--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never wanted to be a Judy Garland." description: "\"I never wanted to be a Judy Garland.\" — Vera Lynn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/vera-lynn-5643_judy_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland-1851_1851244.jpg" --- # I never wanted to be a Judy Garland. ![“I never wanted to be a Judy Garland.” quote by Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/vera-lynn-5643_judy_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland-1851_1851244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/vera-lynn-5643_judy_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland-1851_1851244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/vera-lynn-5643_judy_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland-1851_1851244.jpg) > “I never wanted to be a Judy Garland.” [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She rejects being compared to a famous figure, asserting her own identity separate from others' expectations. **In simple terms:** Stay true to yourself, not a persona. Key Takeaway Define your own path. Themes identity individuality self-definition Mood introspective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choices - public life - personal branding - self-reflection Key Concepts personal legacy public image authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What defines your unique identity? - How do you navigate external expectations? A Different Perspective Comparisons can be unavoidable in fame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garland/) [Judy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judy/) [Judy garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judy-garland/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Judy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-judy-2430134/) ## Related quotes > [I was always in love with Judy Garland, and when I was growing up, I fell in love with Leonardo DiCaprio, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-blanchard/i-was-always-in-love-with-judy-garland-and-when-i-was-growing-up-i/) [Tammy Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-blanchard/) > [I think that kids need to grow up watching what I grew up watching - great entertainment; you know, Judy Garland and all these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-blanchard/i-think-that-kids-need-to-grow-up-watching-what-i-grew-up-watching/) [Tammy Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-blanchard/) > [I was very entertained by Betty Grable and Judy Garland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-was-very-entertained-by-betty-grable-and-judy-garland/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [I don't think I have the image that say, Judy Garland has, or Bette Davis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-don-t-think-i-have-the-image-that-say-judy-garland-has-or-bette/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [I made all these great musicals with Judy Garland. It was all about me going into a barn and saying: 'Let's put on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/i-made-all-these-great-musicals-with-judy-garland-it-was-all-about-me/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [I would say I grew up listening a lot to Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland and Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell. I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melora-hardin/i-would-say-i-grew-up-listening-a-lot-to-barbra-streisand-and-judy/) [Melora Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melora-hardin/) > [I love Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-vanasse/i-love-judy-garland-shirley-bassey/) [Karine Vanasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-vanasse/) > [I was pretty new to the Broadway world once I began working in it. I hadn't really grown up being too aware of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-damiano/i-was-pretty-new-to-the-broadway-world-once-i-began-working-in-it-i/) [Jennifer Damiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-damiano/) > [I went to a lot of theatre. My parents were very involved with the performing arts. I went to nightclub shows when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lainie-kazan/i-went-to-a-lot-of-theatre-my-parents-were-very-involved-with-the/) [Lainie Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lainie-kazan/) > [Every day, my mom and I would watch a different Judy Garland VHS. I love how she tells a story when she sings. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/every-day-my-mom-and-i-would-watch-a-different-judy-garland-vhs-i/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [She was the Judy Garland of American poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dickey/she-was-the-judy-garland-of-american-poetry/) [James Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dickey/) > [I felt Michael Jackson was inspired a little bit more from the elegance of a Fred Astaire. Michael loved Sammy Davis, Jr. and James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ortega/i-felt-michael-jackson-was-inspired-a-little-bit-more-from-the/) [Kenny Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ortega/) > [“Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of someone else. —JUDY GARLAND”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself-instead-of-a-second-rate-3/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. —Judy Garland”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself-instead-of-a-second-rate/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [My mother was a phoenix who always expected to rise from the ashes of her latest disaster. She loved being Judy Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorna-luft/my-mother-was-a-phoenix-who-always-expected-to-rise-from-the-ashes-of/) [Lorna Luft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorna-luft/) ## More by Vera Lynn > [It is so important that British children are taught about the World Wars that their great grandparents fought in and lived through. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/it-is-so-important-that-british-children-are-taught-about-the-world/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I am exceptionally fond of all the brave servicemen and women who have worked, and continue to work, to keep us safe and secure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-am-exceptionally-fond-of-all-the-brave-servicemen-and-women-who/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [You never know what's going to happen en route to the airport or station and the last thing you want is to get there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/you-never-know-what-s-going-to-happen-en-route-to-the-airport-or/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I have always managed to combine my family life and my career, but there came a point when I had to choose between a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-have-always-managed-to-combine-my-family-life-and-my-career-but/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I've liked country music for as long as I can remember, especially the songs of Dolly Parton. Her lyrics are similar to mine: simple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-ve-liked-country-music-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-especially-the/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [So many go into the business just to be famous, not because they are passionate about their craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/so-many-go-into-the-business-just-to-be-famous-not-because-they-are/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Seeing