--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was younger there was something in…" description: "\"When I was younger there was something in me. I had passion. I may not have known what I was going to do with that passion, but there was something-and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/sheila-johnson-39157_engines_when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-i_1553264.jpg" --- # When I was younger there was something in me. I had… ![“When I was younger there was something in me. I had passion. I may not have known what I was going to do with that passion, but there was something-and I still feel it. It's this little engine that roars inside of me and I just want to keep going and going.” quote by Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/sheila-johnson-39157_engines_when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-i_1553264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/sheila-johnson-39157_engines_when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-i_1553264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/sheila-johnson-39157_engines_when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-i_1553264.jpg) > “When I was younger there was something in me. I had passion. I may not have known what I was going to do with that passion, but there was something-and I still feel it. It's this little engine that roars inside of me and I just want to keep going and going.” [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes an enduring inner drive that fuels perseverance, likening it to a roaring engine that compels continual effort despite uncertainty about its ultimate purpose. **In simple terms:** She feels a constant inner drive that pushes her forward. Key Takeaway Tap into your inner engine to stay motivated. Themes motivation perseverance self-discovery drive Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational psychological When to use this quote - career development - personal coaching - goal setting - creative projects Key Concepts intrinsic motivation psychology of purpose Questions to Reflect On - What sustains your inner drive? - How do you channel it into concrete goals? A Different Perspective The engine may wane without clear goals; burnout is possible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) ## Related quotes > [As long as my heart's still in it, I'll keep going. If the passion's there, why stop?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-karnazes/as-long-as-my-heart-s-still-in-it-i-ll-keep-going-if-the-passion-s/) [Dean Karnazes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-karnazes/) > [The best self help book I've ever read was, The little Engine that Could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/the-best-self-help-book-i-ve-ever-read-was-the-little-engine-that/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [ I spent a lot of time, a lot of energy trying to be a better artist and I still \[do\]. I spend a lot… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-a-lot-of-energy-trying-to-be-a-better-artist/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [As long as my heart's still in it, I'll keep going. If the passion's there, why stop?... There'll likely be a point of diminishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-karnazes/as-long-as-my-heart-s-still-in-it-i-ll-keep-going-if-the-passion-s-2/) [Dean Karnazes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-karnazes/) > [I have this massive love for the whole culture of pop music... It's my fascination, my on-going passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-fahey/i-have-this-massive-love-for-the-whole-culture-of-pop-music-it-s-my-2/) [Siobhan Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-fahey/) > [“Perhaps one night, when you were very small, someone tucked you into bed and read you a story called "The Little Engine That Could,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/perhaps-one-night-when-you-were-very-small-someone-tucked-you-into/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [I like to know that my actors or my performers are going into it with the same amount of passion that I have for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-matsoukas/i-like-to-know-that-my-actors-or-my-performers-are-going-into-it-with/) [Melina Matsoukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-matsoukas/) > [I'm not gonna call myself the little engine that could because I'm 5'10 and I'm far from little - I'm the little engine that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-buell/i-m-not-gonna-call-myself-the-little-engine-that-could-because-i-m-5/) [Bebe Buell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-buell/) > [“…He sounded as though he had just seen The Pokey Little Puppy meet the business end of The Little Engine That Could.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/he-sounded-as-though-he-had-just-seen-the-pokey-little-puppy-meet-the/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“Little Engine That Could - "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watty-piper/little-engine-that-could-i-think-i-can-i-think-i-can-i-think-i-can-i/) Watty Piper > [If we only listened with the same passion that we feel about being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-we-only-listened-with-the-same-passion-that-we-feel-about-being/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [I like to see things that take a lot of time and effort and passion. Which I feel like 'Skins' has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britne-oldford/i-like-to-see-things-that-take-a-lot-of-time-and-effort-and-passion/) [Britne Oldford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britne-oldford/) > [The pleasure of love is in loving. We are much happier in the passion we feel than in that we inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/the-pleasure-of-love-is-in-loving-we-are-much-happier-in-the-passion/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Music falls on the silence like a sense / A passion that we feel, not understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/music-falls-on-the-silence-like-a-sense-a-passion-that-we-feel-not/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [When I listened to Elvin Jones, man, for the first time I heard a drummer that had all the technique plus emotion, passion, feel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/when-i-listened-to-elvin-jones-man-for-the-first-time-i-heard-a/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) ## More by Sheila Johnson > [It's important that women support women. It gives me a great sense of well-being to know that I can make a difference in people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/it-s-important-that-women-support-women-it-gives-me-a-great-sense-of/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [You have to learn to be patient and not give up. Look to your parents; they need to be there for you. But having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/you-have-to-learn-to-be-patient-and-not-give-up-look-to-your-parents/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [Don't stop setting your sights high because of some young guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/don-t-stop-setting-your-sights-high-because-of-some-young-guy/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [When people say no to me, I say, "Don't say no to me. There is a waywe can work this out."