--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a time I could have been…" description: "\"There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt Reynolds. I had a moustache and so did he. But he was the number one star in the world, so there w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/tom-selleck-12016_confusion_there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mista_944866.png" --- # There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt… ![“There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt Reynolds. I had a moustache and so did he. But he was the number one star in the world, so there wasn't really much confusion” quote by Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/tom-selleck-12016_confusion_there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mista_944866.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/tom-selleck-12016_confusion_there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mista_944866.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/tom-selleck-12016_confusion_there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mista_944866.png) > “There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt Reynolds. I had a moustache and so did he. But he was the number one star in the world, so there wasn't really much confusion” [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously notes that his resemblance to Burt Reynolds was limited to a moustache, and the fame gap made any confusion unlikely. **In simple terms:** Looks like a moustache, but fame makes a big difference. Key Takeaway Recognize that superficial similarities don’t equal equal status. Themes identity celebrity humor self‑perception Mood lighthearted self‑deprecating reflective Type humorous anecdotal When to use this quote - career networking - public appearances - self‑presentation Key Concepts social comparison media image personal branding Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever feel judged by superficial traits? - How does fame affect personal identity? A Different Perspective The joke may downplay deeper insecurities about fame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burt-1066068/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burt-reynolds/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Mistaken Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken-burt-1641492/) [Moustache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moustache/) [Moustache Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moustache-did-1641494/) [Reynolds Moustache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reynolds-moustache-1641493/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I was watching Burt Reynolds movies when I was a kid, going, 'That's what I want to do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-burke/i-was-watching-burt-reynolds-movies-when-i-was-a-kid-going-that-s/) [Billy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-burke/) > [People say, 'Burt Reynolds is so good-looking.'... I used to set him up for bait. I'd send him to the student union, and he'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-corso/people-say-burt-reynolds-is-so-good-looking-i-used-to-set-him-up-for/) [Lee Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-corso/) > [Burt Reynolds, the first time I met him, he introduced me at Madison Square Garden at Wrestlemania X.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/burt-reynolds-the-first-time-i-met-him-he-introduced-me-at-madison/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [I don't think I've had a better friend than Burt Reynolds. I could ask him for almost anything, and he would have said O.K.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-don-t-think-i-ve-had-a-better-friend-than-burt-reynolds-i-could-ask/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Burt Reynolds, great sex symbol of the movies, who said, I owe it all to one great part. Never got a dinner!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-buttons/burt-reynolds-great-sex-symbol-of-the-movies-who-said-i-owe-it-all-to/) [Red Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-buttons/) > [The person who should really write an appreciation of the late great Dom DeLuise is Burt Reynolds, who, even more than Mel Brooks, made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-cohen/the-person-who-should-really-write-an-appreciation-of-the-late-great/) [Rich Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-cohen/) > [I'd love to have Burt Reynolds' career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-willard/i-d-love-to-have-burt-reynolds-career/) [Fred Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-willard/) > [Burt Reynolds once asked me out. I was in his room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/burt-reynolds-once-asked-me-out-i-was-in-his-room/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [I know it looks like Burt walks through his movies, but he doesn't; he works hard to make it look that way, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-know-it-looks-like-burt-walks-through-his-movies-but-he-doesn-t-he/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I don't even consider directing Burt. I just say, 'Hey, Burt, the camera's here. Read the joke and let's get onto the next shot.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-don-t-even-consider-directing-burt-i-just-say-hey-burt-the-camera-s/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [“I got you this. I held out the brown, fluffy bear. To replace Burt. I pulled his eyes off and everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/i-got-you-this-i-held-out-the-brown-fluffy-bear-to-replace-burt-i/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [We build , destory and build .. to make our creations Better always looking forward finding new ways... Burt never tend to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-solomon/we-build-destory-and-build-to-make-our-creations-better-always/) [Shaquille Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-solomon/) > [“I’m gonna be sick,” Burt moaned. “I’m gonna be sick!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/i-m-gonna-be-sick-burt-moaned-i-m-gonna-be-sick/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [When I was starting to get noticed as an actor in the 1970s for something other than the third cowboy on the right who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dern/when-i-was-starting-to-get-noticed-as-an-actor-in-the-1970s-for/) [Bruce Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dern/) > [In my movies, I'm not trying to erase any old image of myself, really. And also I'm not trying to imitate anyone or follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/in-my-movies-i-m-not-trying-to-erase-any-old-image-of-myself-really/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) ## More by Tom Selleck > [I realized I really liked the screen. I knew it was a challenge, but I wasn't afraid of risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/i-realized-i-really-liked-the-screen-i-knew-it-was-a-challenge-but-i/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [If a guy as good and decent with as much grace as Chuck Heston can stand up for an issue that I think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/if-a-guy-as-good-and-decent-with-as-much-grace-as-chuck-heston-can/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [I've never reacted well to other people telling me what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/i-ve-never-reacted-well-to-other-people-telling-me-what-to-do/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [I had a strong, really good upbringing, not puritanical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/i-had-a-strong-really-good-upbringing-not-puritanical/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [My mustache gets so many questions he has his own agen now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/my-mustache-gets-so-many-questions-he-has-his-own-agen-now/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [It is