--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to surprise myself. I've always…" description: "\"I like to surprise myself. I've always been attracted to projects where I don't know how they're going to turn out.\" — Terrence McNally" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/terrence-mcnally-30438_projects_i-like-to-surprise-myself-i-ve-always-be_2233692.jpg" --- # I like to surprise myself. I've always been attracted to… ![“I like to surprise myself. I've always been attracted to projects where I don't know how they're going to turn out.” quote by Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/terrence-mcnally-30438_projects_i-like-to-surprise-myself-i-ve-always-be_2233692.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/terrence-mcnally-30438_projects_i-like-to-surprise-myself-i-ve-always-be_2233692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/terrence-mcnally-30438_projects_i-like-to-surprise-myself-i-ve-always-be_2233692.jpg) > “I like to surprise myself. I've always been attracted to projects where I don't know how they're going to turn out.” [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surprising oneself with unknown outcomes fuels creative attraction. **In simple terms:** Love unknown projects. Key Takeaway Seek uncertainty in work. Themes creativity risk self‑discovery Mood playful inquisitive Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - artistic projects - startup ventures - personal challenges Key Concepts Innovation theory creative risk Questions to Reflect On - What unknowns excite you? - How do you manage fear of the unknown? A Different Perspective Uncertainty can cause anxiety without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracted/) [Attracted Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracted-projects-2782934/) [Like Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-surprise-1683931/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Surprise Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise-ve-3030035/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [I'm attracted to projects that aren't one thing or seem like one thing and completely change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thatcher/i-m-attracted-to-projects-that-aren-t-one-thing-or-seem-like-one/) [Sophie Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thatcher/) > [I get attracted to projects because of the script or the idea and the basic character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharmila-tagore/i-get-attracted-to-projects-because-of-the-script-or-the-idea-and-the/) [Sharmila Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharmila-tagore/) > [I like to surprise myself. I like to surprise my fans, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-hawkins/i-like-to-surprise-myself-i-like-to-surprise-my-fans-too/) [Corey Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-hawkins/) > [“You, caveman, are the best surprise I've had in…my entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-cates/you-caveman-are-the-best-surprise-i-ve-had-in-my-entire-life/) [Georgia Cates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-cates/) > [I've made movies that we're very successful that we're a complete surprise, and I've made movies that I thought we're going to be very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-ve-made-movies-that-we-re-very-successful-that-we-re-a-complete/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [I've never had a surprise birthday party. I've had every other type of surprise. I've had surprise beatings, surprise drug tests, surprise daughter I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-attell/i-ve-never-had-a-surprise-birthday-party-i-ve-had-every-other-type-of/) [Dave Attell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-attell/) > [The things that have been most popular with people have always been a total surprise, and so I've never felt like I could really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-ervin-beam/the-things-that-have-been-most-popular-with-people-have-always-been-a/) [Samuel Ervin Beam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-ervin-beam/) > [It's always a pleasant experience while acting because I like to surprise myself and the audience with what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/it-s-always-a-pleasant-experience-while-acting-because-i-like-to/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [I like to surprise the listener a little bit and also surprise myself when I write the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trentem-ller/i-like-to-surprise-the-listener-a-little-bit-and-also-surprise-myself/) [Trentemøller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trentem-ller/) > [With solos, I don't like to be too prepared going in - I like to surprise myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/with-solos-i-don-t-like-to-be-too-prepared-going-in-i-like-to/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [You want it to feel like a surprise. You want to keep him guessing whether he'll make you smile entirely so that when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-moran/you-want-it-to-feel-like-a-surprise-you-want-to-keep-him-guessing/) [Michelle Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-moran/) > [I like to surprise people. I try to take risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/i-like-to-surprise-people-i-try-to-take-risks/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [And it's sad because it's like a surprise to people - almost an anomaly - when artists are actually refined and trained on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-carlton/and-it-s-sad-because-it-s-like-a-surprise-to-people-almost-an-anomaly/) [Vanessa Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-carlton/) > [“You might ask yourself why you want to surprise your readers in the first place. A surprise ending is sort of like a surprise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jincy-willett/you-might-ask-yourself-why-you-want-to-surprise-your-readers-in-the/) [Jincy Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jincy-willett/) > [It doesn't matter to me if it has a surprise ending or not. I usually go for the material or the project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-if-it-has-a-surprise-ending-or-not-i-usually/) [Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/) ## More by Terrence McNally > ['American Playhouse' is very supportive of writers. That's really why writers like to write for 'American Playhouse' for very little money. They care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/american-playhouse-is-very-supportive-of-writers-that-s-really-why/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [With me, writing is 60% imagination, 30% people you know and 10% you don't know where it comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/with-me-writing-is-60-imagination-30-people-you-know-and-10-you-don-t/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Cheating is not the American way. It is small, while we are large. It is cheap, while we are richly endowed. It is destructive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/cheating-is-not-the-american-way-it-is-small-while-we-are-large-it-is/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Whenever you think you're writing what