--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not afraid to compete. It's just the…" description: "\"I'm not afraid to compete. It's just the opposite. Don't you see that? I'm afraid I will compete — that's what scares me. That's why I quit the Theatre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/anonymous-1_accepting_i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the_883174.jpg" --- # I'm not afraid to compete. It's just the opposite. Don't… ![“I'm not afraid to compete. It's just the opposite. Don't you see that? I'm afraid I will compete — that's what scares me. That's why I quit the Theatre Department. Just because I'm so horribly conditioned to accept everybody else's values, and just because I like applause and people to rave about…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/anonymous-1_accepting_i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the_883174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/anonymous-1_accepting_i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the_883174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/anonymous-1_accepting_i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the_883174.jpg) > “I'm not afraid to compete. It's just the opposite. Don't you see that? I'm afraid I will compete — that's what scares me. That's why I quit the Theatre Department. Just because I'm so horribly conditioned to accept everybody else's values, and just because I like applause and people to rave about me, doesn't make it right. I'm ashamed of it. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody. I'm sick of myself and everybody else that wants to make some kind of a splash.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of competition stems from deep insecurity and desire for external validation, leading to self‑sabotage. **In simple terms:** Competition triggers anxiety and shame. Key Takeaway Confront inner doubts, seek intrinsic worth. Themes insecurity validation self‑sabotage competition Mood reflective conflicted Type personal psychological When to use this quote - career choices - creative pursuits - personal growth - public performance - social media engagement Key Concepts psychology self‑esteem social pressure Questions to Reflect On - What does applause represent for you? - How can you find value beyond others’ opinions? A Different Perspective Overcoming fear may require confronting uncomfortable truths about self‑worth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Compete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-compete-1072477/) [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Compete Scares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compete-scares-1072478/) [I quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-quit/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Not afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-afraid/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quit Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quit-theatre-1072479/) [Quitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quitting/) [Rave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rave/) [Scare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scare/) [Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not afraid to compete. It's just the opposite. Don't you see that? I'm afraid I will compete - that's what scares me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the-opposite-don-t-you-see-that-i-2/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [I did 'Degrassi' for five years in Toronto, and I made the decision to quit the show to go to theatre school, which a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-epstein/i-did-degrassi-for-five-years-in-toronto-and-i-made-the-decision-to/) [Jake Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-epstein/) > [“All I know is I'm losing my mind," Franny said. "I'm just sick of ego, ego, ego. My own and everybody else's. I'm sick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/all-i-know-is-i-m-losing-my-mind-franny-said-i-m-just-sick-of-ego-ego-2/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present. I've got my faults, but living in the past is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/people-who-live-in-the-past-generally-are-afraid-to-compete-in-the/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [I don't act flashy in a rave, because when you spending money all the love you get is fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-act-flashy-in-a-rave-because-when-you-spending-money-all-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A thousand for his love expired each day, And those who saw his face, in blank dismay Would rave and grieve and mourn their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-thousand-for-his-love-expired-each-day-and-those-who-saw-his-face/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn't fall down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-quit-being-afraid-when-my-first-venture-failed-and-the-sky-didn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you dont have a umbrella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-dont-have-a-umbrella/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Work for a cause, not for applause... Live life to express, not to impress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/work-for-a-cause-not-for-applause-live-life-to-express-not-to-impress/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Work for a cause and not for an applause. Live life to express and not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence noticed;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/work-for-a-cause-and-not-for-an-applause-live-life-to-express-and-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Work for a cause not for applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/work-for-a-cause-not-for-applause/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My advice to you concerning applause is this: enjoy it but never quite believe it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-advice-to-you-concerning-applause-is-this-enjoy-it-but-never-quite/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is very rewarding when you see your employees happy and excited about the success of the company. When you introduce something new, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anousheh-ansari/it-is-very-rewarding-when-you-see-your-employees-happy-and-excited/) [Anousheh Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anousheh-ansari/) > [Raves when it was safe to be free & wave your hands in the air, like you didn't even care! Not scared to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/progrezza/raves-when-it-was-safe-to-be-free-wave-your-hands-in-the-air-like-you/) [Progrezza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/progrezza/) > [I think that if most guys in America could somehow get their fave-rave poster girl in bed and have total license to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-think-that-if-most-guys-in-america-could-somehow-get-their-fave/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not afraid to compete. It's just the opposite. Don't you see that? I'm afraid I will compete — that's what scares me. That's why I quit the Theatre Department. Just because I'm so horribly conditioned to accept everybody else's values, and just because I like applause and people to rave about me, doesn't make it right. I'm ashamed of it. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody. I'm sick of myself and everybody else that wants to make some kind of a splash.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the-opposite-don-t-you-see-that-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the-opposite-don-t-you-see-that-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/anonymous-1_accepting_i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the_883174.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/anonymous-1_accepting_i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the_883174.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/anonymous-1_accepting_i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the_883174.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not afraid to compete. It's just the opposite. Don't you see that? I'm afraid I will compete — that's…” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not afraid to compete. It's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the-opposite-don-t-you-see-that-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-afraid-to-compete-it-s-just-the-opposite-don-t-you-see-that-i/#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 } } ] } ```