---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a history, even going back to my…"
description: "\"I have a history, even going back to my time in college doing plays, of always hurting myself at some point in whatever I'm in. Like, always! And it's ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/cress-williams-20184_better_i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-t_671381.jpg"
---

#  I have a history, even going back to my time in college…

![“I have a history, even going back to my time in college doing plays, of always hurting myself at some point in whatever I'm in. Like, always! And it's usually my own doing and me being rambunctious and going, 'Oh, I can do that better,' or 'Oh, I can do that quicker,' and it results in injury.” quote by Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/cress-williams-20184_better_i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-t_671381.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/cress-williams-20184_better_i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-t_671381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/cress-williams-20184_better_i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-t_671381.jpg)

> “I have a history, even going back to my time in college doing plays, of always hurting myself at some point in whatever I'm in. Like, always! And it's usually my own doing and me being rambunctious and going, 'Oh, I can do that better,' or 'Oh, I can do that quicker,' and it results in injury.”

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker reflects on a pattern of self‑inflicted injuries caused by overconfidence and impulsive actions during various activities.

**In simple terms:** I often get hurt because I try to do things faster or better than I should.

Key Takeaway

Pause and assess risks before acting.

Themes

self‑sabotage overconfidence injury personal growth

Mood

frustrated reflective

Type

advice personal development

When to use this quote

- sports
- theater rehearsals
- DIY projects
- learning new skills

Key Concepts

impulsivity risk assessment self‑awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers your urge to rush?
- How can you channel confidence safely?

A Different Perspective

Self‑inflicted harm can also stem from external factors, not just personal traits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Doing Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-plays-478337/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Hurting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurting/) [Hurting myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurting-myself/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Plays Hurting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays-hurting-5328889/) [Results Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results-injury-5328890/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [When I'm scared of hurting myself, I start to overthink things and won't go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunisa-lee/when-i-m-scared-of-hurting-myself-i-start-to-overthink-things-and-won/)

[Sunisa Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunisa-lee/)

> [Today I am determined to go through the day with ought hurting myself, or another, with my thoughts or my actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-jampolsky/today-i-am-determined-to-go-through-the-day-with-ought-hurting-myself/)

[Gerald Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-jampolsky/)

> [ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL THING THAT I MADE FOR MYSELF IS COMMITTING WITH SOMEONE I KNOW WOULDN'T LAST FOREVER, AND END UP HURTING…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/one-of-the-most-painful-thing-that-i-made-for-myself-is-committing/)

[NO VOICE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-voice/)

> [My bulimia was my addiction. Hurting myself was my addiction... The music is what saved me. That's the only thing I can trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-scherzinger/my-bulimia-was-my-addiction-hurting-myself-was-my-addiction-the-music/)

[Nicole Scherzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-scherzinger/)

> [I'm tired of hurting myself by over thinking everything, when there's not even a single chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-tired-of-hurting-myself-by-over-thinking-everything-when-there-s/)

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

> [Yeah, we all got problems, everybody does. What helps me is just saying in my head move forward, move forward because if I decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-kingston/yeah-we-all-got-problems-everybody-does-what-helps-me-is-just-saying/)

[Eddie Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-kingston/)

> [I got a one-way ticker on a hell-bound train With nothing to lose and nothing to gain Nobody ever taught me how to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/papa-roach/i-got-a-one-way-ticker-on-a-hell-bound-train-with-nothing-to-lose-and/)

[Papa Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/papa-roach/)

> [Even when I was in school shows, in elementary school doing plays, I'd always go off book and start improvising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/even-when-i-was-in-school-shows-in-elementary-school-doing-plays-i-d/)

[Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/)

> [I started performing in high school. There was a pretty great drama department at my school, and that's when I started doing plays and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missi-pyle/i-started-performing-in-high-school-there-was-a-pretty-great-drama/)

[Missi Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missi-pyle/)

> [I always did plays, and when I went to NYU - and I didn't go to Tisch, the theater school, because I was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-zissis/i-always-did-plays-and-when-i-went-to-nyu-and-i-didn-t-go-to-tisch/)

[Steve Zissis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-zissis/)

> [Acting was always something I loved doing, but I didn't know that I would pursue it professionally. I really loved doing plays at school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-johnson/acting-was-always-something-i-loved-doing-but-i-didn-t-know-that-i/)

[Jesse Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-johnson/)

