--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You want to be recognized for being…" description: "\"You want to be recognized for being popular but you also want to be recognized for being great.\" — Stephen A. Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/stephen-a-smith-7133_being-popular_you-want-to-be-recognized-for-being-popu_1557639.jpg" --- # You want to be recognized for being popular but you also… ![“You want to be recognized for being popular but you also want to be recognized for being great.” quote by Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/stephen-a-smith-7133_being-popular_you-want-to-be-recognized-for-being-popu_1557639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/stephen-a-smith-7133_being-popular_you-want-to-be-recognized-for-being-popu_1557639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/stephen-a-smith-7133_being-popular_you-want-to-be-recognized-for-being-popu_1557639.jpg) > “You want to be recognized for being popular but you also want to be recognized for being great.” [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People desire both popularity and greatness, but the two are not always aligned; seeking both can create internal conflict. **In simple terms:** Wanting fame and excellence at once can cause tension. Key Takeaway Balance desire for fame with true excellence. Themes ambition recognition greatness popularity identity Mood motivational critical Type career psychological When to use this quote - celebrity culture - professional development - personal branding Key Concepts self‑esteem public image career goals Questions to Reflect On - What matters more: being liked or being respected? - How can one achieve greatness without seeking fame? A Different Perspective Pursuing popularity may dilute genuine achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-popular/) ## Related quotes > [I've learned in my career, it is much better to be recognized for all the great things you do on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rodriguez/i-ve-learned-in-my-career-it-is-much-better-to-be-recognized-for-all/) [Alex Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rodriguez/) > [You don't get recognized that much unless you want to get recognized, like if you go to the fancy joints and that. It's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/you-don-t-get-recognized-that-much-unless-you-want-to-get-recognized/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I know that often times a lot of people who work in music, whether they be labels and so on or even artists, want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-naan/i-know-that-often-times-a-lot-of-people-who-work-in-music-whether/) [K'naan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-naan/) > [I want to be recognized for my performance as an athlete and not because of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/i-want-to-be-recognized-for-my-performance-as-an-athlete-and-not/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [I have an ego like everyone else. I want to be recognized as a good ballplayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/i-have-an-ego-like-everyone-else-i-want-to-be-recognized-as-a-good/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [The last thing you want is to not be recognized for all of the hard work you put in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/the-last-thing-you-want-is-to-not-be-recognized-for-all-of-the-hard/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [If you've earned a position, be proud of it. Don't hide it. I want to be recognized. When I hear people say, 'There's Joan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-crawford/if-you-ve-earned-a-position-be-proud-of-it-don-t-hide-it-i-want-to-be/) [Joan Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-crawford/) > [I guess I want very much to be recognized for my abilities, for the work I put in, and yet it's still always there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-guess-i-want-very-much-to-be-recognized-for-my-abilities-for-the/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [I want to be recognized but I don't seek it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-foster/i-want-to-be-recognized-but-i-don-t-seek-it-out/) [Fred Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-foster/) > [For me, you want to be recognized as someone who is real and shoots people straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-elliott/for-me-you-want-to-be-recognized-as-someone-who-is-real-and-shoots/) [Chase Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-elliott/) > [(Feedback) People become addicted to it. That’s why journalism is so popular, because you want to hear, every day, what people think of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/feedback-people-become-addicted-to-it-that-s-why-journalism-is-so/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [The public has always, and in every age, been badly brought up. They are continually asking Art to be popular, to please their want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-public-has-always-and-in-every-age-been-badly-brought-up-they-are/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [When you enter the realm of politics, you don't enter it because you want to be popular. When I want to be popular, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/when-you-enter-the-realm-of-politics-you-don-t-enter-it-because-you/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [People have always wanted to be recognized, and that's human nature. But people used to want to be recognized for their accomplishments, and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/people-have-always-wanted-to-be-recognized-and-that-s-human-nature/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I can go out in public without being recognized. If I want to be recognized in public, it will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mayhew/i-can-go-out-in-public-without-being-recognized-if-i-want-to-be/) [Peter Mayhew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mayhew/) ## More by Stephen A. Smith > [You can criticize me. You can crucify me. You can love me. You can hate me. Just don't make the mistake of calling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/you-can-criticize-me-you-can-crucify-me-you-can-love-me-you-can-hate/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [There's nothing about Tony Romo that deserves to be associated with America's Team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/there-s-nothing-about-tony-romo-that-deserves-to-be-associated-with/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [When I was at the 'Philadelphia Inquirer,' I was promoted nine times in my first 13 years. I ultimately went from general assignment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/when-i-was-at-the-philadelphia-inquirer-i-was-promoted-nine-times-in/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I was the youngest of six, with four older sisters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-was-the-youngest-of-six-with-four-older-sisters/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I'm associated with Walt Disney, but dammit, everybody knows that I'm a bottom feeder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-m-associated-with-walt-disney-but-dammit-everybody-knows-that-i-m-a/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [No one on the planet Earth is going to be able to look at me on television and say that I'm a liar. