--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But when I felt like I had something to…" description: "\"But when I felt like I had something to prove? Then I got up early every morning and worked all day long. I didn't know if I had any more talent than a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/ben-affleck-2043_every-morning_but-when-i-felt-like-i-had-something-to_205397.jpg" --- # But when I felt like I had something to prove? Then I got… ![“But when I felt like I had something to prove? Then I got up early every morning and worked all day long. I didn't know if I had any more talent than anyone else directing, but I knew I could work hard at it, and so I did.” quote by Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/ben-affleck-2043_every-morning_but-when-i-felt-like-i-had-something-to_205397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/ben-affleck-2043_every-morning_but-when-i-felt-like-i-had-something-to_205397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/ben-affleck-2043_every-morning_but-when-i-felt-like-i-had-something-to_205397.jpg) > “But when I felt like I had something to prove? Then I got up early every morning and worked all day long. I didn't know if I had any more talent than anyone else directing, but I knew I could work hard at it, and so I did.” [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and perseverance can compensate for perceived lack of talent, leading to personal achievement. **In simple terms:** Effort can outweigh innate ability. Key Takeaway Commit to disciplined daily effort. Themes determination hard work self-improvement career Mood motivational pragmatic Type inspirational self-help When to use this quote - early morning routines - skill practice - career advancement Key Concepts growth mindset grit skill development Questions to Reflect On - What daily habits could boost your own growth? - How do you balance effort with seeking mentorship? A Different Perspective Talent still matters; effort alone may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Every morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-morning/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [I was directing before I knew it was called that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-was-directing-before-i-knew-it-was-called-that/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [My dad was a laborer. And he used to get up at 5:30 every morning. He worked for 50 years of his life, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/my-dad-was-a-laborer-and-he-used-to-get-up-at-5-30-every-morning-he/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I could do whatever I liked to do during the day. I didn't have to work in an office. I could work at home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-could-do-whatever-i-liked-to-do-during-the-day-i-didn-t-have-to/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I got an early education from television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-wilson/i-got-an-early-education-from-television/) [Debra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-wilson/) > [Got up early, found something's missing my only name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/got-up-early-found-something-s-missing-my-only-name/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [If I'd got to the top too early, I would not have been a success. I was physically and mentally ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/if-i-d-got-to-the-top-too-early-i-would-not-have-been-a-success-i-was/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [When you get successful, the money comes in and pretty soon you've got to hire an accountant, you've got to get up early, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/when-you-get-successful-the-money-comes-in-and-pretty-soon-you-ve-got/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [The day leading up to the Royal Rumble was pretty routine. I got up early, went to the gym, got a good meal in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-spears/the-day-leading-up-to-the-royal-rumble-was-pretty-routine-i-got-up/) [Shawn Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-spears/) > [The work must be its own reward. I got that early on. And I'm blessed by meeting my own standards of excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/the-work-must-be-its-own-reward-i-got-that-early-on-and-i-m-blessed/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I've had a lot of friends in the business that got out earlier than normal. They tell me they got out too early and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-friends-in-the-business-that-got-out-earlier-than/) [LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/) > ["I got up early because I wanted to." - Nobody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-got-up-early-because-i-wanted-to-nobody/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [In my early teens, I was a janitor. In high school, I got up early to deliver to accounts that required early service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/in-my-early-teens-i-was-a-janitor-in-high-school-i-got-up-early-to/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Even when I played in club matches, I would take it to heart that I had got out early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/even-when-i-played-in-club-matches-i-would-take-it-to-heart-that-i/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [I'm happy being an actor, it's what I have always wanted to do. I'm just lucky I got to do it so early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-m-happy-being-an-actor-it-s-what-i-have-always-wanted-to-do-i-m/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I was never the best athlete, but I knew how to be coached and I knew how to work hard at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-hager/i-was-never-the-best-athlete-but-i-knew-how-to-be-coached-and-i-knew/) [Jake Hager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-hager/) ## More by Ben Affleck > [School plays are fine. Theater in school is fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/school-plays-are-fine-theater-in-school-is-fine/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [What happens is this sort of bleed-over from the tabloids across your movie work. You go to a movie, you only go once. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/what-happens-is-this-sort-of-bleed-over-from-the-tabloids-across-your/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [Never film yourself having sex. You think you'll look powerful and vital, but you don't. You look like a sick, shivering polar bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/never-film-yourself-having-sex-you-think-you-ll-look-powerful-and/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [No matter how much you change, you still got to pay the price for the things you’ve done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/no-matter-how-much-you-change-you-still-got-to-pay-the-price-for-the/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [All I do, really, is go to work and try to be professional, be on time and be prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/all-i-do-really-is-go-to-work-and-try-to-be-professional-be-on-time/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [On the night of the awards, I carried the Oscar around waist-high. I never had so many women ask me 'Can I touch it?