--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The action heroes were very cool as a…" description: "\"The action heroes were very cool as a kid. You would compare yourself with them - Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger.\" — Sergei Polunin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/sergei-polunin-3855_action_the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-ki_1250317.jpg" --- # The action heroes were very cool as a kid. You would… ![“The action heroes were very cool as a kid. You would compare yourself with them - Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger.” quote by Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/sergei-polunin-3855_action_the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-ki_1250317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/sergei-polunin-3855_action_the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-ki_1250317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/sergei-polunin-3855_action_the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-ki_1250317.jpg) > “The action heroes were very cool as a kid. You would compare yourself with them - Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger.” [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Childhood admiration for action heroes shaped self-comparison, reflecting the influence of media role models on identity. **In simple terms:** Kids compare themselves to action heroes. Key Takeaway Recognize media's role in shaping self-image. Themes identity media influence role models Mood nostalgic inspirational Type cultural psychological When to use this quote - childhood - sports fandom - personal development - media consumption Key Concepts psychology culture Questions to Reflect On - Which heroes influence your goals? - How can you balance admiration with realism? A Different Perspective Over‑identification can cause unrealistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-hero/) [Action heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-heroes/) [Cool kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool-kid/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Van damme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/van-damme/) ## Related quotes > [I looked up to action heroes such as Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Jean-Claude van Damme because I liked the attitude and determination they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urijah-faber/i-looked-up-to-action-heroes-such-as-bruce-lee-chuck-norris-and-jean/) [Urijah Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urijah-faber/) > [I am not an action hero. That is not the only thing I did in my career. Many people know me because of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-am-not-an-action-hero-that-is-not-the-only-thing-i-did-in-my-career/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I don't think I've lost a beat at all. Because of my physique and my look...I fit in the natural action-hero role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-canseco/i-don-t-think-i-ve-lost-a-beat-at-all-because-of-my-physique-and-my/) [Jose Canseco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-canseco/) > [Action films are great, but an action film that has characters that are compelling and a story that people can care about is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/action-films-are-great-but-an-action-film-that-has-characters-that/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I mean there's still also an element of the audience looking for role models. In my day, when I started, if you were an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/i-mean-there-s-still-also-an-element-of-the-audience-looking-for-role/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [Women can't be afraid to look like action heroes. It's not always pretty, but when it's on the screen, it translates well to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/women-can-t-be-afraid-to-look-like-action-heroes-it-s-not-always/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [I grew up in a household with two brothers and we lived in the bush. We were constantly building weapons and forts and things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hemsworth/i-grew-up-in-a-household-with-two-brothers-and-we-lived-in-the-bush/) [Chris Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hemsworth/) > [I am tired of women playing action heroes like men, because they are not men. But sometimes they are written like men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katee-sackhoff/i-am-tired-of-women-playing-action-heroes-like-men-because-they-are/) [Katee Sackhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katee-sackhoff/) > [Honestly, when you think of any great action hero or any great hero out there or great character actor, you kind of transcend the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-stahelski/honestly-when-you-think-of-any-great-action-hero-or-any-great-hero/) [Chad Stahelski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-stahelski/) > [I went in right up front and said, This can't be about some guy in bandages. I didn't even want to do a horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sommers/i-went-in-right-up-front-and-said-this-can-t-be-about-some-guy-in/) [Stephen Sommers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sommers/) > [If I can sell tickets to my movies like Red Sonja or Last Action Hero, you know I can sell just about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-i-can-sell-tickets-to-my-movies-like-red-sonja-or-last-action-hero/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I like a lot of Tom Cruise's roles, he's this action hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-eastwood/i-like-a-lot-of-tom-cruise-s-roles-he-s-this-action-hero/) [Scott Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-eastwood/) > [A lot of action heroes, we're told they are heroic primarily because they commit violence upon the bad guy. It can be cathartic; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simone/a-lot-of-action-heroes-we-re-told-they-are-heroic-primarily-because/) [Gail Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simone/) > [It's a fun world to exist in, and I relish doing those movies as much as I do the smaller ones. They're always immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/it-s-a-fun-world-to-exist-in-and-i-relish-doing-those-movies-as-much/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [I would definitely like to be a slightly aging action hero with a smart mouth and have a little bit of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-payne/i-would-definitely-like-to-be-a-slightly-aging-action-hero-with-a/) [Dan Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-payne/) ## More by Sergei Polunin > [I wasted so many years just traveling and sitting in hotels, searching for things, not knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-wasted-so-many-years-just-traveling-and-sitting-in-hotels-searching/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [The Royal Ballet was good to me. They gave me everything I asked for. It's just... I felt tricked. I became a principal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-royal-ballet-was-good-to-me-they-gave-me-everything-i-asked-for/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I didn't want people to think I'm a dancer. I'm much more. I'm a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-didn-t-want-people-to-think-i-m-a-dancer-i-m-much-more-i-m-a-human/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [Art and war are opposites, so our goal as an artist is to build and create, not destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/art-and-war-are-opposites-so-our-goal-as-an-artist-is-to-build-and/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I normally don't regret. I enjoy everything, even if it's bad or good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-normally-don-t-regret-i-enjoy-everything-even-if-it-s-bad-or-good/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [What made my mind go free is that I wanted to become an artist. As soon as I said to myself, 'Oh I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/what-made-my-mind-go-free-is-that-i-wanted-to-become-an-artist-as/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I do get depressed sometimes, I don't know why. It's since I was a kid and it's just part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-do-get-depressed-sometimes-i-don-t-know-why-it-s-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I went and got a tattoo of James Dean on my shoulder without actually seeing him in any movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-went-and-got-a-tattoo-of-james-dean-on-my-shoulder-without-actually/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [The Sensorium Galaxy Planet of Motion is the future. We are memorizing dance because dance will exist in a virtual world forever. The Planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-sensorium-galaxy-planet-of-motion-is-the-future-we-are-memorizing/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [The Royal Ballet School looked after me very well, they were like my family, and the company gave me everything. But I was unhappy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-royal-ballet-school-looked-after-me-very-well-they-were-like-my/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [As soon as I said to myself, "Oh I'm not a dancer; I'm not an actor," it made me so free to do anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/as-soon-as-i-said-to-myself-oh-i-m-not-a-dancer-i-m-not-an-actor-it/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [Just let me live my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/just-let-me-live-my-life/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I'm not a bad boy now I'm living in Russia. London was great but there were too many distractions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-m-not-a-bad-boy-now-i-m-living-in-russia-london-was-great-but-there/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I actually always have good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-actually-always-have-good-intentions/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [You know when you believe in Christmas? I was like that with ballet. I thought I would reach a level where I'd have enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/you-know-when-you-believe-in-christmas-i-was-like-that-with-ballet-i/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) [Explore all 120 Sergei Polunin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The action heroes were very cool as a kid. You would compare yourself with them - Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sergei Polunin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-kid-you-would-compare-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-kid-you-would-compare-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/sergei-polunin-3855_action_the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-ki_1250317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/sergei-polunin-3855_action_the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-ki_1250317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/sergei-polunin-3855_action_the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-ki_1250317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The action heroes were very cool as a kid. You would compare yourself with them - Jean-Claude Van Damme and…” — Sergei Polunin", "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": "Sergei Polunin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The action heroes were very cool...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-kid-you-would-compare-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/the-action-heroes-were-very-cool-as-a-kid-you-would-compare-yourself/#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 } } ] } ```