--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was totally devastated for four years…" description: "\"I was totally devastated for four years in the mid '60s when l tried to buck the tide.\" — Tommy Rettig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/tommy-rettig-26671_bucks_i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years_1975862.jpg" --- # I was totally devastated for four years in the mid '60s… ![“I was totally devastated for four years in the mid '60s when l tried to buck the tide.” quote by Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/tommy-rettig-26671_bucks_i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years_1975862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/tommy-rettig-26671_bucks_i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years_1975862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/tommy-rettig-26671_bucks_i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years_1975862.jpg) > “I was totally devastated for four years in the mid '60s when l tried to buck the tide.” [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) ## 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 reflects on a four‑year period of devastation after trying to go against prevailing trends. **In simple terms:** Four years of devastation after resisting the norm. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost of resisting trends. Themes resistance devastation social pressure Mood reflective somber Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - career setbacks - social movements - personal crises Key Concepts conformity personal struggle Questions to Reflect On - What did you learn from that period? - When is it worth resisting the tide? A Different Perspective May glorify suffering over resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [60S Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/60s-tried-3345259/) [Buck Tide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buck-tide-3345258/) [Bucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bucks/) [Devastated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devastated/) [Devastated Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devastated-years-3345256/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Tides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tides/) [Totally Devastated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally-devastated-3345257/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [To not sing with an orchestra, to not be able to communicate through my voice, which I've done all my life, and not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/to-not-sing-with-an-orchestra-to-not-be-able-to-communicate-through/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I was made redundant from a job as a PA in a shirt-making company in 1996. I was devastated. I had been there for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jewell/i-was-made-redundant-from-a-job-as-a-pa-in-a-shirt-making-company-in/) [Lisa Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jewell/) > [Once I started on 'Frances' I discovered it was literally a bottomless well. It devastated me to maintain that for eighteen weeks, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/once-i-started-on-frances-i-discovered-it-was-literally-a-bottomless/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I guess my voice kind of changed in middle school. It was what it is now. I remember there was this boy who used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-agron/i-guess-my-voice-kind-of-changed-in-middle-school-it-was-what-it-is/) [Dianna Agron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-agron/) > [I was filled with angst in college, that I struggled with the question of my future, the meaning of my life - spoiled sheltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kostova/i-was-filled-with-angst-in-college-that-i-struggled-with-the-question/) [Elizabeth Kostova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kostova/) > [Sometimes women get devastated by failing. Athletes don't; they just know that means they've got to practise harder, and they've got to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-brooke/sometimes-women-get-devastated-by-failing-athletes-don-t-they-just/) [Beth Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-brooke/) > [Man's destiny was to conquer and rule the world, and this is what he's done.. almost. He hasn't quite made it, and it looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/man-s-destiny-was-to-conquer-and-rule-the-world-and-this-is-what-he-s/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [I always said I would never leave 'Big Brother' unless I was sacked or not wanted, so if it does go elsewhere and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/i-always-said-i-would-never-leave-big-brother-unless-i-was-sacked-or/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) > [I was devastated. I'm still devastated to this day. When talent like that disappears in a flash, you can't believe it. You deny it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-merrill/i-was-devastated-i-m-still-devastated-to-this-day-when-talent-like/) [Helen Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-merrill/) > [“It hurts imagining what it'll be like once he knows. He'll hate me. 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If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Southerners, whose ancestors a hundred years ago knew the horrors of a homeland devastated by war, are particularly determined that war shall never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/southerners-whose-ancestors-a-hundred-years-ago-knew-the-horrors-of-a/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [My mom passed down to me her old Levi's denim jacket. When I left it on a plane, I was devastated. I've never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-james/my-mom-passed-down-to-me-her-old-levi-s-denim-jacket-when-i-left-it/) [Lily James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-james/) > [“Authors: The only people you thank for leaving you emotionally devastated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-the-stacks-bookstore/authors-the-only-people-you-thank-for-leaving-you-emotionally/) [Love The Stacks Bookstore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/love-the-stacks-bookstore/) ## More by Tommy Rettig > [So, in the last year, the whole cast sued for release from our contracts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/so-in-the-last-year-the-whole-cast-sued-for-release-from-our-contracts/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Once in a while there was some TV offer and I'd take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/once-in-a-while-there-was-some-tv-offer-and-i-d-take-it/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Yeah, dog was this man's best friend, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/yeah-dog-was-this-man-s-best-friend-for-sure/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Acid wasn't getting a whole lot of bad press at the time, and as I saw the whole bad-press thing happen, I became aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/acid-wasn-t-getting-a-whole-lot-of-bad-press-at-the-time-and-as-i-saw/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [I wanted to have a normal childhood. 