"I've worked in a factory. I was a garbage man. I worked in a post office. It's not that long ago. I like to think that I'm just a regular guy"
About this Quote
“It’s not that long ago” is the pressure point. Washington is reminding you that transformation doesn’t require a fairy tale, just proximity in time. He’s insisting the past is close enough to keep him honest, close enough that fame can’t fully rewrite his memory. That line also flatters the listener a little: if he was there recently, then “there” can’t be a separate universe. It’s a subtle democratic gesture.
Then comes the careful hedge: “I like to think.” He doesn’t claim he is a regular guy; he claims the desire to remain one. That matters because “regular” is an identity celebrities perform under scrutiny, and Washington acknowledges the performance without confessing cynicism. The intent is credibility - not as an actor, but as a man who hasn’t severed ties with ordinary labor. In a culture that treats stardom as moral proof, he’s offering a counter-credential: work that no one applauds.
Quote Details
| Topic | Humility |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Washington, Denzel. (2026, January 17). I've worked in a factory. I was a garbage man. I worked in a post office. It's not that long ago. I like to think that I'm just a regular guy. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-worked-in-a-factory-i-was-a-garbage-man-i-53813/
Chicago Style
Washington, Denzel. "I've worked in a factory. I was a garbage man. I worked in a post office. It's not that long ago. I like to think that I'm just a regular guy." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-worked-in-a-factory-i-was-a-garbage-man-i-53813/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I've worked in a factory. I was a garbage man. I worked in a post office. It's not that long ago. I like to think that I'm just a regular guy." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/ive-worked-in-a-factory-i-was-a-garbage-man-i-53813/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.