other people want to hear from you, and that it'll be commercial, you're doomed to disaster. Writing has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/whenever-you-think-you-re-writing-what-other-people-want-to-hear-from/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Young people have got to start their own theaters, really. All good theater is a kind of mom-and-pop operation. Start your own theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own-theaters-really-all-good/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Work with good directors. Without them your play is doomed. At the time of my first play, I thought a good director was someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/work-with-good-directors-without-them-your-play-is-doomed-at-the-time/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [If you're trying to write something that you don't understand and embrace at the very core of you, it's not going to turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/if-you-re-trying-to-write-something-that-you-don-t-understand-and/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [I'm of the school 'Write what you know.' You can educate yourself, but the best writing usually comes from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/i-m-of-the-school-write-what-you-know-you-can-educate-yourself-but/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [I may think I have inalienable rights to be alive and happy, but I don't - life is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/i-may-think-i-have-inalienable-rights-to-be-alive-and-happy-but-i-don/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Technology promises to let us do anything from anywhere with anyone. But it also drains us as we try to do everything everywhere. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/technology-promises-to-let-us-do-anything-from-anywhere-with-anyone/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [In those days, you had to like one or the other. You couldn't like Sutherland AND Callas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/in-those-days-you-had-to-like-one-or-the-other-you-couldn-t-like/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [“MARIA. So. How is everyone? Can you hear me? I don't believe in microphones. Singing is first of all about projection. So is speech.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/maria-so-how-is-everyone-can-you-hear-me-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [There are so many rules about play writing. I'd have a nervous breakdown if I followed them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/there-are-so-many-rules-about-play-writing-i-d-have-a-nervous/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Write plays that matter. Raise the stakes. Shout, yell, holler, but make yourself heard. It's time for playwrights to reclaim the theatre. We do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/write-plays-that-matter-raise-the-stakes-shout-yell-holler-but-make/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [I don't think I've ever written anything even remotely naturalistic. The closest probably would be seen as 'Frankie and Johnny,' and that's only 'cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-written-anything-even-remotely-naturalistic/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) [Explore all 17 Terrence McNally quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) ## More Attracted quotes > [I guess I'm attracted to things that are fun. I guess what is fun about this role in 'Suburgatory' is that there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-fun-i-guess-what-is-fun/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Men can be attracted but not forced to the faith. You may drive people to baptism, (but) you won't move them one step further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcuin/men-can-be-attracted-but-not-forced-to-the-faith-you-may-drive-people/) [Alcuin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcuin/) > [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [“Talk about insanity. Being attracted to deVries was like a moth saying, "Hey, let's go check out that awesome bonfire".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/talk-about-insanity-being-attracted-to-devries-was-like-a-moth-saying/) [cherise sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/) > [I still get attracted to people but having a relationship isn't fair on the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hegerty/i-still-get-attracted-to-people-but-having-a-relationship-isn-t-fair/) [Anne Hegerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hegerty/) > [I have always been attracted to gay guys so I always thought I am gay man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-paytas/i-have-always-been-attracted-to-gay-guys-so-i-always-thought-i-am-gay/) [Trisha Paytas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-paytas/) > [I'm attracted to playing characters that have flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-m-attracted-to-playing-characters-that-have-flaws/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I think part of the reason I'm attracted to Foster is because he's such a mess. I mean, the people I have loved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-think-part-of-the-reason-i-m-attracted-to-foster-is-because-he-s/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“I would never get used to how gorgeous he was or the effect he had on me besides just intimidating the hell out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/i-would-never-get-used-to-how-gorgeous-he-was-or-the-effect-he-had-on/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [I can simply say that I feel spontaneously attracted by everything that is beautiful... It comes from the unconscious and not from my knowledge...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leni-riefenstahl/i-can-simply-say-that-i-feel-spontaneously-attracted-by-everything/) [Leni Riefenstahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leni-riefenstahl/) > [I'm attracted to the extreme light and the extreme dark. I'm interested in the human condition and what makes people tick. I'm interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-m-attracted-to-the-extreme-light-and-the-extreme-dark-i-m/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [“Even though she would dream of love, respect, and unfettered romance... it was a cyclical dilemma in her life that she seemed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/even-though-she-would-dream-of-love-respect-and-unfettered-romance-it/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [It's not difficult to be attracted to Rupert Penry-Jones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-o-reilly/it-s-not-difficult-to-be-attracted-to-rupert-penry-jones/) [Genevieve O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-o-reilly/) > [I've always been attracted to characters that were interesting to me, and different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/i-ve-always-been-attracted-to-characters-that-were-interesting-to-me/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) [Browse all 901 Attracted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like to surprise myself. 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