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I mean, there was, but white kids didn't hear about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/yes-there-was-nothing-else-to-do-to-get-you-high-i-mean-there-was-but/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [There's a big difference between somebody who does acid on weekends and somebody who takes downers every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/there-s-a-big-difference-between-somebody-who-does-acid-on-weekends/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [My mom was a Democrat and I was scared to death that she was gonna blow it. First I was going to hell with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/my-mom-was-a-democrat-and-i-was-scared-to-death-that-she-was-gonna/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Then l learned to play guitar and l started writing songs and my mother formed for me a publishing business, so we started publishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-started-writing-songs-and-my/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [A lot of my friends were fooling around with drugs then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/a-lot-of-my-friends-were-fooling-around-with-drugs-then/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [It was the worst period of my life. I had all this gigantic acceptance as a kid, and all of a sudden there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/it-was-the-worst-period-of-my-life-i-had-all-this-gigantic-acceptance/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [We each had to spend a week out at Lassie's ranch, and whoever got along best with the dog got the part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/we-each-had-to-spend-a-week-out-at-lassie-s-ranch-and-whoever-got/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [But anyway aside from alcohol and nicotine, LSD was the first drug l ever took.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/but-anyway-aside-from-alcohol-and-nicotine-lsd-was-the-first-drug-l/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) [Explore all 21 Tommy Rettig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) ## More Bucks quotes > [As a kid I had buck teeth and braces and acne. I hated what I saw. I'm still not comfortable, but that's why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/as-a-kid-i-had-buck-teeth-and-braces-and-acne-i-hated-what-i-saw-i-m/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [I'm just a little old cartoonist, tryin' to make a buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lantz/i-m-just-a-little-old-cartoonist-tryin-to-make-a-buck/) [Walter Lantz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lantz/) > [I bet a guy at a bar 50 bucks that I was more dysfunctional than he was. He raped me. So I tipped him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-a-guy-at-a-bar-50-bucks-that-i-was-more-dysfunctional-than-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to break up the Wall Street banks. Hillary Clinton doesn't. I want to raise the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-want-to-break-up-the-wall-street-banks-hillary-clinton-doesn-t-i/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I give money to Unicef because I like the 'bang for your buck' aspect. Here's $10, go and save 1,000 kids from blindness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/i-give-money-to-unicef-because-i-like-the-bang-for-your-buck-aspect/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [The biggest thing is getting the kid in a kart - they have to buy it and that's the biggest thing. 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The Jews believe that Barbra Streisand is worth $1,000 bucks a ticket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-giraldo/look-at-the-insane-things-the-jews-believe-the-jews-believe-that/) [Greg Giraldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-giraldo/) [Browse all 425 Bucks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bucks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was totally devastated for four years in the mid '60s when l tried to buck the tide.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tommy Rettig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years-in-the-mid-60s-when-l-tried/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bucks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years-in-the-mid-60s-when-l-tried/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/tommy-rettig-26671_bucks_i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years_1975862.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/tommy-rettig-26671_bucks_i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years_1975862.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/tommy-rettig-26671_bucks_i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years_1975862.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was totally devastated for four years in the mid '60s when l tried to buck the tide.” — Tommy Rettig", "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": "Tommy Rettig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was totally devastated for four...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years-in-the-mid-60s-when-l-tried/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-was-totally-devastated-for-four-years-in-the-mid-60s-when-l-tried/#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 } } ] } ```