> [I started off doing plays as a theater actor. But I never thought of it in terms of it leading anywhere. I was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-started-off-doing-plays-as-a-theater-actor-but-i-never-thought-of/)

[Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/)

> [I was more like a middle child. My youngest brother was the baby, so he got all the attention that the baby gets. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-was-more-like-a-middle-child-my-youngest-brother-was-the-baby-so-he/)

[John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/)

> [It wasn't until I got into seventh grade, I think, that I realized that doing plays might be a fun thing, and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-parnell/it-wasn-t-until-i-got-into-seventh-grade-i-think-that-i-realized-that/)

[Chris Parnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-parnell/)

> [I ended up doing four or five plays in college and being an English major with my thesis in language acquisition, which I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/i-ended-up-doing-four-or-five-plays-in-college-and-being-an-english/)

[Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/)

## More by Cress Williams

> [I grew up watching television. I'm a television addict. I had all these heroes, but they didn't look like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/i-grew-up-watching-television-i-m-a-television-addict-i-had-all-these/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [A lot of times, people believe that until you're a certain-list actor, you say yes to everything; you're not allowed to say no. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/a-lot-of-times-people-believe-that-until-you-re-a-certain-list-actor/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [I come from theater, so I'm used to the hierarchy of an actor is just on the ladder, and above that is a director,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/i-come-from-theater-so-i-m-used-to-the-hierarchy-of-an-actor-is-just/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [Growing up, I didn't really read a lot of comics; we didn't really have the money to get them. But I grew up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/growing-up-i-didn-t-really-read-a-lot-of-comics-we-didn-t-really-have/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [From the moment I turned 39, 40, I really turned a corner and became a person who really enjoys working out. When I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/from-the-moment-i-turned-39-40-i-really-turned-a-corner-and-became-a/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [As an actor, the flaws are the things that are juicy to play. If the character is perfect, it can be a little boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/as-an-actor-the-flaws-are-the-things-that-are-juicy-to-play-if-the/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [Generally speaking, I would say villains are a little more exciting to play, but if you get a flawed hero, then that can almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/generally-speaking-i-would-say-villains-are-a-little-more-exciting-to/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [I grew up mainly with my mother, and I would see my father from time to time. But I didn't have a constant male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/i-grew-up-mainly-with-my-mother-and-i-would-see-my-father-from-time/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [On 'Black Lightning' I have a stunt double who's a lot younger than me. The fighting style on the show is heavily martial arts-based,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/on-black-lightning-i-have-a-stunt-double-who-s-a-lot-younger-than-me/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [When you're playing a superhero, you're almost playing two different people. I separate when I'm playing Jefferson Pierce and the days when I'm playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/when-you-re-playing-a-superhero-you-re-almost-playing-two-different/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [As a kid, you just like anything fanciful that you're into, but as an adult, I really love that kind of place where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/as-a-kid-you-just-like-anything-fanciful-that-you-re-into-but-as-an/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [As an actor, the only pressure I have is to just be truthful and to do my best work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/as-an-actor-the-only-pressure-i-have-is-to-just-be-truthful-and-to-do/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [As an actor, so much of life is out of your control, and it's really not solid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/as-an-actor-so-much-of-life-is-out-of-your-control-and-it-s-really/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [A friend of mine kind of revealed to me that idea that there has been countless Supermen and Batman. But I'm the first person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/a-friend-of-mine-kind-of-revealed-to-me-that-idea-that-there-has-been/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

> [Unfortunately, when you look at the amount of comic book heroes out there, minority heroes are few and far between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/unfortunately-when-you-look-at-the-amount-of-comic-book-heroes-out/)

[Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

[Explore all 31 Cress Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

[Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have a history, even going back to my time in college doing plays, of always hurting myself at some point in whatever I'm in. Like, always! And it's usually my own doing and me being rambunctious and going, 'Oh, I can do that better,' or 'Oh, I can do that quicker,' and it results in injury.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cress Williams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-time-in-college-doing-plays-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-time-in-college-doing-plays-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/cress-williams-20184_better_i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-t_671381.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/cress-williams-20184_better_i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-t_671381.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/cress-williams-20184_better_i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-t_671381.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have a history, even going back to my time in college doing plays, of always hurting myself at some point…” — Cress Williams",
                "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": "Cress Williams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have a history, even going...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-time-in-college-doing-plays-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/i-have-a-history-even-going-back-to-my-time-in-college-doing-plays-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
