--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we did 'The Office,' no one knew who…" description: "\"When we did 'The Office,' no one knew who we were, so it was easy to champion us; you could own us. Once you become successful, people don't have that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/stephen-merchant-15797_any_when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-w_2730065.jpg" --- # When we did 'The Office,' no one knew who we were, so it… ![“When we did 'The Office,' no one knew who we were, so it was easy to champion us; you could own us. Once you become successful, people don't have that any more, so it becomes more polarised. Some people want to champion you, and others want to slag you off. It doesn't concern me.” quote by Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/stephen-merchant-15797_any_when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-w_2730065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/stephen-merchant-15797_any_when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-w_2730065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/stephen-merchant-15797_any_when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-w_2730065.jpg) > “When we did 'The Office,' no one knew who we were, so it was easy to champion us; you could own us. Once you become successful, people don't have that any more, so it becomes more polarised. Some people want to champion you, and others want to slag you off. It doesn't concern me.” [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early anonymity lets people support you freely; success brings both praise and criticism, creating division. **In simple terms:** Being unknown lets people champion you; fame splits opinion. Key Takeaway Accept that fame brings mixed reactions. Themes celebrity public perception success criticism polarization Mood reflective balanced realistic Type advice observational. When to use this quote - marketing campaigns - personal branding - team leadership - public speaking - conflict resolution Key Concepts social dynamics reputation management media influence Questions to Reflect On - How will you stay grounded amid praise and critique? - What strategies help manage polarized feedback? A Different Perspective Not everyone will support you after success; criticism can be harsh. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Slag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slag/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-people/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [I think everybody should take the attitude that we're working to be a champion, that we want to be a champion in everything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/i-think-everybody-should-take-the-attitude-that-we-re-working-to-be-a/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I'm proud to be champion and I always want to be champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/i-m-proud-to-be-champion-and-i-always-want-to-be-champion/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/everyday-americans-need-a-champion-and-i-want-to-be-that-champion/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I just don't want to be a champion; I want to be one of the best fighters there ever was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/i-just-don-t-want-to-be-a-champion-i-want-to-be-one-of-the-best/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [I want to be Champion, and I want to cut amazing promos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-morgan/i-want-to-be-champion-and-i-want-to-cut-amazing-promos/) [Liv Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-morgan/) > [I want to be a champion. I want to be a long-reigning featherweight champion. I want to be known in the history books: my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-want-to-be-a-champion-i-want-to-be-a-long-reigning-featherweight/) [Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/) > [At the end of the day, I could go back to getting sixth or seventh place and being a mediocre skater, or I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-could-go-back-to-getting-sixth-or-seventh/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) > [I want to be MVP. I want to be a champion. There's always something that you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-want-to-be-mvp-i-want-to-be-a-champion-there-s-always-something/) [Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/) > [Every day Americans and their families need a champion, a champion who will fight for them every single day. And I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/every-day-americans-and-their-families-need-a-champion-a-champion-who/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Americans need a champion and I want to be that champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/americans-need-a-champion-and-i-want-to-be-that-champion/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I want to be a champion and I want to be No. 1 in the world again because I know the taste of glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-arlovski/i-want-to-be-a-champion-and-i-want-to-be-no-1-in-the-world-again/) [Andrei Arlovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-arlovski/) > [I want to be the IC Champion. I want to be the U.S. Champion. I want to be the tag team champion. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinder-mahal/i-want-to-be-the-ic-champion-i-want-to-be-the-u-s-champion-i-want-to/) [Jinder Mahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinder-mahal/) > [It's really important to say this. Often the faith schools were founded before the state provided education. I want good education in this country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/it-s-really-important-to-say-this-often-the-faith-schools-were/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [Your sexi and you know it? NO! Youur a slag and you blow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-sexi-and-you-know-it-no-youur-a-slag-and-you-blow-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In her final months Princess Diana was being shat upon by the tabloids -- basically for sleeping with an Arab. When she died, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/in-her-final-months-princess-diana-was-being-shat-upon-by-the/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) ## More by Stephen Merchant > [I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don-t-try-to-compete-with-other/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [It's not like I think: 'By the age of 40 I've got to be an international household name.' When the opportunity to perform comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/it-s-not-like-i-think-by-the-age-of-40-i-ve-got-to-be-an/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [Things don't get better when you become well known or go on TV. I'm just being rejected by a better class of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/things-don-t-get-better-when-you-become-well-known-or-go-on-tv-i-m/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [There's this way pop culture has been rammed down our throats that people think that if they were just in the right place at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/there-s-this-way-pop-culture-has-been-rammed-down-our-throats-that/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [When I started to mention to people who know about such things, 'I'm doing this game, 'Portal 2', they got very excited, suddenly. More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-i-started-to-mention-to-people-who-know-about-such-things-i-m/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [Once I began doing stand-up, I didn't get a kick out of the applause or being the centre of attention - but I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/once-i-began-doing-stand-up-i-didn-t-get-a-kick-out-of-the-applause/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I've always been a fan of physical comedy. It kind of hits you in a different way; it bypasses the intellect and hits you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-physical-comedy-it-kind-of-hits-you-in-a/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I wish I could write 'Taxi Driver,' or 'Blue Velvet,' something brave, audacious, dramatic and dark. I don't know if I have the darkness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-wish-i-could-write-taxi-driver-or-blue-velvet-something-brave/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [When I was a teenager, I met a comedian who I admired, and he was very rude to me. That's why when people come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-met-a-comedian-who-i-admired-and-he-was-very/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [Remember that film 'Sliding Doors,' when John Hannah woos Gwyneth Paltrow by reciting Monty Python sketches? I can tell you now that doesn't work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/remember-that-film-sliding-doors-when-john-hannah-woos-gwyneth/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I very rarely laugh. I remember I used to have a joy at comedy. I remember going to see Sean Lock for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-very-rarely-laugh-i-remember-i-used-to-have-a-joy-at-comedy-i/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I don't have any hidden depths; I'm a very superficial person. It's a constant frustration to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-don-t-have-any-hidden-depths-i-m-a-very-superficial-person-it-s-a/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I'm too tall. I am 6ft 7in, so I've been most people's height at some point in my life, and 6ft 4in is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-m-too-tall-i-am-6ft-7in-so-i-ve-been-most-people-s-height-at-some/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [My heroes - people like Woody Allen - were stand-up comedians. Therefore, I always felt I should give it a go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/my-heroes-people-like-woody-allen-were-stand-up-comedians-therefore-i/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [A lot of my comic influences are distinctly American: Woody Allen and Bob Hope, for example. They were always the underdogs who were using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/a-lot-of-my-comic-influences-are-distinctly-american-woody-allen-and/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) [Explore all 42 Stephen Merchant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) ## More Any quotes > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) Browse all 6,938 Any quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we did 'The Office,' no one knew who we were, so it was easy to champion us; you could own us. Once you become successful, people don't have that any more, so it becomes more polarised. Some people want to champion you, and others want to slag you off. It doesn't concern me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Merchant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-we-were-so-it-was-easy-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Any" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-we-were-so-it-was-easy-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/stephen-merchant-15797_any_when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-w_2730065.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/stephen-merchant-15797_any_when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-w_2730065.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/669/stephen-merchant-15797_any_when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-w_2730065.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we did 'The Office,' no one knew who we were, so it was easy to champion us; you could own us. Once you…” — Stephen Merchant", "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": "Stephen Merchant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we did 'The Office,' no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-we-were-so-it-was-easy-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-we-did-the-office-no-one-knew-who-we-were-so-it-was-easy-to/#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 } } ] } ```