the/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [I can't think of anything that would do more toward putting us back on the road to liberty and personal responsibility than for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/i-can-t-think-of-anything-that-would-do-more-toward-putting-us-back/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“In a democracy, there is no check against despotism, because the principle of democracy is supposed to be itself a check. But it guarantees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner-2/in-a-democracy-there-is-no-check-against-despotism-because-the/) [B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner-2/) > [“Democracy is supposed to be ‘of the people, by the people and for the people’. Capitalism is ‘of the capitalist, for the capitalist’. Period.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/democracy-is-supposed-to-be-of-the-people-by-the-people-and-for-the/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [I think the notion that we have all the democracy that money can buy strays so far from what our democracy is supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-think-the-notion-that-we-have-all-the-democracy-that-money-can-buy/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [One person, one vote' is what democracy is supposed to be about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-o-meara-sanders/one-person-one-vote-is-what-democracy-is-supposed-to-be-about/) [Jane O'Meara Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-o-meara-sanders/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by Robert W Griggs > [“This isn't vanity; it's positive feedback I receive that I do not disqualify.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-griggs/this-isn-t-vanity-it-s-positive-feedback-i-receive-that-i-do-not/) [Robert W Griggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-griggs/) > [“I don't believe much of the Creed literally, but I passionately believe in saying all of it together with the people of God. Besides,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-griggs/i-don-t-believe-much-of-the-creed-literally-but-i-passionately/) [Robert W Griggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-griggs/) > [ “\[...\] I have found that there is a rock that supports my faith. But it's a borrowed rock, kind of a sedimentary rock composed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-griggs/i-have-found-that-there-is-a-rock-that-supports-my-faith-but-it-s-a/) [Robert W Griggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-griggs/) [Explore all 4 Robert W Griggs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-griggs/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Ever since I was a kid, I've just done what was assigned, made an A on it, and then waited for somebody to give me the next assignment. Now people are telling me I get to choose, that it's a nonpunitive democracy. How am I supposed to know what I want? 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