--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm actually very ordinary, except people…" description: "\"I'm actually very ordinary, except people get to pay their money to come watch me work. The same way that we go to McDonald's.. we don't care about the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_i-m-actually-very-ordinary-except-people_2985915.jpg" --- # I'm actually very ordinary, except people get to pay their… ![“I'm actually very ordinary, except people get to pay their money to come watch me work. The same way that we go to McDonald's.. we don't care about the guy behind the counter, but if he was doing something special, we'd pay our money to go watch him cook that hamburger.” quote by Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_i-m-actually-very-ordinary-except-people_2985915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_i-m-actually-very-ordinary-except-people_2985915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_i-m-actually-very-ordinary-except-people_2985915.jpg) > “I'm actually very ordinary, except people get to pay their money to come watch me work. The same way that we go to McDonald's.. we don't care about the guy behind the counter, but if he was doing something special, we'd pay our money to go watch him cook that hamburger.” [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People pay to watch skilled work, like watching a chef cook, despite usually ignoring the worker. **In simple terms:** People value skilled performance. Key Takeaway Recognize and celebrate expertise. Themes performance skill recognition Mood observant appreciative Type cultural analytical When to use this quote - restaurants - theater - sports - online streaming Key Concepts economics of entertainment labor value Questions to Reflect On - How can we better appreciate behind‑the‑scenes work? - What makes a performance compelling? A Different Perspective Skill may be undervalued without visibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Ordinary people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [People would pay money to work at CNN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/people-would-pay-money-to-work-at-cnn/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [The secret of living is to find people who will pay you money to do what YOU would pay to do if you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-caldwell/the-secret-of-living-is-to-find-people-who-will-pay-you-money-to-do/) [Sarah Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-caldwell/) > [To me, if you're lucky enough to make stuff that people will pay money for, do a good job. Really do a good job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rees/to-me-if-you-re-lucky-enough-to-make-stuff-that-people-will-pay-money/) [David Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rees/) > [When we did 'Ashta Chamma,' I never thought people will pay money to watch me on screen. I never took myself seriously back then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nani/when-we-did-ashta-chamma-i-never-thought-people-will-pay-money-to/) [Nani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nani/) > [If people pay money to see you, they have to cheer. They can't boo, or else they're chumping themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d/if-people-pay-money-to-see-you-they-have-to-cheer-they-can-t-boo-or/) [Mike D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d/) > [I don't watch anything. I work so much. If I see a film, it's usually that I'll go in after working 15 hours and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-don-t-watch-anything-i-work-so-much-if-i-see-a-film-it-s-usually/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [As long as people watch my work I'm fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-evans/as-long-as-people-watch-my-work-i-m-fine/) [Gareth Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-evans/) > [I can't watch most of my work. Once I come on screen, all I can think of is 'What am I doing with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgrath/i-can-t-watch-most-of-my-work-once-i-come-on-screen-all-i-can-think/) [Katie McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgrath/) > [I'd love to work with Sir Anthony Hopkins, but if that doesn't happen, I'd sneak on to a film set and watch him at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-warren/i-d-love-to-work-with-sir-anthony-hopkins-but-if-that-doesn-t-happen/) [Marc Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-warren/) > [If you wanted to watch me work, it would be totally boring. It would look like a Warhol film where nothing happens. I sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-irwin/if-you-wanted-to-watch-me-work-it-would-be-totally-boring-it-would/) [Robert Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-irwin/) > [I have a policy that I don't actually watch the work that I do. There are all kinds of reasons to do that, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-have-a-policy-that-i-don-t-actually-watch-the-work-that-i-do-there/) [Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/) > [Honestly, I think it's kind of corny to sit and watch your own work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pilou-asbaek/honestly-i-think-it-s-kind-of-corny-to-sit-and-watch-your-own-work/) [Pilou Asbaek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pilou-asbaek/) > [That's really special when you can watch a work of art change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/that-s-really-special-when-you-can-watch-a-work-of-art-change-the/) [Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/) > [I would make tea for Joni Mitchell or clean her car, anything to be in the studio and watch her work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-easton/i-would-make-tea-for-joni-mitchell-or-clean-her-car-anything-to-be-in/) [Sheena Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-easton/) > [I am a father, I am very aware of the things that I'm putting out in the world knowing that one day my children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-am-a-father-i-am-very-aware-of-the-things-that-i-m-putting-out-in/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) ## More by Samuel L. Jackson > [I'm sure there are a lot of Italians who refer to themselves as goombahs and greaseballs and whatever. That's what people do. It gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-m-sure-there-are-a-lot-of-italians-who-refer-to-themselves-as/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Take a stand for what's right. Raise a ruckus and make a change. You may not always be popular, but you'll be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/take-a-stand-for-what-s-right-raise-a-ruckus-and-make-a-change-you/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Quentin Tarantino was talking about Ordell a little bit, and I was like, "I'm sure Ordell is one of those people who thought Superfly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/quentin-tarantino-was-talking-about-ordell-a-little-bit-and-i-was/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [ I grew up in the South with guns everywhere and we never shot anyone. This \[shooting\] is about people who aren't taught the value… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-grew-up-in-the-south-with-guns-everywhere-and-we-never-shot-anyone/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [“Hold on to your butts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/hold-on-to-your-butts/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I was desperate on Coming To America set - not to buy drugs or anything, but I had a person at home, a girlfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-was-desperate-on-coming-to-america-set-not-to-buy-drugs-or-anything/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Jackson doesn't bother to read the scripts anymore. He just checks to make sure he has one loud scene where he gets to shout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/jackson-doesn-t-bother-to-read-the-scripts-anymore-he-just-checks-to/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [Because of where I come from, I never thought I'd see in my life a black candidate running for President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/because-of-where-i-come-from-i-never-thought-i-d-see-in-my-life-a/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [When you start to talk about comic books, a lot of the time, people forget about the comic part of it. They need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/when-you-start-to-talk-about-comic-books-a-lot-of-the-time-people/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I guess the worst day I have had was when I had to stand up in rehab in front of my wife and daughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-guess-the-worst-day-i-have-had-was-when-i-had-to-stand-up-in-rehab/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I understood, through rehab, things about creating characters. I understood that creating whole people means knowing where we come from, how we can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-understood-through-rehab-things-about-creating-characters-i/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [When the riots happened in L.A., they didn't go to Beverly Hills to trash Rodeo Drive. They trashed their own neighborhoods. It's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/when-the-riots-happened-in-l-a-they-didn-t-go-to-beverly-hills-to/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [If you have an opportunity to use your voice you should use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/if-you-have-an-opportunity-to-use-your-voice-you-should-use-it/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [What kills me is that everybody thinks I like Jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/what-kills-me-is-that-everybody-thinks-i-like-jazz/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I think the biggest challenges for franchises are keeping them fresh and exciting, and most times, you need a good bad guy to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-think-the-biggest-challenges-for-franchises-are-keeping-them-fresh/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) [Explore all 126 Samuel L. Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [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/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm actually very ordinary, except people get to pay their money to come watch me work. The same way that we go to McDonald's.. we don't care about the guy behind the counter, but if he was doing something special, we'd pay our money to go watch him cook that hamburger.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel L. 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