--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent…" description: "\"I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who always dreamed about doing a movie. Someone said, 'Hey, here's $7 million, come in and do this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/shaquille-o-neal-659_delinquents_i-was-a-medium-level-juvenile-delinquent_3112514.jpg" --- # I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who… ![“I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who always dreamed about doing a movie. Someone said, 'Hey, here's $7 million, come in and do this genie movie.' What am I going to say, no? So I did it.” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/shaquille-o-neal-659_delinquents_i-was-a-medium-level-juvenile-delinquent_3112514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/shaquille-o-neal-659_delinquents_i-was-a-medium-level-juvenile-delinquent_3112514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee5/shaquille-o-neal-659_delinquents_i-was-a-medium-level-juvenile-delinquent_3112514.jpg) > “I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who always dreamed about doing a movie. Someone said, 'Hey, here's $7 million, come in and do this genie movie.' What am I going to say, no? So I did it.” [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He seized an unexpected opportunity despite a risky past, turning a bold offer into a career move. **In simple terms:** He took a chance on a big offer. Key Takeaway Grab bold opportunities, even if they seem risky. Themes risk opportunity transformation Mood determined optimistic Type motivational career When to use this quote - film industry - sports career transitions - personal branding Key Concepts career pivot personal reinvention entrepreneurship Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can you add before saying yes? - How do you assess the credibility of a big offer? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to failure if not carefully evaluated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Come Genie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-genie-5439626/) [Delinquents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delinquents/) [Dreamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamed/) [Dreamed Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamed-doing-830218/) [Genie Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genie-movie-5439625/) [Genies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genies/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [Juvenile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juvenile/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Mediums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediums/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Newark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newark/) [Newark Dreamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newark-dreamed-3486416/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) ## Related quotes > [I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who always dreamed about doing a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-was-a-medium-level-juvenile-delinquent-from-newark-who-always/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Why aren't the Nets playing in Newark?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/why-aren-t-the-nets-playing-in-newark/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I said what I felt, and people try to control people. But you can never control me. I'm a 31-year-old juvenile delinquent. Nobody can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-said-what-i-felt-and-people-try-to-control-people-but-you-can-never/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's something I never dreamed I'd be doing, making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-statham/it-s-something-i-never-dreamed-i-d-be-doing-making-movies/) [Jason Statham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-statham/) > [I dreamed of doing stuff like Will Smith and films on a big scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-dreamed-of-doing-stuff-like-will-smith-and-films-on-a-big-scale/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [I've dreamed about doing music since I was three or four years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/i-ve-dreamed-about-doing-music-since-i-was-three-or-four-years-old/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [Acting is what I dreamed about when I was doing those impressions as a kid. Even if I didn't know it yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/acting-is-what-i-dreamed-about-when-i-was-doing-those-impressions-as/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [Dare to accomplish the things you've only dreamed about doing. If you can dream it, you can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-austin/dare-to-accomplish-the-things-you-ve-only-dreamed-about-doing-if-you/) [Denise Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-austin/) > [There is inside you All of the potential To be whatever you want to be; All of the energy To do whatever you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samule-kermis/there-is-inside-you-all-of-the-potential-to-be-whatever-you-want-to-2/) [Samule Kermis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samule-kermis/) > [I've always dreamed of doing a period piece, I just never knew what it would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-chriqui/i-ve-always-dreamed-of-doing-a-period-piece-i-just-never-knew-what-it/) [Emmanuelle Chriqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-chriqui/) > [I literally get up and get to do the one thing I dreamed about doing every day. And that is being a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-seacrest/i-literally-get-up-and-get-to-do-the-one-thing-i-dreamed-about-doing/) [Ryan Seacrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-seacrest/) > [We dreamed of doing but could not bring ourselves to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etheridge-knight/we-dreamed-of-doing-but-could-not-bring-ourselves-to-do/) [Etheridge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etheridge-knight/) > [Get involved in everything you've ever dreamed of doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/get-involved-in-everything-you-ve-ever-dreamed-of-doing/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [Looking back, as far as looking when I was a kid and what I dreamed about doing as far as playing on the PGA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-fowler/looking-back-as-far-as-looking-when-i-was-a-kid-and-what-i-dreamed/) [Rickie Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-fowler/) > [Do what you always dreamed of doing , not what people tell you to do .