--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I get a lot that people have a hard time…" description: "\"I get a lot that people have a hard time believing that I’m a nerd…but I grew up with a Nintendo controller in my hand.\" — Zachary Levi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/zachary-levi-9341_believe_i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time_1059040.png" --- # I get a lot that people have a hard time believing that… ![“I get a lot that people have a hard time believing that I’m a nerd…but I grew up with a Nintendo controller in my hand.” quote by Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/zachary-levi-9341_believe_i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time_1059040.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/zachary-levi-9341_believe_i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time_1059040.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/zachary-levi-9341_believe_i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time_1059040.png) > “I get a lot that people have a hard time believing that I’m a nerd…but I grew up with a Nintendo controller in my hand.” [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Levi shares that his childhood gaming shaped his identity, challenging stereotypes about nerds and actors. **In simple terms:** Gaming shaped his life and identity. Key Takeaway Embrace passions despite stereotypes. Themes identity stereotypes gaming career self‑acceptance Mood inspirational reflective humorous Type interview personal When to use this quote - career discussions - personal development - media interviews Key Concepts personal narrative media representation culture confidence Questions to Reflect On - How do early hobbies influence adult identity? - What stereotypes persist about nerds? A Different Perspective May not reflect all nerd experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believing Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-nerd-2575842/) [Controller Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controller-hand-1244811/) [Controllers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controllers/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-up/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-time/) [Hard times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-times/) [Nerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerd/) [Nerd Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerd-grew-449957/) [Nintendo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nintendo/) [Nintendo Controller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nintendo-controller-2575843/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) ## Related quotes > [Any nerd who grew up around the time that I did, BBC programming was a treasure chest for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/any-nerd-who-grew-up-around-the-time-that-i-did-bbc-programming-was-a/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [Most helmsmen would’ve been satisfied with a pilot’s wheel or a tiller. Leo had also installed a keyboard, monitor, aviation controls from a Learjet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/most-helmsmen-would-ve-been-satisfied-with-a-pilot-s-wheel-or-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I didn't have any social skills at all, but my mom noticed I was way more vocal when I had a Nintendo controller in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-woods/i-didn-t-have-any-social-skills-at-all-but-my-mom-noticed-i-was-way/) [Xavier Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-woods/) > [Kinect is such a great new entry into the field because it takes away one of the big barriers to little kids to playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-schafer/kinect-is-such-a-great-new-entry-into-the-field-because-it-takes-away/) [Tim Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-schafer/) > [“So with nothing to do but algebra, Vlad settled down in front of the television with controller in hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brewer/so-with-nothing-to-do-but-algebra-vlad-settled-down-in-front-of-the/) [Heather Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brewer/) > [Reagan was extreme. Beginning of his administration, one of the first things was to call in scabs - hadn't been done for a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/reagan-was-extreme-beginning-of-his-administration-one-of-the-first/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Any mother could perform the jobs of several air-traffic controllers with ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/any-mother-could-perform-the-jobs-of-several-air-traffic-controllers/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [Man is the being who has built controllers for every stubborn element, but he has not been able to build one for his Ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-atta-ullah-faizani/man-is-the-being-who-has-built-controllers-for-every-stubborn-element/) [Muhammad Atta-ullah Faizani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-atta-ullah-faizani/) > [I'm a big believer in the Wii. I love the physicality of the Wii controller, and how you can get the feeling of throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-m-a-big-believer-in-the-wii-i-love-the-physicality-of-the-wii/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [There is also the fact that NORAD-Northeast was conducting war game exercises that morning, a fact that has been very little talked about and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-marrs/there-is-also-the-fact-that-norad-northeast-was-conducting-war-game/) [Jim Marrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-marrs/) > [I'm not thinking about forcing my kids to watch my movies. It's always awkward when someone says: "Hey, I wrote a song, can I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/i-m-not-thinking-about-forcing-my-kids-to-watch-my-movies-it-s-always/) [Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/) > [The smaller man approaching our modern banking system, which controls all issue of credit and therefore pretty well all our industrial and commercial activities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-smaller-man-approaching-our-modern-banking-system-which-controls/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [In order to realize the goal of creating a new starting line that anyone can instinctively understand we have come up with a design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/in-order-to-realize-the-goal-of-creating-a-new-starting-line-that/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [Apollo was a big, unwieldy vehicle. I had a problem with the flight controllers over that. It would try to fare its way like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/apollo-was-a-big-unwieldy-vehicle-i-had-a-problem-with-the-flight/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [In the humanities and social sciences, and in fields like journalism and economics and so on, people have to be trained to be managers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-the-humanities-and-social-sciences-and-in-fields-like-journalism/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Zachary Levi > [I'm a 'Lost' guy, I love 'Lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-m-a-lost-guy-i-love-lost/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I think that it's much easier for a recording artist to become an actor than for an actor to become a recording artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-think-that-it-s-much-easier-for-a-recording-artist-to-become-an/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I think that 'Family Guy' is hysterical. 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Whether you're an actor or not, everybody hears the horror stories of people going to L.A. and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/my-family-was-always-very-supportive-whether-you-re-an-actor-or-not/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [A lot of people, especially Christians, want to put you in this box of being a Christian actor, and I don't believe in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/a-lot-of-people-especially-christians-want-to-put-you-in-this-box-of/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I love being able to be the artist of the whole picture, as opposed to just one of the brushes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-love-being-able-to-be-the-artist-of-the-whole-picture-as-opposed-to/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I'm totally a geek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-m-totally-a-geek/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I'm a huge Disney nut. I have been since I was a little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-m-a-huge-disney-nut-i-have-been-since-i-was-a-little-kid/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I wish it was a little easier for an actor to later go into singing and have it be accepted, but maybe I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-wish-it-was-a-little-easier-for-an-actor-to-later-go-into-singing/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I do think about The Flash often. I think that could be a really fun role to play at some point. That's right up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-do-think-about-the-flash-often-i-think-that-could-be-a-really-fun/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [Oftentimes, people start with something, whatever it is, and it's great, but over the years, it loses its focus or way and corners get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/oftentimes-people-start-with-something-whatever-it-is-and-it-s-great/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I can destroy a dance floor. I think life should be a musical. I always hate it when people watch a musical and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-can-destroy-a-dance-floor-i-think-life-should-be-a-musical-i-always/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [My high school experience was pretty good, but my middle school experience was god awful. It was horrible. I got picked on like no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/my-high-school-experience-was-pretty-good-but-my-middle-school/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [I love hosting. I've always really enjoyed making people happy, and so anytime I'm doing anything or the event is doing anything, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-love-hosting-i-ve-always-really-enjoyed-making-people-happy-and-so/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) [Explore all 73 Zachary Levi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. 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And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I get a lot that people have a hard time believing that I’m a nerd…but I grew up with a Nintendo controller in my hand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zachary Levi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time-believing-that-i-m-a-nerd/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time-believing-that-i-m-a-nerd/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/zachary-levi-9341_believe_i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time_1059040.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/zachary-levi-9341_believe_i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time_1059040.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/zachary-levi-9341_believe_i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time_1059040.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I get a lot that people have a hard time believing that I’m a nerd…but I grew up with a Nintendo controller…” — Zachary Levi", "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": "Zachary Levi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I get a lot that people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time-believing-that-i-m-a-nerd/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-get-a-lot-that-people-have-a-hard-time-believing-that-i-m-a-nerd/#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 } } ] } ```