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/when-people-say-no-to-me-i-say-don-t-say-no-to-me-there-is-a-waywe/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [It's important to give back to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/it-s-important-to-give-back-to-people/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [Don't ever lose sight of who you are and your own power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/don-t-ever-lose-sight-of-who-you-are-and-your-own-power/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [ When I bought the \[WNBA\] team, I saw that no one really cared about them. Like the locker facilities that these young women have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/when-i-bought-the-wnba-team-i-saw-that-no-one-really-cared-about-them/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [I think women are often taken for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/i-think-women-are-often-taken-for-granted/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [There are a lot of male egos out there that cannot deal with highly successful women. And it's their problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/there-are-a-lot-of-male-egos-out-there-that-cannot-deal-with-highly/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) > [Don't rest on your laurels. There's always going to be someone behind you who's going to be better than you. So you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/don-t-rest-on-your-laurels-there-s-always-going-to-be-someone-behind/) [Sheila Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) [Explore all 11 Sheila Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/) ## More Engines quotes > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [Honor commerce as the engine of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/honor-commerce-as-the-engine-of-change/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [I never wanted to do away with my intensity because I felt it was a gift that helped put fuel in my engine, giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-meyer/i-never-wanted-to-do-away-with-my-intensity-because-i-felt-it-was-a/) [Paul J. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-meyer/) > [As American productivity, once the exuberant engine of national wealth, has dipped to an embarrassingly uncompetitive low, Americans have shaken their heads: the country's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-morrow/as-american-productivity-once-the-exuberant-engine-of-national-wealth/) [Lance Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-morrow/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [ Brian Mulroney, myself, \[and\] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core \[of the Commonwealth \]. That was the engine room, I reckon. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i-think-that-was-the-real-core/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [This is mankind's destiny, the engine with fuels us as a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-finch/this-is-mankind-s-destiny-the-engine-with-fuels-us-as-a-race/) [Janet Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-finch/) > [Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. Let us, through persuasion and education, seek to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/social-and-cultural-change-however-desirable-should-not-be-effected/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [The whole of the developments and operations of analysis are now capable of being executed by machinery ... As soon as an Analytical Engine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/the-whole-of-the-developments-and-operations-of-analysis-are-now/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [You've got to do everything, everything's got to be pointing in the same direction and you've got to really turn this whole economic engine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/you-ve-got-to-do-everything-everything-s-got-to-be-pointing-in-the/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [Many people bypass search engines altogether and still find what they're looking for online. These Internet surfers are using direct navigation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/many-people-bypass-search-engines-altogether-and-still-find-what-they/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [There are many points in the history of an invention which the inventor himself is apt to overlook as trifling, but in which posterity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brewster/there-are-many-points-in-the-history-of-an-invention-which-the/) [David Brewster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brewster/) > [If the search engines don't respect the creators, there won't be anything to search in the future because creators have to make a living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/if-the-search-engines-don-t-respect-the-creators-there-won-t-be/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-clergy-converted-the-simple-teachings-of-jesus-into-an-engine-for/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) Browse all 641 Engines quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was younger there was something in me. I had passion. I may not have known what I was going to do with that passion, but there was something-and I still feel it. It's this little engine that roars inside of me and I just want to keep going and going.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sheila Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-in-me-i-had-passion-i-may-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Engines" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-in-me-i-had-passion-i-may-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/sheila-johnson-39157_engines_when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-i_1553264.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/sheila-johnson-39157_engines_when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-i_1553264.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04b/sheila-johnson-39157_engines_when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-i_1553264.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was younger there was something in me. I had passion. I may not have known what I was going to do…” — Sheila Johnson", "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": "Sheila Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was younger there was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-in-me-i-had-passion-i-may-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-johnson/when-i-was-younger-there-was-something-in-me-i-had-passion-i-may-not/#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 } } ] } ```