---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being under contract gives you financial…"
description: "\"Being under contract gives you financial and emotional security. But you lose the sense of accomplishment that goes hand in hand with being a free agen..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/van-heflin-7784_accomplishment_being-under-contract-gives-you-financial_265787.png"
---

#  Being under contract gives you financial and emotional…

![“Being under contract gives you financial and emotional security. But you lose the sense of accomplishment that goes hand in hand with being a free agent.” quote by Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/van-heflin-7784_accomplishment_being-under-contract-gives-you-financial_265787.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/van-heflin-7784_accomplishment_being-under-contract-gives-you-financial_265787.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/van-heflin-7784_accomplishment_being-under-contract-gives-you-financial_265787.png)

> “Being under contract gives you financial and emotional security. But you lose the sense of accomplishment that goes hand in hand with being a free agent.”

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Contract work provides stability but can diminish the feeling of personal achievement associated with independent work.

**In simple terms:** Contracts give security but can lessen personal pride.

Key Takeaway

Balance security with creative freedom.

Themes

work security freedom

Mood

thoughtful pragmatic

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- career planning
- financial stability
- artistic expression

Key Concepts

contractual employment creative fulfillment

Questions to Reflect On

- What trade‑offs are you willing to accept?
- How can you maintain pride while under contract?

A Different Perspective

Security can lead to complacency and reduced motivation.

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[Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Hand in hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-in-hand/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Sense of accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-accomplishment/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/)

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Tom Niesen

> [SAFETY NET-ISM: The belief that there will always be a financial and emotional safety net to buffer life's hurts. Usually parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/safety-net-ism-the-belief-that-there-will-always-be-a-financial-and/)

[Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/)

> [I want to earn a contract. I don't want a contract because in the next year I'm a free agent, so they might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-shaw/i-want-to-earn-a-contract-i-don-t-want-a-contract-because-in-the-next/)

[Luke Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-shaw/)

> [Nothing creative functions well when fenced in or leaning on a prop. A contract is a fence and a prop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/nothing-creative-functions-well-when-fenced-in-or-leaning-on-a-prop-a/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [I think that's one of the great things about the Pittsburgh Steelers - we're not a big free-agent team. We build guys up through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-polamalu/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-great-things-about-the-pittsburgh-steelers/)

[Troy Polamalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-polamalu/)

> [I became a free agent in 1999. I retired, that's how I got out of my contract. From that moment on, I've always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-became-a-free-agent-in-1999-i-retired-that-s-how-i-got-out-of-my/)

[Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/)

> [I'd most prefer to be a free agent and fight up to six times a year, but that is unlikely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/i-d-most-prefer-to-be-a-free-agent-and-fight-up-to-six-times-a-year/)

[Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/)

> [I will begin with this confession: whatever I have done in the course of my life, whether it be good or evil, has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/i-will-begin-with-this-confession-whatever-i-have-done-in-the-course/)

[Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/)

> [You look at my career, everywhere I went - Miami, Green Bay, Cleveland, Philly - they were always bringing in draft picks and former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-pederson/you-look-at-my-career-everywhere-i-went-miami-green-bay-cleveland/)

[Doug Pederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-pederson/)

> [I've always thought that having an attractive free agent is better than a guy who was picked in the seventh round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dunn/i-ve-always-thought-that-having-an-attractive-free-agent-is-better/)

[David Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dunn/)

> [You sweat out the free agent thing in November, then you make the trades in December. Then you struggle to sign the guys left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitey-herzog/you-sweat-out-the-free-agent-thing-in-november-then-you-make-the/)

[Whitey Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitey-herzog/)

> [Let it be known: I am a free agent. I'm operating as an independent label. I do not have corporate sponsors. I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/let-it-be-known-i-am-a-free-agent-i-m-operating-as-an-independent/)

T.I

> [We're all very sensitive that Jim has the shortest history with the band. He wants to be somewhat of a free agent. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/we-re-all-very-sensitive-that-jim-has-the-shortest-history-with-the/)

[Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/)

> [I want to retire in New York, let's be quite frank. I think a lot of people jumped the gun when I said I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmelo-anthony/i-want-to-retire-in-new-york-let-s-be-quite-frank-i-think-a-lot-of/)

[Carmelo Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmelo-anthony/)

> [I left 'Saturday Night Live' without a film to go to, and I'd filmed 'Old School' while I was in my last season of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-left-saturday-night-live-without-a-film-to-go-to-and-i-d-filmed-old/)

[Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/)

## More by Van Heflin

> [An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-is-dependent-upon-the-roles/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [You must remember that I won an Oscar for my role Johnny Eager. Then I went into the Army. But before I did, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/you-must-remember-that-i-won-an-oscar-for-my-role-johnny-eager-then-i/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [I have enough money for myself and my children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-have-enough-money-for-myself-and-my-children/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [I don't want to work too hard any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-don-t-want-to-work-too-hard-any-more/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [When I was a very young actor, I made a wise move. I invested in the stock market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/when-i-was-a-very-young-actor-i-made-a-wise-move-i-invested-in-the/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [What I like about the independent field is that an actor can pick his roles and his stories and do them without anyone always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/what-i-like-about-the-independent-field-is-that-an-actor-can-pick-his/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [Most fellows learned something about dressing in college. But my fraternity made me stay in the basement whenever we gave a dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/most-fellows-learned-something-about-dressing-in-college-but-my/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [I can sit on a boat or a river bank and problems that seemed insurmountable just don't seem that important anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-can-sit-on-a-boat-or-a-river-bank-and-problems-that-seemed/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [I certainly don't approve of American actors who go to Europe and run down Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-certainly-don-t-approve-of-american-actors-who-go-to-europe-and-run/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [Every film is a comeback, no matter what I did the last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/every-film-is-a-comeback-no-matter-what-i-did-the-last-time/)

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> [I don't think it's fair to a family to uproot them simply because it's profitable for you to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-don-t-think-it-s-fair-to-a-family-to-uproot-them-simply-because-it/)

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[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

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[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

> [I'm happy for all the small things a man never gets around to putting his finger on - the things we take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-m-happy-for-all-the-small-things-a-man-never-gets-around-to-putting/)

[Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

[Explore all 87 Van Heflin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/)

## More Accomplishment quotes

> [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

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[Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/)

> [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/)

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[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

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[Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/)

> [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/)

[Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/)

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[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/)

[Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/)

> [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/)

Anthony Sargent

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[Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/)

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[Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/)

> [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

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