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Time & Perspective Quote by Meat Loaf

"For the past 32 years, I've done nothing outside the entertainment business. I've had some real highs and some real lows, but I love the work so much that I never once thought of quitting"

About this Quote

There is a defiant humility in Meat Loaf framing a 32-year career not as a victory lap but as endurance. The line refuses the tidy mythology of rock stardom - the “made it” narrative - and swaps it for something more recognizable: a working life spent inside a chaotic industry that feeds on spectacle, churn, and short memories. By leading with the sheer length of time, he’s quietly staking a claim to legitimacy. Longevity becomes its own credential, especially for an artist often treated as an outsize novelty rather than a craftsman.

The “real highs” and “real lows” are doing strategic work. They acknowledge the tabloid arc without naming any scandal, protecting the speaker from self-pity while conceding volatility. It’s a way of telling you: yes, I’ve been ridiculed, doubted, written off, and I’m still here. The subtext is less “I love my job” and more “I chose the arena, and I accept the price of admission.” In a business that can make people feel disposable, “never once thought of quitting” reads like an act of identity, not motivation.

Context matters: Meat Loaf’s career was famously uneven - colossal peaks, punishing backlash, health and voice issues, shifting tastes. This quote works because it reclaims that unevenness as proof of commitment. It’s not inspirational poster material; it’s a professional’s oath. The romance isn’t fame. It’s the work.

Quote Details

TopicNever Give Up
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Citation Formats

APA Style (7th ed.)
Loaf, Meat. (2026, January 15). For the past 32 years, I've done nothing outside the entertainment business. I've had some real highs and some real lows, but I love the work so much that I never once thought of quitting. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/for-the-past-32-years-ive-done-nothing-outside-159198/

Chicago Style
Loaf, Meat. "For the past 32 years, I've done nothing outside the entertainment business. I've had some real highs and some real lows, but I love the work so much that I never once thought of quitting." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/for-the-past-32-years-ive-done-nothing-outside-159198/.

MLA Style (9th ed.)
"For the past 32 years, I've done nothing outside the entertainment business. I've had some real highs and some real lows, but I love the work so much that I never once thought of quitting." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/for-the-past-32-years-ive-done-nothing-outside-159198/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

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About the Author

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Meat Loaf (September 27, 1951 - January 20, 2022) was a Musician from USA.

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