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/on-the-night-of-the-awards-i-carried-the-oscar-around-waist-high-i/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [Not that it entirely matters: There is a perception that all actors make their movies. A lot of people assume you're responsible. George Clooney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/not-that-it-entirely-matters-there-is-a-perception-that-all-actors/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [I just feel like sometimes I'm a force to be dealt with. My talents are sometimes overused and also sometimes underused. It's not easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-just-feel-like-sometimes-i-m-a-force-to-be-dealt-with-my-talents/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/affleck-was-the-bomb-in-phantoms/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [Sometimes the people we meet change us forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/sometimes-the-people-we-meet-change-us-forever/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [To answer the question, though: I didn't always want to direct. I just liked the idea of it. If a friend was making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/to-answer-the-question-though-i-didn-t-always-want-to-direct-i-just/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [I feel things more deeply... anything to do with kids. It just makes a big difference in my life... Having a child is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-feel-things-more-deeply-anything-to-do-with-kids-it-just-makes-a/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [I've learned to think, I may succeed or fail, but I'm going to do so on the merit of my own instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-ve-learned-to-think-i-may-succeed-or-fail-but-i-m-going-to-do-so-on/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [I flew back just in time to pick up a toilet seat for my girlfriend. It didn't go over that well. I thought, 'It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-flew-back-just-in-time-to-pick-up-a-toilet-seat-for-my-girlfriend/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [I'm not known for having great relationships with ex-girlfriends, but I've been able to continue one with (Gwyneth Paltrow) that's really valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-m-not-known-for-having-great-relationships-with-ex-girlfriends-but/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) [Explore all 189 Ben Affleck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) ## More Every morning quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [“I believe in forever, and that’s what you and I are. We define eternity. This may sound cheesy, but you make me go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/i-believe-in-forever-and-that-s-what-you-and-i-are-we-define-eternity/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [“Scheduling should be done several times each day, beginning the night before and continuing at additional times the next day. Prioritize your assignments, exams,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-porter-thomas/scheduling-should-be-done-several-times-each-day-beginning-the-night/) [Caroline Porter Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-porter-thomas/) > [“A lot of habitually creative people have preparation rituals linked to the setting in which they choose to start their day. By putting themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/a-lot-of-habitually-creative-people-have-preparation-rituals-linked/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I wake up every morning fearing I am going to fail. But I love a challenge, big or small. There's so much I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-mone/i-wake-up-every-morning-fearing-i-am-going-to-fail-but-i-love-a/) [Michelle Mone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-mone/) > [“Every morning I sit at the kitchen table over a tall glass of water swallowing pills. (So my hands won’t shake.) (So my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanann-verlee/every-morning-i-sit-at-the-kitchen-table-over-a-tall-glass-of-water/) Jeanann Verlee > [“I once asked you what anxiety felt like, and you told me that most days left you riddled with bullet holes. Every morning came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-s/i-once-asked-you-what-anxiety-felt-like-and-you-told-me-that-most/) d.a.s > [I believe there should be a better way to start each day...instead of waking up every morning...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-there-should-be-a-better-way-to-start-each-day-instead-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ To keep my head healthy, \[I'm\] trying to meditate every morning, which is something I'm sort of getting into more, realizing that it's really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-richards/to-keep-my-head-healthy-i-m-trying-to-meditate-every-morning-which-is/) [Erin Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-richards/) > [I may be forty, but every morning when I get up, I feel like a twenty-year-old. Unfortunately, there's never one around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-may-be-forty-but-every-morning-when-i-get-up-i-feel-like-a-twenty/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [“Whatand why were never questions for me. How was the only question. When I look back now, I realize that I never thought about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhguru/whatand-why-were-never-questions-for-me-how-was-the-only-question/) [Sadhguru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhguru/) > [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [“They would congratulate themselves every morning on keeping their integrity, and blame themselves each night for that missed opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-would-congratulate-themselves-every-morning-on-keeping-their/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“If I could just get my partner to see me how she used to - to fall in love with me all over again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/if-i-could-just-get-my-partner-to-see-me-how-she-used-to-to-fall-in/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Browse all 1,986 Every morning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-morning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But when I felt like I had something to prove? Then I got up early every morning and worked all day long. 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