--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to be the best that I could be…" description: "\"I wanted to be the best that I could be, first for myself, then for an audience. I love to see a smile on somebody's face…If I can tell someone a story..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/bernie-mac-3867_wanted-best_i-wanted-to-be-the-best-that-i-could-be_2420564.jpg" --- # I wanted to be the best that I could be, first for myself… ![“I wanted to be the best that I could be, first for myself, then for an audience. I love to see a smile on somebody's face…If I can tell someone a story that makes them bend over and laugh, that's bigger than anything else.” quote by Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/bernie-mac-3867_wanted-best_i-wanted-to-be-the-best-that-i-could-be_2420564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/bernie-mac-3867_wanted-best_i-wanted-to-be-the-best-that-i-could-be_2420564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/bernie-mac-3867_wanted-best_i-wanted-to-be-the-best-that-i-could-be_2420564.jpg) > “I wanted to be the best that I could be, first for myself, then for an audience. I love to see a smile on somebody's face…If I can tell someone a story that makes them bend over and laugh, that's bigger than anything else.” [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He seeks excellence for self‑satisfaction and audience joy, valuing laughter above fame. **In simple terms:** Aims to make people laugh. Key Takeaway Pursue joy, not just fame. Themes humor self‑improvement audience purpose Mood inspirational humorous Type performance When to use this quote - stand‑up performance - writing jokes - motivational speaking - personal branding - community events Key Concepts comedy motivation impact Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal goals with audience expectations? - What makes you laugh? A Different Perspective Risk of neglecting personal growth for audience approval. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [If I can tell someone a story that makes them bend over and laugh, that's bigger than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/if-i-can-tell-someone-a-story-that-makes-them-bend-over-and-laugh/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [“I think he had a very, very good smile, for somebody whose teeth were somewhere between so-so and bad. What seems not a whit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-think-he-had-a-very-very-good-smile-for-somebody-whose-teeth-were/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [A single smile of somebody gives you enough strength to win thousands of battle in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/a-single-smile-of-somebody-gives-you-enough-strength-to-win-thousands/) Unkown > [Happy thought: I am somebody's reason to smile. I am somebody's happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-thought-i-am-somebody-s-reason-to-smile-i-am-somebody-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always thought that I was supposed to force my issues down and keep them hidden with a smile. That was until I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-brisnehan/i-always-thought-that-i-was-supposed-to-force-my-issues-down-and-keep/) Alexander Brisnehan > [“It's hard to really look at somebody and go: "Hey, maybe something nice will happen." You just don't-- I know too much about life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/it-s-hard-to-really-look-at-somebody-and-go-hey-maybe-something-nice/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [Anytime I can add a smile to somebody's life that's all well and good, but I play the game to play the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arian-foster/anytime-i-can-add-a-smile-to-somebody-s-life-that-s-all-well-and-good/) [Arian Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arian-foster/) > [There's no greater feeling in the world than when you can put a smile on somebody's face just by walking into a room. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/there-s-no-greater-feeling-in-the-world-than-when-you-can-put-a-smile/) [J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [“Smile because somebody loves you, you may not know it now, but one day you will”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-trent/smile-because-somebody-loves-you-you-may-not-know-it-now-but-one-day/) Miranda Trent > [As an actor my job is to deliver the best so that the audience not only likes my roles but also remembers them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himani-shivpuri/as-an-actor-my-job-is-to-deliver-the-best-so-that-the-audience-not/) [Himani Shivpuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himani-shivpuri/) > [I've always thought of the audience. I just want to entertain the audience. That's what it's about: what's good for the movie, what's best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-ve-always-thought-of-the-audience-i-just-want-to-entertain-the/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [Allen Anderson speaks from the heart about subjects he loves; this enthralls audiences everywhere. His outlook is realistic but invariably positive, encouraging everyone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-koster/allen-anderson-speaks-from-the-heart-about-subjects-he-loves-this/) Henry Koster > [You're your first best audience, long before anybody else hears you. So don't be an easy audience. Keep asking for more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/you-re-your-first-best-audience-long-before-anybody-else-hears-you-so/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [My best audience and where I’m happiest is in the gay community. That’s where I feel the most accepted. It’s a community that appreciates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katerina-graham/my-best-audience-and-where-i-m-happiest-is-in-the-gay-community-that/) [Katerina Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katerina-graham/) > [...You believe that the kind of story you want to tell might be best received by the science fiction and fantasy audience. I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/you-believe-that-the-kind-of-story-you-want-to-tell-might-be-best/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## More by Bernie Mac > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [You've got guys in charge of shows who probably went to school for chemistry, and now they're executive producers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/you-ve-got-guys-in-charge-of-shows-who-probably-went-to-school-for/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [You're never going to see me playing a buffoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/you-re-never-going-to-see-me-playing-a-buffoon/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [It's a pleasure to work with someone who is just as strong as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/it-s-a-pleasure-to-work-with-someone-who-is-just-as-strong-as-you-are/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I wasn't disciplined at all. As good of an athlete as I was, I was not disciplined. Had I had the drive