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anai-reyes/do-what-you-always-dreamed-of-doing-not-what-people-tell-you-to-do/) [Anai Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anai-reyes/) ## More by Shaquille O'Neal > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And if the big dog ain't me, then the house won't get guarded - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-if-the-big-dog-ain-t-me-then-the-house-won-t-get-guarded-period/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I don't send messages, I'm not a fax machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-don-t-send-messages-i-m-not-a-fax-machine/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told our guys they must not have cable because Antoine Walker knows how to play, Derek Anderson can play, Shandon Anderson knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-our-guys-they-must-not-have-cable-because-antoine-walker-knows/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I was really upset. I felt like they tried to limit me, whoever 'they' may be. So I just said to myself third quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-was-really-upset-i-felt-like-they-tried-to-limit-me-whoever-they/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm still the baddest expletive in the world. Yeah, I'm getting older, but Kareem got older. Hakeem got older. I don't need Earthlings' respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-still-the-baddest-expletive-in-the-world-yeah-i-m-getting-older/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Write this: Since my boy is the coach, I'm going to try out for the Dolphins next year. Tight end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/write-this-since-my-boy-is-the-coach-i-m-going-to-try-out-for-the/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Why don't you bring your face up here and let me punch it? Then you can tell me (if I'm stronger).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/why-don-t-you-bring-your-face-up-here-and-let-me-punch-it-then-you/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm known as The Big Baryshnikov.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-known-as-the-big-baryshnikov/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Enunciation, diction, all that stuff. None of that is in my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/enunciation-diction-all-that-stuff-none-of-that-is-in-my-personality/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. If I tell you where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-leonard-in-the-immortal-words-of-tom-cruise-in-mission/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Stats don't matter. I care about winning, not stats. If I score 0 points and we win I'm happy. If I score 50, 60…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/stats-don-t-matter-i-care-about-winning-not-stats-if-i-score-0-points/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) [Explore all 422 Shaquille O'Neal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More Delinquents quotes > [When members unite with the church, they should not only make a profession of faith in Christ (that is essential), but in light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-adams/when-members-unite-with-the-church-they-should-not-only-make-a/) [Jay Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-adams/) > [Organized charity itself is. . . the surest sign that our civilization has bred, is breeding and is perpetuating constantly increasing numbers of defectives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/organized-charity-itself-is-the-surest-sign-that-our-civilization-has/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [Those who don't build must burn. It's as old as history and juvenile delinquents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/those-who-don-t-build-must-burn-it-s-as-old-as-history-and-juvenile/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [One reason there are so many juvenile delinquents today is that their parents didn't burn their britches behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-reason-there-are-so-many-juvenile-delinquents-today-is-that-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you want to understand entrepreneurs, you have to study the psychology of the juvenile delinquent. They don't have the same anxiety triggers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-zaleznik/if-you-want-to-understand-entrepreneurs-you-have-to-study-the/) [Abraham Zaleznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-zaleznik/) > [In an age of abstract experience, fornication Is self-expression, adjunct to Christian euphoria, And whores become delinquents; delinquents, patients; Patients, wards of society. Whores,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/in-an-age-of-abstract-experience-fornication-is-self-expression/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [And who are you supposed to be? the King of snot-nosed delinquents?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buckley/and-who-are-you-supposed-to-be-the-king-of-snot-nosed-delinquents/) [Michael Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buckley/) > [Every age and degree of understanding should have its proper measure of discipline. With regard to boys and adolescents, therefore, or those who cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-of-nursia/every-age-and-degree-of-understanding-should-have-its-proper-measure/) [Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-of-nursia/) > [“The more the girls heard, the more it became clear that Uncle Jake and their straight-laced father had been first-class juvenile delinquents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buckley/the-more-the-girls-heard-the-more-it-became-clear-that-uncle-jake-and/) [Michael Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buckley/) > [Caprice, independence and rebellion, which are opposed to the social order, are essential to the good health of an ethnic group. We shall measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/caprice-independence-and-rebellion-which-are-opposed-to-the-social/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) > ["Lawyers Are": The only civil delinquents whose judges must of necessity be chosen from (amongst) themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/lawyers-are-the-only-civil-delinquents-whose-judges-must-of-necessity/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [But have we Holy Ghost power-power that restricts the devil's power, pulls down strongholds and obtains promises? Daring delinquents will be damned if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/but-have-we-holy-ghost-power-power-that-restricts-the-devil-s-power/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Now he is a statesman, when what he really wants is to be what most reporters are, adult delinquents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/now-he-is-a-statesman-when-what-he-really-wants-is-to-be-what-most/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Social media has created a legion of social delinquents, billions of people speaking not their minds but their spleens, venting everything from the gum-cracking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weber/social-media-has-created-a-legion-of-social-delinquents-billions-of/) [Steven Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weber/) > [“Travis Hirschi found that delinquents tended to have lower IQs than nondelinquents. This study also found that a lower IQ meant a person was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-briggs/travis-hirschi-found-that-delinquents-tended-to-have-lower-iqs-than/) [Steven Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-briggs/) [Browse all 49 Delinquents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delinquents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who always dreamed about doing a movie. Someone said, 'Hey, here's $7 million, come in and do this genie movie.' What am I going to say, no? 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