--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may or may not sound pretentious. But…" description: "\"It may or may not sound pretentious. But I've turned down, consciously and specifically, many jobs I knew would have been a pretty surefire way to go a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/val-kilmer-3242_gaining-power_it-may-or-may-not-sound-pretentious-but_1722340.jpg" --- # It may or may not sound pretentious. But I've turned down… ![“It may or may not sound pretentious. But I've turned down, consciously and specifically, many jobs I knew would have been a pretty surefire way to go about making a lot of money, being recognized and gaining power in the industry.” quote by Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/val-kilmer-3242_gaining-power_it-may-or-may-not-sound-pretentious-but_1722340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/val-kilmer-3242_gaining-power_it-may-or-may-not-sound-pretentious-but_1722340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c4/val-kilmer-3242_gaining-power_it-may-or-may-not-sound-pretentious-but_1722340.jpg) > “It may or may not sound pretentious. But I've turned down, consciously and specifically, many jobs I knew would have been a pretty surefire way to go about making a lot of money, being recognized and gaining power in the industry.” [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) ## 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 describes deliberately rejecting lucrative, high‑status jobs to avoid pretension and prioritize personal values. **In simple terms:** Rejecting money for personal values. Key Takeaway Prioritize values over wealth and fame. Themes career values authenticity Mood reflective determined Type career ethical When to use this quote - job selection - career counseling - entrepreneurship - life planning Key Concepts ethical decision‑making personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your career choices? - How do you balance authenticity with financial stability? A Different Perspective None; may overlook practical financial needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gaining power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaining-power/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Jobs Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs-knew-354993/) [Lots of money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lots-of-money/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Pretentious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretentious/) [Pretentious Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretentious-ve-1350802/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Sound Pretentious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound-pretentious-1350800/) [Specifically Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/specifically-jobs-1350801/) [Turned down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-down/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [When I wasnt sure what the word charisma meant, I met Steve Jobs and then I knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-tesler/when-i-wasnt-sure-what-the-word-charisma-meant-i-met-steve-jobs-and/) [Larry Tesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-tesler/) > [When I wasn't sure what the word "charisma" meant, I met Steve Jobs, and then I knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-tesler/when-i-wasn-t-sure-what-the-word-charisma-meant-i-met-steve-jobs-and/) [Larry Tesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-tesler/) > [“Yet Jobs knew that he could manipulate Sculley by encouraging his belief that they were so alike. And the more he manipulated Sculley, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/yet-jobs-knew-that-he-could-manipulate-sculley-by-encouraging-his/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [I don't want to sound pretentious or meta or anything, but I don't write until it comes to me... People know when something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-don-t-want-to-sound-pretentious-or-meta-or-anything-but-i-don-t/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [I don't wanna sound pretentious talking about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/i-don-t-wanna-sound-pretentious-talking-about-myself/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [I want to paint. That is probably going to sound so pretentious coming from someone who's been a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/i-want-to-paint-that-is-probably-going-to-sound-so-pretentious-coming/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [Titles always sound so pretentious, and when I see a comedian, I just want the person to take flight, not stick to one topic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-hardy/titles-always-sound-so-pretentious-and-when-i-see-a-comedian-i-just/) [Jeremy Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-hardy/) > [Without wishing to sound pretentious, my basic standard of happiness is to do with being who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/without-wishing-to-sound-pretentious-my-basic-standard-of-happiness/) [David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/) > [This may sound pretentious, but I don't like being thought of as 'the Metal Gear guy.' There's a lot more I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/this-may-sound-pretentious-but-i-don-t-like-being-thought-of-as-the/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [I don't want to sound pretentious, but I love art, I like to go to museums, and I like to read books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-don-t-want-to-sound-pretentious-but-i-love-art-i-like-to-go-to/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [This is going to sound pretentious, but I like comedy that addresses something I find either worrisome or interesting in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/this-is-going-to-sound-pretentious-but-i-like-comedy-that-addresses/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I never personalize anything because I think that can be dangerous. For me, the best way is - this may sound pretentious - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-poots/i-never-personalize-anything-because-i-think-that-can-be-dangerous/) [Imogen Poots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-poots/) > [Turn your life into a field of power and energy to draw from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/turn-your-life-into-a-field-of-power-and-energy-to-draw-from/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You have got to get your power up and do something and not just sit around. Always be optimistic. Always be positive! And ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-have-got-to-get-your-power-up-and-do-something-and-not-just-sit/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Val Kilmer > [I'm a better person when I'm preparing for a role, when I'm studying a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-a-better-person-when-i-m-preparing-for-a-role-when-i-m-studying-a/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [A lot of old guys in movies are like cowboys - they talk like cowboys and they dress like cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/a-lot-of-old-guys-in-movies-are-like-cowboys-they-talk-like-cowboys/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I'm very wary of news on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-very-wary-of-news-on-television/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Youth