---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm competitive with myself, not at the…"
description: "\"I'm competitive with myself, not at the expense of everything around me. I never wanted to be a movie star. I just wanted to act.\" — Clive Owen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/clive-owen-3148_competitive_i-m-competitive-with-myself-not-at-the-e_1470158.png"
---

#  I'm competitive with myself, not at the expense of…

![“I'm competitive with myself, not at the expense of everything around me. I never wanted to be a movie star. I just wanted to act.” quote by Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/clive-owen-3148_competitive_i-m-competitive-with-myself-not-at-the-e_1470158.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/clive-owen-3148_competitive_i-m-competitive-with-myself-not-at-the-e_1470158.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/clive-owen-3148_competitive_i-m-competitive-with-myself-not-at-the-e_1470158.png)

> “I'm competitive with myself, not at the expense of everything around me. I never wanted to be a movie star. I just wanted to act.”

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self‑competition drives growth without harming others.

**In simple terms:** Compete with yourself, not others.

Key Takeaway

Focus on personal improvement.

Themes

self‑improvement competition integrity

Mood

reflective determined

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career development
- sports training
- artistic practice
- education

Key Concepts

goal setting self‑discipline

Questions to Reflect On

- What personal metrics do you track?
- How do you stay humble?

A Different Perspective

Risk of ego‑inflation if not balanced.

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[Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-star/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm not a movie star. I'm just an actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-m-not-a-movie-star-i-m-just-an-actress/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [It wasn't a mission to be a rock star. It wasn't a mission of mine to even be a movie star. I just intended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnson/it-wasn-t-a-mission-to-be-a-rock-star-it-wasn-t-a-mission-of-mine-to/)

[Don Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-johnson/)

> [I didn't care about being the 'star. ' I just wanted to make a living and have a consistent career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-dickinson/i-didn-t-care-about-being-the-star-i-just-wanted-to-make-a-living-and/)

[Angie Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-dickinson/)

> [Blue Ivy is a star. She is just a star. I can see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathew-knowles/blue-ivy-is-a-star-she-is-just-a-star-i-can-see/)

[Mathew Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathew-knowles/)

> [You can't make a star - they just have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/you-can-t-make-a-star-they-just-have-it/)

[Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/)

> [“My star will just be one of the stars, for you. And so you will love to watch all the stars in the heavens...they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/my-star-will-just-be-one-of-the-stars-for-you-and-so-you-will-love-to/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [ \[Calling you a\] star is just a trick. It's like a straw man thing. They \[people\] set you up just to knock you over.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/calling-you-a-star-is-just-a-trick-it-s-like-a-straw-man-thing-they/)

[David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/)

> [Being a star just means that you just find your own special place, and that you shine where you are. To me, that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/being-a-star-just-means-that-you-just-find-your-own-special-place-and/)

[Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/)

> [You need a bit more to be a pop star than just a good voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-wilde/you-need-a-bit-more-to-be-a-pop-star-than-just-a-good-voice/)

[Kim Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-wilde/)

> [I want to be a STAR, even just for a night. So that I could watch for you all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-be-a-star-even-just-for-a-night-so-that-i-could-watch-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Be you dust; or be you star To be what you must Just reach out for what you are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens-yusuf-islam/be-you-dust-or-be-you-star-to-be-what-you-must-just-reach-out-for/)

Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam

> [“I'm an instant star, just add water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-an-instant-star-just-add-water/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [One day you are gonna retweet &amp; star me like I retweet &amp; star you, and just like you, I won't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/one-day-you-are-gonna-retweet-star-me-like-i-retweet-star-you-and/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [I don't see myself as a pop star, just a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/i-don-t-see-myself-as-a-pop-star-just-a-singer/)

[Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/)

> [No, I ain't a star - I'm just a kid from Brooklyn, living his dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astro/no-i-ain-t-a-star-i-m-just-a-kid-from-brooklyn-living-his-dream/)

[Astro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astro/)

