"First of all, I try to be a positive role model"
About this Quote
First of all signals a hierarchy of values. Before medals, endorsements, or media attention, the speaker puts character and example at the top of the list. Try adds a crucial humility: influence is not a given and perfection is not promised; being a role model is an ongoing effort in the face of scrutiny and human fallibility.
Spoken by Caitlyn Jenner, then widely known as Bruce Jenner, the line comes from someone who became an American archetype of athletic heroism after the 1976 Olympic decathlon. That victory brought a level of visibility that extends far beyond sporting achievement, from cereal boxes to motivational stages. The public gaze invites imitation, especially from young people, and the statement acknowledges rather than dodges that responsibility. It stands in contrast to the stance that celebrities are not role models, asserting instead that visibility carries obligations.
Context deepens the words. The example to be set in one era might be discipline, resilience, and grace under pressure, the traits that power a grueling ten-event contest. Later, as the spotlight moved to reality television and relentless tabloid coverage, the model might be accountability amid fame’s distortions. With Jenner’s public transition, being a positive role model also came to include authenticity and the courage to live truthfully, even when it invites backlash. Across these shifts, the aspiration remains consistent: use notoriety to encourage rather than to harm.
Positive does not mean bland or uncontroversial. It points toward conduct that leaves others better off: owning mistakes, lifting up those watching, and demonstrating that success without integrity is a hollow victory. The line is both promise and reminder. It promises an intention to lead by example and reminds audiences that role models are formed less by words than by daily choices, tested under pressure, and proven over time.
Spoken by Caitlyn Jenner, then widely known as Bruce Jenner, the line comes from someone who became an American archetype of athletic heroism after the 1976 Olympic decathlon. That victory brought a level of visibility that extends far beyond sporting achievement, from cereal boxes to motivational stages. The public gaze invites imitation, especially from young people, and the statement acknowledges rather than dodges that responsibility. It stands in contrast to the stance that celebrities are not role models, asserting instead that visibility carries obligations.
Context deepens the words. The example to be set in one era might be discipline, resilience, and grace under pressure, the traits that power a grueling ten-event contest. Later, as the spotlight moved to reality television and relentless tabloid coverage, the model might be accountability amid fame’s distortions. With Jenner’s public transition, being a positive role model also came to include authenticity and the courage to live truthfully, even when it invites backlash. Across these shifts, the aspiration remains consistent: use notoriety to encourage rather than to harm.
Positive does not mean bland or uncontroversial. It points toward conduct that leaves others better off: owning mistakes, lifting up those watching, and demonstrating that success without integrity is a hollow victory. The line is both promise and reminder. It promises an intention to lead by example and reminds audiences that role models are formed less by words than by daily choices, tested under pressure, and proven over time.
Quote Details
| Topic | Leadership |
|---|
More Quotes by Bruce
Add to List
