--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I lived a fairly average, anonymous…" description: "\"I lived a fairly average, anonymous small-town life till I got the idea to do Nine Inch Nails. Then I locked myself in a studio for a year, and then go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/trent-reznor-1853_after_i-lived-a-fairly-average-anonymous-small_2883434.jpg" --- # I lived a fairly average, anonymous small-town life till I… ![“I lived a fairly average, anonymous small-town life till I got the idea to do Nine Inch Nails. Then I locked myself in a studio for a year, and then got off the tour bus two years after that, and I didn't know who I'd turned into.” quote by Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/trent-reznor-1853_after_i-lived-a-fairly-average-anonymous-small_2883434.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/trent-reznor-1853_after_i-lived-a-fairly-average-anonymous-small_2883434.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9e/trent-reznor-1853_after_i-lived-a-fairly-average-anonymous-small_2883434.jpg) > “I lived a fairly average, anonymous small-town life till I got the idea to do Nine Inch Nails. Then I locked myself in a studio for a year, and then got off the tour bus two years after that, and I didn't know who I'd turned into.” [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sudden creative spark can transform an ordinary life into something extraordinary, but the change can be disorienting. **In simple terms:** A big idea can change your life, but it may feel unsettling. Key Takeaway Embrace change while staying grounded. Themes creativity identity transformation Mood reflective introspective Type personal artistic When to use this quote - starting a band - career pivots - creative retreats - post‑tour adjustment Key Concepts self‑discovery artistic drive personal evolution Questions to Reflect On - What does success feel like to you now? - How can you stay true to your roots while evolving? A Different Perspective The new identity may clash with previous expectations, causing inner conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anonymous/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Small town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-town/) ## Related quotes > [It probably wasn't until Nine Inch Nails played the first Lollapalooza that I actually went to a festival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/it-probably-wasn-t-until-nine-inch-nails-played-the-first/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I like the idea of working in an album-sized chunk, you know, and I never looked at Nine Inch Nails as a project that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-like-the-idea-of-working-in-an-album-sized-chunk-you-know-and-i/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [With a Nine Inch Nails show, I'm building on a legacy that comes with a certain set of expectations. I have to push that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/with-a-nine-inch-nails-show-i-m-building-on-a-legacy-that-comes-with/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Nine Inch Nails is like building an army to go conquer. We build it, then we play, and we have to play so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/nine-inch-nails-is-like-building-an-army-to-go-conquer-we-build-it/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Nine Inch Nails was born out of Cleveland, Ohio, with me and a friend in a studio working on demos at night. Got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/nine-inch-nails-was-born-out-of-cleveland-ohio-with-me-and-a-friend/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Self-examination with a close-up mirror in an antiseptic environment is what Nine Inch Nails is based on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/self-examination-with-a-close-up-mirror-in-an-antiseptic-environment/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [There's always been an element of 'right time, right place' to Nine Inch Nails. When we stepped onstage at Woodstock '94, I could sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/there-s-always-been-an-element-of-right-time-right-place-to-nine-inch/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [A lot of what I've done as Nine Inch Nails has been governed by fear. I was trying to keep the songs in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/a-lot-of-what-i-ve-done-as-nine-inch-nails-has-been-governed-by-fear/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [In Nine Inch Nails, I've been the guy calling the shots since inception. I'd gotten used to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/in-nine-inch-nails-i-ve-been-the-guy-calling-the-shots-since/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [As long as it feels valid to me and feels sincere, I'll do what I do under the moniker of Nine Inch Nails if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/as-long-as-it-feels-valid-to-me-and-feels-sincere-i-ll-do-what-i-do/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I'm sure there is a group of people that assume Nine Inch Nails is just noise and chaos - or whatever it might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-m-sure-there-is-a-group-of-people-that-assume-nine-inch-nails-is/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [With Nine Inch Nails, it's all Trent Reznor. So when we get a new record from Nine Inch Nails, it depends on what side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/with-nine-inch-nails-it-s-all-trent-reznor-so-when-we-get-a-new/) [Zakk Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakk-wylde/) > [But the exposure we got by doing the stint with Nine Inch Nails brought us a lot of attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-berkowitz/but-the-exposure-we-got-by-doing-the-stint-with-nine-inch-nails/) [Daisy Berkowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-berkowitz/) > [I love James Taylor, Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith and Nine Inch Nails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/i-love-james-taylor-jeff-buckley-elliott-smith-and-nine-inch-nails/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [Though I still have no semblance of a life outside of Nine Inch Nails at the moment, I realize my goals have gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/though-i-still-have-no-semblance-of-a-life-outside-of-nine-inch-nails/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## More by Trent Reznor > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Perfect little dream, The kind that hurts the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/perfect-little-dream-the-kind-that-hurts-the-most/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Sometimes the worst thing that can happen is, 'Oh, I'm on stage playing a song,' because you're daydreaming about something else, you're on autopilot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/sometimes-the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-is-oh-i-m-on-stage-playing/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [To switch right into creativity usually takes a bit of time, and this came up right at that juncture where I thought, okay, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/to-switch-right-into-creativity-usually-takes-a-bit-of-time-and-this/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realized-the-entire-business-has/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I had to come to terms about becoming an addict, which, for a long time, I lied to myself about the status of until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-had-to-come-to-terms-about-becoming-an-addict-which-for-a-long-time/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Left to my own devices, in the face of the climate change deniers, the madness and the greed-based decision-making, and propaganda that's been floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/left-to-my-own-devices-in-the-face-of-the-climate-change-deniers-the/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [It probably wasn't until Nine Inch Nails played the first Lollapalooza that I actually went to a festival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/it-probably-wasn-t-until-nine-inch-nails-played-the-first/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The band Grizzly Bear, I think they're excellent. There's a beauty and a musicality there that I wish would have been in vogue in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/the-band-grizzly-bear-i-think-they-re-excellent-there-s-a-beauty-and/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I'll be honest, watching the music industry collapse has been demoralizing and disheartening at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-ll-be-honest-watching-the-music-industry-collapse-has-been/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Schoolwork came easy to me. I learned to play piano effortlessly. I was coasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/schoolwork-came-easy-to-me-i-learned-to-play-piano-effortlessly-i-was/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Lots of people can have girlfriends. But I can throw around guitars onstage! That'll be my epitaph: 'He never had a girlfriend, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/lots-of-people-can-have-girlfriends-but-i-can-throw-around-guitars/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [My experience with record labels throughout my career has generally fallen into wishing I could do things that they're not built to do, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/my-experience-with-record-labels-throughout-my-career-has-generally/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [If you have something to say, then say it. Express yourself and break the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/if-you-have-something-to-say-then-say-it-express-yourself-and-break/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The first set of lyrics for the first songs I ever wrote, which are the ones on 'Pretty Hate Machine,' came from private journal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/the-first-set-of-lyrics-for-the-first-songs-i-ever-wrote-which-are/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) [Explore all 203 Trent Reznor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) Deke Richards > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) Bert Lahr > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I'd like an omelet named after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-d-like-an-omelet-named-after-me/) [Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/) Browse all 3,411 After quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I lived a fairly average, anonymous small-town life till I got the idea to do Nine Inch Nails. 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