## More by Clive Owen

> [It's just lovely to be involved in a movie that does go back to the basics - characters and great writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/it-s-just-lovely-to-be-involved-in-a-movie-that-does-go-back-to-the/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [I've been very fortunate with the scripts I've had and the people I worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-ve-been-very-fortunate-with-the-scripts-i-ve-had-and-the-people-i/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [I find sometimes that if you do too many takes, it starts to become meaningless to me. It is hard to sustain it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-find-sometimes-that-if-you-do-too-many-takes-it-starts-to-become/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [I'm just constantly trying to renew and give myself new challenges and push myself to uncomfortable places, trying to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-m-just-constantly-trying-to-renew-and-give-myself-new-challenges/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [America's been very, very good to me. I've been very lucky and worked a lot there, and appreciate and love the work that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/america-s-been-very-very-good-to-me-i-ve-been-very-lucky-and-worked-a/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [The medical operations are so challenging because they're so technical, as well. I assumed before we started that we would do the classic thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/the-medical-operations-are-so-challenging-because-they-re-so/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [Belfast during the Troubles looked like a different world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/belfast-during-the-troubles-looked-like-a-different-world/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [Rudeness can make me angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/rudeness-can-make-me-angry/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [I am a big soccer fan, and a very big Liverpool fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-am-a-big-soccer-fan-and-a-very-big-liverpool-fan/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [The further you run from your sins, the more exhausted you are when they catch up to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/the-further-you-run-from-your-sins-the-more-exhausted-you-are-when/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [Ultimately, to have a career in movies, to a certain extent, certainly in England, you can't sustain a career in just English movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/ultimately-to-have-a-career-in-movies-to-a-certain-extent-certainly/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [As I get older, I've been having a better and better time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/as-i-get-older-i-ve-been-having-a-better-and-better-time/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [I think that Phil Kaufman is one of the best directors that I have come across.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-think-that-phil-kaufman-is-one-of-the-best-directors-that-i-have/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [Audiences can be very judgmental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/audiences-can-be-very-judgmental/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

> [When I was younger, people used to say you only really prove yourself as an actor on stage. And I disagree with that. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/when-i-was-younger-people-used-to-say-you-only-really-prove-yourself/)

[Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

[Explore all 138 Clive Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/)

## More Competitive quotes

> [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/)

[Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/)

> [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/)

[Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/)

> [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/)

[Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/)

> [My dad is a competitive guy. That's a part of me. It's just a certain drive, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auston-matthews/my-dad-is-a-competitive-guy-that-s-a-part-of-me-it-s-just-a-certain/)

[Auston Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auston-matthews/)

> [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. Anyway, I once brought a date to the rink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-was-a-serious-competitive-figure-skater-and-still-ice-skate-as-much/)

[Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/)

> [Don't compare your career to anyone else's. It's tough when you're in a business that's competitive. I was having a difficult time with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-brooks/don-t-compare-your-career-to-anyone-else-s-it-s-tough-when-you-re-in/)

[Danielle Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-brooks/)

> [In any competitive environment, whether you're in sales or marketing or whatever it is, you have to know your competition, understand who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-moses/in-any-competitive-environment-whether-you-re-in-sales-or-marketing/)

[Edwin Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-moses/)

> [I just love this sport and it's so competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-just-love-this-sport-and-it-s-so-competitive/)

[Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/)

> [Everyone must be in the same competitive situation, including on the fiscal level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/everyone-must-be-in-the-same-competitive-situation-including-on-the/)

[Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/)

> [I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-always-been-competitive-and-determined-it-s-part-of-my/)

[Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/)

> [Uruguayans are competitive, and we always want to win. Even though we try to hide it, it is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-godin/uruguayans-are-competitive-and-we-always-want-to-win-even-though-we/)

[Diego Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-godin/)

> [I'm quite competitive. Not with other models but with myself. I have to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arizona-muse/i-m-quite-competitive-not-with-other-models-but-with-myself-i-have-to/)

[Arizona Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arizona-muse/)

> [I'll miss the competitive side and the camaraderie of being around the players and competing each and every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-ll-miss-the-competitive-side-and-the-camaraderie-of-being-around/)

[Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/)

> [We always want to see each other do well. And I think we all want to win. As competitive as you are, you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/we-always-want-to-see-each-other-do-well-and-i-think-we-all-want-to/)

[Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/)

> [Any physical practice can be a competitive sport. What level you can take postures to create the maximum challenge and show your maximum skill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajashree-choudhury/any-physical-practice-can-be-a-competitive-sport-what-level-you-can/)

[Rajashree Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajashree-choudhury/)

[Browse all 1,008 Competitive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/)

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