--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't want to be selling insurance at…" description: "\"I didn't want to be selling insurance at 40, wondering what would it have been like to do stand-up.\" — Steven Wright" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/steven-wright-432_insurance_i-didn-t-want-to-be-selling-insurance-at_1874759.jpg" --- # I didn't want to be selling insurance at 40, wondering… ![“I didn't want to be selling insurance at 40, wondering what would it have been like to do stand-up.” quote by Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/steven-wright-432_insurance_i-didn-t-want-to-be-selling-insurance-at_1874759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/steven-wright-432_insurance_i-didn-t-want-to-be-selling-insurance-at_1874759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/steven-wright-432_insurance_i-didn-t-want-to-be-selling-insurance-at_1874759.jpg) > “I didn't want to be selling insurance at 40, wondering what would it have been like to do stand-up.” [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments missing a creative career, reflecting on regrets about conventional work choices. **In simple terms:** Regret over choosing a stable job over a creative dream. Key Takeaway Consider passions before settling into routine. Themes career regret creativity Mood reflective motivational Type comedic philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - creative pursuits - mid‑life reflection Key Concepts life choices risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What would you risk to pursue your passion? - How can you integrate creativity into your current job? A Different Perspective It may romanticize risky careers without acknowledging practical needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [40 Wondering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/40-wondering-2609704/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Didn Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-want/) [Insurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insurance/) [Insurance 40](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insurance-40-2609705/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) [Selling Insurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling-insurance-1959664/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-selling-2609706/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wondering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondering/) ## Related quotes > [As the wonderful agony begins for 1964-65, I sometimes wonder why I do it. I've got an insurance business going on the side, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-heinsohn/as-the-wonderful-agony-begins-for-1964-65-i-sometimes-wonder-why-i-do/) [Tom Heinsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-heinsohn/) > [People need to buy and want to. The selling itself becomes the entertainment, the sought-after good... In the Internet world there won't be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-w-huber/people-need-to-buy-and-want-to-the-selling-itself-becomes-the/) [Peter W. Huber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-w-huber/) > [They even let me do the ads for the album. I definitely want it all to be presented right, but I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/they-even-let-me-do-the-ads-for-the-album-i-definitely-want-it-all-to/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [I started selling insurance in 1979 and continued doing that until 1985 when I opened my own insurance firm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-granger/i-started-selling-insurance-in-1979-and-continued-doing-that-until/) [Kay Granger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-granger/) > [I've watched people who were better actors than me disappear, and they're selling insurance now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-ve-watched-people-who-were-better-actors-than-me-disappear-and-they/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [“And now that her dream has spread, he wonders if she would recognize it. And he wonders too if he were to die today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/and-now-that-her-dream-has-spread-he-wonders-if-she-would-recognize/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [So much of our lives are defined by habit or what the guy next to us is doing, never wondering and knowing who and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/so-much-of-our-lives-are-defined-by-habit-or-what-the-guy-next-to-us/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [“Not knowing is not a problem, not wondering is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-weir/not-knowing-is-not-a-problem-not-wondering-is/) [Chase Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-weir/) > [It's refreshing to have some time off from wondering whether I look fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/it-s-refreshing-to-have-some-time-off-from-wondering-whether-i-look/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [“You spend so much time wondering who you are, don't you think? You flounder about, searching for your identity, when most of the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/you-spend-so-much-time-wondering-who-you-are-don-t-you-think-you/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) > [“And while we're on the subject, I know you were wondering, and yes, I was checking you out. It had nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-hildenbrand/and-while-we-re-on-the-subject-i-know-you-were-wondering-and-yes-i/) [Heather Hildenbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-hildenbrand/) > [My walls are closing in, and I'm still wondering how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/my-walls-are-closing-in-and-i-m-still-wondering-how/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [A good story will keep you wondering about what's happening, what's going on, where does this go? Now it's going to go that way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fede-alvarez/a-good-story-will-keep-you-wondering-about-what-s-happening-what-s/) [Fede Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fede-alvarez/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I am a conservative type of person, so sometimes when I'm chilling with myself, people always come ask me, 'What's wrong with you? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-wonder/i-am-a-conservative-type-of-person-so-sometimes-when-i-m-chilling/) [Wayne Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-wonder/) ## More by Steven Wright > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-lawyers-are-disbarred-and-clergymen-defrocked-doesn-t-it-follow/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [If I ever had twins, I'd use one for parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-i-ever-had-twins-i-d-use-one-for-parts/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Nobody can really compare a relationship in which the victim is 15 years old to one where she's 6. While both criminal, they're very different circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/nobody-can-really-compare-a-relationship-in-which-the-victim-is-15/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I saw a tree fall in the woods, and I didn't hear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-saw-a-tree-fall-in-the-woods-and-i-didn-t-hear-it/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [It's very intense to be in front of a live audience. It's just an amazing experience. It's dangerous. Everything out there is heightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-intense-to-be-in-front-of-a-live-audience-it-s-just-an/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I got pulled over by a cop, and he said, 'do you know the speed limit here is 55 miles per hour?'. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-got-pulled-over-by-a-cop-and-he-said-do-you-know-the-speed-limit/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Babies don't need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach... it pisses me off! I'll go over to a little baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/babies-don-t-need-a-vacation-but-i-still-see-them-at-the-beach-it/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [When I'm on stage, it's really intense. My mind is going a million miles an hour, trying to remember my act, trying to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/when-i-m-on-stage-it-s-really-intense-my-mind-is-going-a-million/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I don't like politicians, and I don't like politics. I definitely don't want to be associated with any of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-don-t-like-politicians-and-i-don-t-like-politics-i-definitely-don-t/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I went to this restaurant last night that was set up like a big buffet in the shape of an Ouija board. You'd think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-went-to-this-restaurant-last-night-that-was-set-up-like-a-big/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/why-isn-t-the-number-11-pronounced-onety-one/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your-other-parts-feel-so-good/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) [Explore all 564 Steven Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. 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