is seen as everything. You don't know anything when you're young. It's great being older, just having a more balanced perspective. I wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/youth-is-seen-as-everything-you-don-t-know-anything-when-you-re-young/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [It's a really weird thing, modern divorce. I found out I was getting divorced on television. That was kind of weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/it-s-a-really-weird-thing-modern-divorce-i-found-out-i-was-getting/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I was in love with Tina Goodman since I was three and her parents came popping out of the trash cans. I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-was-in-love-with-tina-goodman-since-i-was-three-and-her-parents/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Without deadlines and restrictions I just tend to become preoccupied with other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/without-deadlines-and-restrictions-i-just-tend-to-become-preoccupied/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Do what you like to do so well that someone will pay you wages for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/do-what-you-like-to-do-so-well-that-someone-will-pay-you-wages-for-it/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Hollywood's like a warehouse. It's just a place that you go. What's interesting in the warehouse has to do with the creative people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/hollywood-s-like-a-warehouse-it-s-just-a-place-that-you-go-what-s/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I don't believe in death. I think it's just a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-don-t-believe-in-death-i-think-it-s-just-a-state-of-mind/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Acting is very immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/acting-is-very-immediate/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [There are lots of actors who are awful people, but nobody talks about them being awful because they've made billions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-are-lots-of-actors-who-are-awful-people-but-nobody-talks-about/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Mark Twain had a way of telling stories that shifts your consciousness away from labels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/mark-twain-had-a-way-of-telling-stories-that-shifts-your/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I've found that Hollywood's a really honest business. They don't pull any punches. They tell you exactly what you want-I want the fake breasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-ve-found-that-hollywood-s-a-really-honest-business-they-don-t-pull/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [There was such a relationship between the buffalo and the American Indian - the Indians would eat them, live inside their pelts, use every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-was-such-a-relationship-between-the-buffalo-and-the-american/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) [Explore all 135 Val Kilmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) ## More Gaining power quotes > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You have got to get your power up and do something and not just sit around. Always be optimistic. Always be positive! And ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-have-got-to-get-your-power-up-and-do-something-and-not-just-sit/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Turn your life into a field of power and energy to draw from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/turn-your-life-into-a-field-of-power-and-energy-to-draw-from/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Things that raise your energy usually don't involve humans; things that cause energy loss usually involve humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/things-that-raise-your-energy-usually-don-t-involve-humans-things/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [An enlightened teacher teaches you how to gain power. They give you power. They teach you how to shape it so that it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/an-enlightened-teacher-teaches-you-how-to-gain-power-they-give-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It is necessary to do a very thorough examination of your life and to discover whether the people in your life, no matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-necessary-to-do-a-very-thorough-examination-of-your-life-and-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Real magic is not about gaining power over others: it is about gaining power over yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-ellen-guiley/real-magic-is-not-about-gaining-power-over-others-it-is-about-gaining/) [Rosemary Ellen Guiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-ellen-guiley/) > [The unlocking of the kundalini, which occurs by meditating on the first, second and third chakras, is the entrance into the planes of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-unlocking-of-the-kundalini-which-occurs-by-meditating-on-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We may have a tiny little room that we rent, and if we keep it clean and it's impeccable, then we gain a power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/we-may-have-a-tiny-little-room-that-we-rent-and-if-we-keep-it-clean/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It is really important that you live in a place that has good energy. Where you sleep, where you dream, where you meditate, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-really-important-that-you-live-in-a-place-that-has-good-energy/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You must have tremendous power of focus to direct your life and not allow all these variant forces, different vibrations, to enter you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-must-have-tremendous-power-of-focus-to-direct-your-life-and-not/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Avoid the things in your life that take away from your stillness. Find things that add to that stillness. Bring them more into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/avoid-the-things-in-your-life-that-take-away-from-your-stillness-find/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can simulate perfection, but it's not the same. Some one can do a copy of Rembrandt, but it's not a Rembrandt. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-simulate-perfection-but-it-s-not-the-same-some-one-can-do-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A teacher will alter the balance of power by actually lifting a person into other states of mind. In those states of mind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-teacher-will-alter-the-balance-of-power-by-actually-lifting-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The reason you study with a teacher is primarily for the empowerments, for someone who is enlightened to transfer power to you. What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-reason-you-study-with-a-teacher-is-primarily-for-the-empowerments/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Browse all 70 Gaining power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaining-power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It may or may not sound pretentious. 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