--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was very ambitious as a young actor…" description: "\"I was very ambitious as a young actor, but I wasn't good at being ambitious.\" — Christopher Timothy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/christopher-timothy-15845_actor_i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-bu_1479261.jpg" --- # I was very ambitious as a young actor, but I wasn't good… ![“I was very ambitious as a young actor, but I wasn't good at being ambitious.” quote by Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/christopher-timothy-15845_actor_i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-bu_1479261.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/christopher-timothy-15845_actor_i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-bu_1479261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/christopher-timothy-15845_actor_i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-bu_1479261.jpg) > “I was very ambitious as a young actor, but I wasn't good at being ambitious.” [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition without skill can be counterproductive; self‑awareness is key. **In simple terms:** Ambition needs ability. Key Takeaway Align goals with strengths. Themes self‑awareness career personal growth Mood reflective motivational Type advice career When to use this quote - acting career - early professional life - goal setting - skill training Key Concepts ambition skill development Questions to Reflect On - What strengths can you leverage? - How do you balance ambition and realism? A Different Perspective Over‑ambition can lead to frustration if not matched with competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Young actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-actor/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [Kylian keeps learning and going forward, which he does very quickly. It's good that he is ambitious. He is self-confident, it's good. He always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-varane/kylian-keeps-learning-and-going-forward-which-he-does-very-quickly-it/) [Raphael Varane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-varane/) > [Keep striving for your goals, and remember that it's good to be ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/keep-striving-for-your-goals-and-remember-that-it-s-good-to-be/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [For the most ambitious young people, the corporate ladder is obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the-corporate-ladder-is-obsolete/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [I was a very ambitious, young actor, grateful and getting out there, working hard. I was single-minded in pursuit of my career. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-was-a-very-ambitious-young-actor-grateful-and-getting-out-there/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/it-takes-people-a-long-time-to-learn-the-difference-between-talent/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [ \[ Marco Rubio\] overly ambitious, too young, and I have better hair than he does. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/marco-rubio-overly-ambitious-too-young-and-i-have-better-hair-than-he/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I enjoy acting now more than I ever have. I've had lots of difficult times when I was younger, but that was all tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-enjoy-acting-now-more-than-i-ever-have-i-ve-had-lots-of-difficult/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I was really a very ambitious young girl when I started studying drama and performing art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soni-razdan/i-was-really-a-very-ambitious-young-girl-when-i-started-studying/) [Soni Razdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soni-razdan/) > [I was fiercely independent and ambitious from a very young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-frost/i-was-fiercely-independent-and-ambitious-from-a-very-young-age/) [Sadie Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-frost/) > [I was very ambitious at a young age. When I was six, I would tell everybody that I wanted to be an authoress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/i-was-very-ambitious-at-a-young-age-when-i-was-six-i-would-tell/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) > [Hoover was incredibly ambitious as a young man. He was highly motivated to succeed in Washington, primarily due to his mother's expectations of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/hoover-was-incredibly-ambitious-as-a-young-man-he-was-highly/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [“There was no better path to autonomy for an ambitious young businesswoman than to be married off to a respectable corpse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/there-was-no-better-path-to-autonomy-for-an-ambitious-young/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I was always very ambitious from a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/i-was-always-very-ambitious-from-a-young-age/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [“bright and ambitious young people to discuss concepts such as leadership and success. As students with better-than–4.0 grade point averages and near-perfect SAT scores,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-asghar/bright-and-ambitious-young-people-to-discuss-concepts-such-as/) Rob Asghar > [“The biggest problem we’re dealing with today is the underutilization of individuals. The most talented and ambitious young people, when they feel under-utilized in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-pearson/the-biggest-problem-we-re-dealing-with-today-is-the-underutilization/) Taylor Pearson ## More by Christopher Timothy > [Oddly, I'm not a huge fan of Brisbane in Australia. I can't quite put my finger on why - it just seemed to lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/oddly-i-m-not-a-huge-fan-of-brisbane-in-australia-i-can-t-quite-put/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [I learned to have a respect for animals and for the people who deal with them - vets and farmers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-learned-to-have-a-respect-for-animals-and-for-the-people-who-deal/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [A lot of people went to posh universities, but I left at 17 to work for three years at Frank Newton's Gentleman's Outfitters in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/a-lot-of-people-went-to-posh-universities-but-i-left-at-17-to-work/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [The minute I got the part of James Herriot, I asked to meet him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/the-minute-i-got-the-part-of-james-herriot-i-asked-to-meet-him/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [The most exciting thing about joining EastEnders' is not only that I'll be back on the television, but I'll also be working with Maggie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/the-most-exciting-thing-about-joining-eastenders-is-not-only-that-i/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [Because I am of a generation and slightly old-fashioned, my bottom line belief is what you do is you rehearse and you work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/because-i-am-of-a-generation-and-slightly-old-fashioned-my-bottom/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [I was fascinated by puppets as a kid and one I had when I was eight or nine, a skeleton, is now hanging in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-was-fascinated-by-puppets-as-a-kid-and-one-i-had-when-i-was-eight/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [When I didn't work on TV, that was OK because I was doing lots of theatre but I did begin to panic a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/when-i-didn-t-work-on-tv-that-was-ok-because-i-was-doing-lots-of/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [I was never much of a networker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-was-never-much-of-a-networker/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [Alf Wight was remarkable, and I keep in touch regularly with his children Rosie and Jim, I love them dearly and I owe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/alf-wight-was-remarkable-and-i-keep-in-touch-regularly-with-his/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [I thought I might get a part as a farmer. I knew about the books but I hadn't read them. A few weeks later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-thought-i-might-get-a-part-as-a-farmer-i-knew-about-the-books-but-i/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [My first role was on Broadway from 1963-64 in Chips With Everything.' It was very well reviewed but not very well attended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/my-first-role-was-on-broadway-from-1963-64-in-chips-with-everything/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [I remember once going to see my agent and going up the stairs to his office to hear him screaming down the phone, He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-remember-once-going-to-see-my-agent-and-going-up-the-stairs-to-his/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [He was a patient man, a kind man, a man who cared about animals and human beings, all qualities not to be devalued, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/he-was-a-patient-man-a-kind-man-a-man-who-cared-about-animals-and/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) > [You have to remember: I grew up in the 1950s, the era of cowboy movies and rock 'n' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/you-have-to-remember-i-grew-up-in-the-1950s-the-era-of-cowboy-movies/) [Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) [Explore all 41 Christopher Timothy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was very ambitious as a young actor, but I wasn't good at being ambitious.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Timothy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-but-i-wasn-t-good-at-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-but-i-wasn-t-good-at-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/christopher-timothy-15845_actor_i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-bu_1479261.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/christopher-timothy-15845_actor_i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-bu_1479261.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/christopher-timothy-15845_actor_i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-bu_1479261.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was very ambitious as a young actor, but I wasn't good at being ambitious.” — Christopher Timothy", "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": "Christopher Timothy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was very ambitious as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-but-i-wasn-t-good-at-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-was-very-ambitious-as-a-young-actor-but-i-wasn-t-good-at-being/#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 } } ] } ```