--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know what the 'big time' is." description: "\"I don't know what the 'big time' is.\" — Tom Waits" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/tom-waits-916_big-time_i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is-157472_1574728.jpg" --- # I don't know what the 'big time' is. ![“I don't know what the 'big time' is.” quote by Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/tom-waits-916_big-time_i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is-157472_1574728.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/tom-waits-916_big-time_i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is-157472_1574728.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/tom-waits-916_big-time_i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is-157472_1574728.jpg) > “I don't know what the 'big time' is.” [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uncertainty about success makes it hard to define personal goals. **In simple terms:** Unclear what “big time” means. Key Takeaway Define your own success. Themes identity ambition uncertainty Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts self‑definition career aspirations Questions to Reflect On - What does “big time” look like for you? - How can you set meaningful goals without a clear target? A Different Perspective Success is subjective; external standards may mislead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-time/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Don Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-know/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-big-541610/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [You Dont Know, What You Dont Know, until You Know, What You Dont Know ~ Big Al Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-al-connolly/you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know-until-you-know-what-you-dont-know/) [Big Al Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-al-connolly/) > [You need to see things, REALLY see them, feel them, live them, so you know what’s big and what’s little, what matters and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/you-need-to-see-things-really-see-them-feel-them-live-them-so-you/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [If you're in high school, just know there is a big world out there and you can be anyone you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-bell/if-you-re-in-high-school-just-know-there-is-a-big-world-out-there-and/) [Kristen Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-bell/) > [You know, I'm a big comedy fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/you-know-i-m-a-big-comedy-fan/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [You know, I'm a big classic rock guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harwell/you-know-i-m-a-big-classic-rock-guy/) [Steve Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harwell/) > [I know many big stars who asked for work when they were out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neena-gupta/i-know-many-big-stars-who-asked-for-work-when-they-were-out-of-it/) [Neena Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neena-gupta/) > [I don't know how big the universe is, but I do know how big my bank account isn't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-how-big-the-universe-is-but-i-do-know-how-big-my-bank/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of people know that I'm a big outdoorsman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/a-lot-of-people-know-that-i-m-a-big-outdoorsman/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [You never know when big things hit, unless you're willing to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gunn/you-never-know-when-big-things-hit-unless-you-re-willing-to-try/) [Billy Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gunn/) > [You know what it is, everything I do, I do it big!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/you-know-what-it-is-everything-i-do-i-do-it-big/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [I know how big Liverpool are - and it means everything to me - but I know what is important; I know it's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-know-how-big-liverpool-are-and-it-means-everything-to-me-but-i-know/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [If people know you have the big bazooka, you probably don't have to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-ross/if-people-know-you-have-the-big-bazooka-you-probably-don-t-have-to/) [Wilbur Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-ross/) > [I wouldn't know what to do with a big house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redman/i-wouldn-t-know-what-to-do-with-a-big-house/) [Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redman/) > [I'm pretty sure that the world doesn't know that I am a 'Big Brother' superfan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarosa-manigault-newman/i-m-pretty-sure-that-the-world-doesn-t-know-that-i-am-a-big-brother/) [Omarosa Manigault Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarosa-manigault-newman/) > [I myself don't know how big a cunt I could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-myself-don-t-know-how-big-a-cunt-i-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Tom Waits > [Most of us have the residue of thousands of songs in our ears, that if you end up songwriting, I think you're mostly smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-of-us-have-the-residue-of-thousands-of-songs-in-our-ears-that-if/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Bill Hicks - blowtorch, excavator, truthsayer, and brain specialist. He will correct your vision. Others will drive on the road he built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/bill-hicks-blowtorch-excavator-truthsayer-and-brain-specialist-he/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Don't plant your days they turn into weeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/don-t-plant-your-days-they-turn-into-weeds/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [“T’ain’t no sin to take off your skin, and dance around in your bones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/t-ain-t-no-sin-to-take-off-your-skin-and-dance-around-in-your-bones/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [“an all time favorite: "The large print giveth, the small print taketh away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/an-all-time-favorite-the-large-print-giveth-the-small-print-taketh/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'll tell you all my secrets but I lie about my past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-ll-tell-you-all-my-secrets-but-i-lie-about-my-past/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [For a songwriter, you don't really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. And you try to understand them and take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/for-a-songwriter-you-don-t-really-go-to-songwriting-school-you-learn/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'm trying to learn how to write faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-trying-to-learn-how-to-write-faster/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [The world is a hellish place, and bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-world-is-a-hellish-place-and-bad-writing-is-destroying-the/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I'm always looking for sounds that are pleasing at the time. The sound of a helicopter is really annoying until you're drowning, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-always-looking-for-sounds-that-are-pleasing-at-the-time-the-sound/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I was born in the back seat of a Yellow Cab in a hospital loading zone and with the meter still running. I emerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-was-born-in-the-back-seat-of-a-yellow-cab-in-a-hospital-loading/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [There's not much difference between what I appear to be on stage and what I am. I think people like that, that I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/there-s-not-much-difference-between-what-i-appear-to-be-on-stage-and/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Most of the things you absorb you will ultimately secrete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-of-the-things-you-absorb-you-will-ultimately-secrete/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [The devil knows the Bible like the back of his hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-devil-knows-the-bible-like-the-back-of-his-hand/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I bark my voice out through a closed throat, pretty much. It's more, perhaps, like a dog in some ways. It does have its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-bark-my-voice-out-through-a-closed-throat-pretty-much-it-s-more/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) [Explore all 328 Tom Waits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) ## More Big time quotes > [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The way social media is now, and people are with cameras - we all live different lives whether you're in the spotlight or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-andrews/the-way-social-media-is-now-and-people-are-with-cameras-we-all-live/) [Erin Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-andrews/) > [The biggest fool to hit the big time and all I've got to do is act naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-owens/the-biggest-fool-to-hit-the-big-time-and-all-i-ve-got-to-do-is-act/) [Buck Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-owens/) > [Never give up or you are big time jabroni.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iron-sheik/never-give-up-or-you-are-big-time-jabroni/) [The Iron Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iron-sheik/) > [“There is no playing safe with me any longer. I only take huge risks. I know this means I can lose big time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahndra-fon-dufe/there-is-no-playing-safe-with-me-any-longer-i-only-take-huge-risks-i/) [Sahndra Fon Dufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sahndra-fon-dufe/) > [I always love stories that do a big time leap where the past informs the present, where you find out what became of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/i-always-love-stories-that-do-a-big-time-leap-where-the-past-informs/) [Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/) > [This is why I signed with the Patriots - to play in these big-time games and the obvious reason, which is the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrelle-revis/this-is-why-i-signed-with-the-patriots-to-play-in-these-big-time/) [Darrelle Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrelle-revis/) > [I had some interesting costumes... the one that I remember right offhand is Zorro when I was a lot younger. I was a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-had-some-interesting-costumes-the-one-that-i-remember-right-offhand/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I knw most of u wonder why I use 'LOL' when I dont laugh a lot... awky mayb I do laugh big time, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/i-knw-most-of-u-wonder-why-i-use-lol-when-i-dont-laugh-a-lot-awky/) [Aruho Marwin Machiaveli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/) > [And being gay isn't so easy, either I've always said that if anyone ever thought I was straight they must need glasses - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/and-being-gay-isn-t-so-easy-either-i-ve-always-said-that-if-anyone/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [The mistake the apartheid government made was they gave the black people nothing, so they had nothing to lose. But now a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/the-mistake-the-apartheid-government-made-was-they-gave-the-black/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [Joining another big time rock band was the last thing I was looking for, but as the tour went on, I really dug playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cameron/joining-another-big-time-rock-band-was-the-last-thing-i-was-looking/) [Matt Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cameron/) > [Nowadays, television has taken over big time and I'm really enjoying my stints there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyamani/nowadays-television-has-taken-over-big-time-and-i-m-really-enjoying/) [Priyamani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyamani/) > [Chinese movies are not just about making Chinese local movies. It's about the Chinese money, the Chinese creativeness participating in a global movie. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/chinese-movies-are-not-just-about-making-chinese-local-movies-it-s/) [Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/) > [Well, Rush, look what happened? 9/11 happened, and we didn't know it in advance. That's right, we got hit, we got hit big time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/well-rush-look-what-happened-9-11-happened-and-we-didn-t-know-it-in/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Browse all 281 Big time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know what the 'big time' is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Waits" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/tom-waits-916_big-time_i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is-157472_1574728.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/tom-waits-916_big-time_i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is-157472_1574728.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/tom-waits-916_big-time_i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is-157472_1574728.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't know what the 'big time' is.” — Tom Waits", "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 Waits", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't know what the 'big...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-don-t-know-what-the-big-time-is/#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 } } ] } ```