that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-wasn-t-disciplined-at-all-as-good-of-an-athlete-as-i-was-i-was-not/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [When it comes to raising children, I believe in give and take. I give orders and they take 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-it-comes-to-raising-children-i-believe-in-give-and-take-i-give/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Black audiences are hard. They always think they're better than you. So you got to come with a little extra to satisfy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/black-audiences-are-hard-they-always-think-they-re-better-than-you-so/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [My girlfriend Rhonda, who's now my wife, I graduated from high school, she got pregnant. My grandfather said, 'You've got to do the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/my-girlfriend-rhonda-who-s-now-my-wife-i-graduated-from-high-school/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [You can't change what happened. Just like you can't change the future by worrying about it. You just have to keep moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/you-can-t-change-what-happened-just-like-you-can-t-change-the-future/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I learned hard lessons in life; I had to because I had so much happen: My mother died my sophomore year in high school.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-learned-hard-lessons-in-life-i-had-to-because-i-had-so-much-happen/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Bernie Mac is happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/bernie-mac-is-happy/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I hate to let people down. I was like that in sports and I was like that in comedy. I was like that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-hate-to-let-people-down-i-was-like-that-in-sports-and-i-was-like/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I want to speak directly to the audience, to say, 'I'm like you - I'm frustrated, I'm not an expert, I don't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-want-to-speak-directly-to-the-audience-to-say-i-m-like-you-i-m/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I know doing movies is where I need to be. That's where my audience wants to see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-know-doing-movies-is-where-i-need-to-be-that-s-where-my-audience/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > ['The Bernie Mac Show' is my life. It's the truth, and I'm not ashamed of a minute, an hour, or a second of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/the-bernie-mac-show-is-my-life-it-s-the-truth-and-i-m-not-ashamed-of/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) [Explore all 120 Bernie Mac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) ## More Wanted Best quotes > [I just wanted to be the best MC. I wasn't about owning a Bentley. I wanted to be recognized as the illest MC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/i-just-wanted-to-be-the-best-mc-i-wasn-t-about-owning-a-bentley-i/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [I did not want to be the best black man of the year; I wanted to be the best man of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daley-thompson/i-did-not-want-to-be-the-best-black-man-of-the-year-i-wanted-to-be/) [Daley Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daley-thompson/) > [I've always been a player and a person who wanted to be the best at whatever he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-ve-always-been-a-player-and-a-person-who-wanted-to-be-the-best-at/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Things do not always happen the way I would have wanted, and it's best that I get used to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/things-do-not-always-happen-the-way-i-would-have-wanted-and-it-s-best/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Everything that I've done in my life is always I wanted to be the best in everything I do. I want to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-green/everything-that-i-ve-done-in-my-life-is-always-i-wanted-to-be-the/) [A. J. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-green/) > [“If you wanted to be the best then you had to swallow your pride and become a student of the game first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-osborne/if-you-wanted-to-be-the-best-then-you-had-to-swallow-your-pride-and/) Jon Osborne > [I'm a competitor, and since I was 2 years old, I have always wanted to be the best at whatever I was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/i-m-a-competitor-and-since-i-was-2-years-old-i-have-always-wanted-to/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [Besides, there were 50,000 fans or more there, and they wanted to see the best you've got. There was an obligation to the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hubbell/besides-there-were-50-000-fans-or-more-there-and-they-wanted-to-see/) [Carl Hubbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hubbell/) > [I wanted to be the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emerson-fittipaldi/i-wanted-to-be-the-best-in-the-world/) [Emerson Fittipaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emerson-fittipaldi/) > [I've always wanted to do my best to make sure it's clear that I want to keep the focus on my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-my-best-to-make-sure-it-s-clear-that-i-want/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I always want to be the best at what I do. As a kid, whatever I was doing, if I was playing football or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/i-always-want-to-be-the-best-at-what-i-do-as-a-kid-whatever-i-was/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [I wanted to be the best footballer in Belgian history. That was my goal. Not good. Not great. The best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/i-wanted-to-be-the-best-footballer-in-belgian-history-that-was-my/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [Working with my brother is something that I've always wanted to do. He's one of my best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-czuchry/working-with-my-brother-is-something-that-i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-he/) [Matt Czuchry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-czuchry/) > [Basic training was hard, but I made it - because I wanted to be the best me. Sometimes you have to learn that being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-middleton/basic-training-was-hard-but-i-made-it-because-i-wanted-to-be-the-best/) [Ant Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-middleton/) > [I have always wanted to be the best, and it drives me every day, no matter the obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aaron/i-have-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-and-it-drives-me-every-day-no/) [Max Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aaron/) Browse all 86 Wanted Best quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to be the best that I could be, first for myself, then for an audience. 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