photographs of my dad, Bert, on the beach with a knotted handkerchief on his head to avoid getting sunburn still brings a smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/seeing-photographs-of-my-dad-bert-on-the-beach-with-a-knotted/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I did an audition for Henry Hall, a well-known dance man at the BBC, when I was about 15. I have lost the letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-did-an-audition-for-henry-hall-a-well-known-dance-man-at-the-bbc/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [The journey to Burma is etched in my brain, full of all sorts of intense memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/the-journey-to-burma-is-etched-in-my-brain-full-of-all-sorts-of/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Ordinary British people don't on the whole find it easy to express their feelings, even to those closest to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/ordinary-british-people-don-t-on-the-whole-find-it-easy-to-express/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Perhaps it is no surprise I became an entertainer because many of my relatives were natural performers. Dad, who had a fine pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/perhaps-it-is-no-surprise-i-became-an-entertainer-because-many-of-my/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I try not to worry too much about anything any more, and enjoy every day as it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-try-not-to-worry-too-much-about-anything-any-more-and-enjoy-every/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Remember to stand tall and tuck your tummy in - very important as you get older!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/remember-to-stand-tall-and-tuck-your-tummy-in-very-important-as-you/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [I didn't have any more children because I couldn't have continued working - and I was the main breadwinner. But although we are small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-didn-t-have-any-more-children-because-i-couldn-t-have-continued/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [The white cliffs of Dover are a significant landmark and it is so encouraging to know that they will now be protected for future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/the-white-cliffs-of-dover-are-a-significant-landmark-and-it-is-so/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) [Explore all 100 Vera Lynn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) ## More Garland quotes > [My mother was a phoenix who always expected to rise from the ashes of her latest disaster. She loved being Judy Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorna-luft/my-mother-was-a-phoenix-who-always-expected-to-rise-from-the-ashes-of/) [Lorna Luft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorna-luft/) > [I felt Michael Jackson was inspired a little bit more from the elegance of a Fred Astaire. Michael loved Sammy Davis, Jr. and James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ortega/i-felt-michael-jackson-was-inspired-a-little-bit-more-from-the/) [Kenny Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ortega/) > [One flower makes no garland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/one-flower-makes-no-garland/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“All right," said Eden. "After all, we've got to hide somewhere. And even if they move on a bit faster than we can, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/all-right-said-eden-after-all-we-ve-got-to-hide-somewhere-and-even-if/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“When the shine is wearing off and the underlying cracks of a garlanded lifestyle become painfully apparent, reality may inexorably take its toll and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-the-shine-is-wearing-off-and-the-underlying-cracks-of-a/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“all. Detective Garland is retired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-meadows/all-detective-garland-is-retired/) [Wendy Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-meadows/) > [The verb "Garland" should be created. It would mean to unfairly put a stinking albatross around someone's neck, to make him unemployable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/the-verb-garland-should-be-created-it-would-mean-to-unfairly-put-a/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. —Judy Garland”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself-instead-of-a-second-rate/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [For all his awesome power, Garland has met a force greater than his weaponized Department of Justice: the love of parents for their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/for-all-his-awesome-power-garland-has-met-a-force-greater-than-his/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [“Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of someone else. —JUDY GARLAND”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself-instead-of-a-second-rate-3/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [She was the Judy Garland of American poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dickey/she-was-the-judy-garland-of-american-poetry/) [James Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dickey/) > [Why is Merrick Garland, who is Joe Biden's hand-picked attorney general, able to investigate both the past and potentially future person who is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-travis/why-is-merrick-garland-who-is-joe-biden-s-hand-picked-attorney/) [Clay Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-travis/) > [Every day, my mom and I would watch a different Judy Garland VHS. I love how she tells a story when she sings. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/every-day-my-mom-and-i-would-watch-a-different-judy-garland-vhs-i/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [“The thick baffling blades of false world customs rip off my views and ideas,like breaking every string of my aesthetic thoughts in disdain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nithin-purple/the-thick-baffling-blades-of-false-world-customs-rip-off-my-views-and/) [Nithin Purple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nithin-purple/) > [Fashion your life as a garland of beautiful deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fashion-your-life-as-a-garland-of-beautiful-deeds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40 Garland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garland/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never wanted to be a Judy Garland.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vera Lynn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Garland" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/vera-lynn-5643_judy_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland-1851_1851244.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/vera-lynn-5643_judy_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland-1851_1851244.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/vera-lynn-5643_judy_i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland-1851_1851244.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never wanted to be a Judy Garland.” — Vera Lynn", "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": "Vera Lynn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never wanted to be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-judy-garland/#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 } } ] } ```