"All I ever intended was to make a living at what I do. Everything I've achieved since then is above and beyond"
About this Quote
The subtext is a subtle rebuke to the myth that greatness always begins with grand intention. Twain’s line suggests the opposite: that discipline, repetition, and stamina are the real engines, and fame is a volatile byproduct. “Above and beyond” also does strategic work. It acknowledges the magnitude of what followed without claiming authorship over the universe’s generosity. In a celebrity ecosystem that rewards both swagger and relatability, she lands in a canny middle: grateful, but not performing desperation for approval.
Context deepens it. Twain’s biography includes real precarity and early responsibility; the desire to “make a living” reads as lived truth, not branding. The quote resonates now because it offers an adult alternative to hustle culture’s manic certainty: you can aim for stability, and still be surprised by joy, scale, and cultural impact.
Quote Details
| Topic | Success |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Twain, Shania. (2026, January 16). All I ever intended was to make a living at what I do. Everything I've achieved since then is above and beyond. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/all-i-ever-intended-was-to-make-a-living-at-what-116917/
Chicago Style
Twain, Shania. "All I ever intended was to make a living at what I do. Everything I've achieved since then is above and beyond." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/all-i-ever-intended-was-to-make-a-living-at-what-116917/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"All I ever intended was to make a living at what I do. Everything I've achieved since then is above and beyond." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/all-i-ever-intended-was-to-make-a-living-at-what-116917/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.