scary for an actor when you get hired as a lead. No matter what the plot is, it is your job to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/it-is-scary-for-an-actor-when-you-get-hired-as-a-lead-no-matter-what/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [I guess after Dances With Wolves they probably tried some derivative westerns, and if they didn't work, they said the western is dead and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/i-guess-after-dances-with-wolves-they-probably-tried-some-derivative/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [I praise CBS for taking a risk, which is always the price you pay for opportunity. This is not standard movie of the week…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/i-praise-cbs-for-taking-a-risk-which-is-always-the-price-you-pay-for/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [I think of myself as an actor first, not a sex symbol. Do I think I'm sexy? No, that's someone else's judgment, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/i-think-of-myself-as-an-actor-first-not-a-sex-symbol-do-i-think-i-m/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [Im a registered independent with a lot of libertarian leanings,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/im-a-registered-independent-with-a-lot-of-libertarian-leanings/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [Good parts should always scare you a little bit, and good parts... you might not get advice to do them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/good-parts-should-always-scare-you-a-little-bit-and-good-parts-you/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [You know, there's so much imitation and so much pandering in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/you-know-there-s-so-much-imitation-and-so-much-pandering-in-hollywood/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [I live a pretty simple life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/i-live-a-pretty-simple-life/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [I feel the other element of a western is the land, which is very important in this movie. I mean the land is another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/i-feel-the-other-element-of-a-western-is-the-land-which-is-very/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) > [Why westerns get segregated into a genre in Hollywood, I don't know... It's just good entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/why-westerns-get-segregated-into-a-genre-in-hollywood-i-don-t-know-it/) [Tom Selleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) [Explore all 57 Tom Selleck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/) ## More Confusion quotes > [The fog of illusion, the fog of confusion is hanging all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/the-fog-of-illusion-the-fog-of-confusion-is-hanging-all-over-the-world/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I believe confusion is good. Worldwide market leaders gain when there is confusion in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhash-chandra/i-believe-confusion-is-good-worldwide-market-leaders-gain-when-there/) [Subhash Chandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhash-chandra/) > [Being actors we are dealing with the beauty and complexity of human confusion, no? And we are always trying to get answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/being-actors-we-are-dealing-with-the-beauty-and-complexity-of-human/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [“Wait, seriously, what's a piss pot?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/wait-seriously-what-s-a-piss-pot/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [I think there's confusion around what the point of social networks is. A lot of different companies characterized as social networks have different goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/i-think-there-s-confusion-around-what-the-point-of-social-networks-is/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [In history as it comes to be written, there is usually some Spirit of the Age which historians can define, but the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/in-history-as-it-comes-to-be-written-there-is-usually-some-spirit-of/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [Establish an atmosphere that energizes you. Some creative people flourish in confusion; others need to be free from interruption. Many prepare themselves for work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/establish-an-atmosphere-that-energizes-you-some-creative-people/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Psychedelic drugs cause paranoia, confusion, and total loss of reality in politicians that have never taken them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/psychedelic-drugs-cause-paranoia-confusion-and-total-loss-of-reality/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [That feeling you get when you know you are forgetting something, but you don't know what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-feeling-you-get-when-you-know-you-are-forgetting-something-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/what-are-we-doing-here-that-is-the-question-and-we-are-blessed-in/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [But, when it comes to global warming, the public- at-large really doesn't know whom to believe anymore. And NASA has contributed to that confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cunningham/but-when-it-comes-to-global-warming-the-public-at-large-really-doesn/) [Walter Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cunningham/) > [You know your in LOVE,because,for once.. You know reality is better than your DREAMS..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-your-in-love-because-for-once-you-know-reality-is-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In these days of faith-cures, and hypnotism, and telepathy, and subliminalities – why, the simple old world grows very confusing. But rarely, very rarely novel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/in-these-days-of-faith-cures-and-hypnotism-and-telepathy-and/) [Walter de la Mare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-de-la-mare/) > [“If you want nothing to do with god then why do you say his name all the time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-reimer/if-you-want-nothing-to-do-with-god-then-why-do-you-say-his-name-all/) [Emily Reimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-reimer/) [Browse all 1,822 Confusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt Reynolds. I had a moustache and so did he. But he was the number one star in the world, so there wasn't really much confusion", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Selleck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mistaken-for-burt-reynolds-i-had-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confusion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mistaken-for-burt-reynolds-i-had-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/tom-selleck-12016_confusion_there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mista_944866.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/tom-selleck-12016_confusion_there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mista_944866.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69f/tom-selleck-12016_confusion_there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mista_944866.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt Reynolds. I had a moustache and so did he. But he was…” — Tom Selleck", "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": "Tom Selleck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-selleck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There was a time I could...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mistaken-for-burt-reynolds-i-had-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-selleck/there-was-a-time-i-could-have-been-mistaken-for-burt-reynolds-i-had-a/#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 } } ] } ```