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/no-one-on-the-planet-earth-is-going-to-be-able-to-look-at-me-on/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I'm not just a black man, I'm a brotha. I love my people. When I'm on the air I am fully aware that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-m-not-just-a-black-man-i-m-a-brotha-i-love-my-people-when-i-m-on/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [Maybe, instead of putting our standards on other people, we should be very reticent, apprehensive, and deliberate and methodical in choosing whom we choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/maybe-instead-of-putting-our-standards-on-other-people-we-should-be/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [Don't fake what you feel. I've never been about that. I never will be about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/don-t-fake-what-you-feel-i-ve-never-been-about-that-i-never-will-be/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [There are many dimensions to Stephen A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/there-are-many-dimensions-to-stephen-a/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I know what I know, and what I don't know, I'm willing to admit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-know-what-i-know-and-what-i-don-t-know-i-m-willing-to-admit/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [If you are the president of the United States of America, you are 70 years of age, and you are tweeting - literally competing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/if-you-are-the-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-you-are-70/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [A season is not made in a week or two any more than a stellar game epitomizes greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/a-season-is-not-made-in-a-week-or-two-any-more-than-a-stellar-game/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I don't consider myself just a black man. I consider myself a brotha. I love my people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-don-t-consider-myself-just-a-black-man-i-consider-myself-a-brotha-i/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [If you are in the world of business, that means you are in the business of making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/if-you-are-in-the-world-of-business-that-means-you-are-in-the/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) [Explore all 93 Stephen A. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) ## More Being popular quotes > [I guess the nicest thing about being, I won't say famous but being popular is a more proper word for me to use would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-gilley/i-guess-the-nicest-thing-about-being-i-won-t-say-famous-but-being/) [Mickey Gilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-gilley/) > [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [There are a lot of things in this world that are more important than being popular. Being true to yourself is one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-landon/there-are-a-lot-of-things-in-this-world-that-are-more-important-than/) [Michael Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-landon/) > [Being popular doesn't mean you're better than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-mack/being-popular-doesn-t-mean-you-re-better-than-anyone-else/) [Alex Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-mack/) > [There's a great difference between being popular and being an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-knight/there-s-a-great-difference-between-being-popular-and-being-an-artist/) [Shirley Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-knight/) > [My message is: You don't have to give up being popular, fun, or fashionable in order to be smart; they can go hand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/my-message-is-you-don-t-have-to-give-up-being-popular-fun-or/) [Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/) > [Writing is not work. In fact, theres nothing better. Writing is something that if the music business went completely away tomorrow - radio stations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/writing-is-not-work-in-fact-theres-nothing-better-writing-is/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [I met some people who showed me a path in music where they were like hey, look, while yes, it can have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-ragan/i-met-some-people-who-showed-me-a-path-in-music-where-they-were-like/) [Chuck Ragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-ragan/) > [Many people feel that mass acceptance and smooth socialization are desirable life paths for a young adult… Many people are often wrong… Don’t bother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/many-people-feel-that-mass-acceptance-and-smooth-socialization-are/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [It's not good for comedy to be like, 'Thanks for liking me.' Being popular is poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/it-s-not-good-for-comedy-to-be-like-thanks-for-liking-me-being/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [“To be a star is good; to stay in the sky is bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/to-be-a-star-is-good-to-stay-in-the-sky-is-bad/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [There is no chance of night baseball ever being popular in the bigger cities. People there are educated to see the best there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-griffith/there-is-no-chance-of-night-baseball-ever-being-popular-in-the-bigger/) Clark Griffith > [The research points pretty clearly to the rise of companionate marriage, and I just think it's going to keep being popular, for the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-marche/the-research-points-pretty-clearly-to-the-rise-of-companionate/) [Stephen Marche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-marche/) > [At the end of the day, every media entity is in the business of selling soap. They're not afraid of being popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lino-rulli/at-the-end-of-the-day-every-media-entity-is-in-the-business-of/) [Lino Rulli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lino-rulli/) > [Being popular comes when you have everything. But to be liked, it means that you must be treating people with respect and you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/being-popular-comes-when-you-have-everything-but-to-be-liked-it-means/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) [Browse all 34 Being popular quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-popular/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You want to be recognized for being popular but you also want to be recognized for being great.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen A. 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