--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I would ever have taken on…" description: "\"I don't think I would ever have taken on professional acting roles if I hadn't had the ability to fly. I had quite low self-esteem, and it gave me the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/david-jason-5031_ability_i-don-t-think-i-would-ever-have-taken-on_5910.jpg" --- # I don't think I would ever have taken on professional… ![“I don't think I would ever have taken on professional acting roles if I hadn't had the ability to fly. I had quite low self-esteem, and it gave me the self-confidence to believe I could do anything that I put my mind to.” quote by David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/david-jason-5031_ability_i-don-t-think-i-would-ever-have-taken-on_5910.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/david-jason-5031_ability_i-don-t-think-i-would-ever-have-taken-on_5910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/david-jason-5031_ability_i-don-t-think-i-would-ever-have-taken-on_5910.jpg) > “I don't think I would ever have taken on professional acting roles if I hadn't had the ability to fly. I had quite low self-esteem, and it gave me the self-confidence to believe I could do anything that I put my mind to.” [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) ## 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 credits an extraordinary ability with overcoming low self‑esteem, using it as proof that confidence can unlock seemingly impossible goals. **In simple terms:** Extraordinary talent can boost confidence and enable achievement. Key Takeaway Self‑belief transforms perceived limits into possibilities. Themes self‑esteem confidence personal growth overcoming doubt empowerment Mood inspired determined Type personal anecdote motivational quote When to use this quote - career transition - creative pursuit - skill acquisition - public performance Key Concepts self‑efficacy mindset shift identity redefinition Practical Applications - coaching for confidence - motivational storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What personal strengths could you leverage to overcome self‑doubt? - How does redefining identity affect goal attainment? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) ## Related quotes > [Around the time that Girls Aloud was at its biggest, I was offered some huge acting roles in America. I decided to stay loyal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-coyle/around-the-time-that-girls-aloud-was-at-its-biggest-i-was-offered/) [Nadine Coyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-coyle/) > [People were confused by me, and at first I was auditioning a lot for the crazy characters or the victim, someone who'd been attacked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/people-were-confused-by-me-and-at-first-i-was-auditioning-a-lot-for/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [When I get to tell a story through music videos or TV, it's all about finding the story that I want to tell, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/when-i-get-to-tell-a-story-through-music-videos-or-tv-it-s-all-about/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Unfortunately, there aren't enough interesting acting roles in New Zealand to sustain a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/unfortunately-there-aren-t-enough-interesting-acting-roles-in-new/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I'm interested in acting roles that I want to do, that are meaningful to me in some way. I think, because my kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-m-interested-in-acting-roles-that-i-want-to-do-that-are-meaningful/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I was aware that I was not getting the good acting roles because I was either too handsome, too pretty or whatever. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-was-aware-that-i-was-not-getting-the-good-acting-roles-because-i/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I've definitely taken more family-friendly roles. Honestly, sometimes the edgier acting roles are not age-appropriate for kids but I have taken more projects that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-ve-definitely-taken-more-family-friendly-roles-honestly-sometimes/) [Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/) > [A lot of my actor friends say 'You know what? If I ever come back in another life I'm coming back as an athlete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/a-lot-of-my-actor-friends-say-you-know-what-if-i-ever-come-back-in/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I was approached for acting roles when I was young. I had said that I look into the mirror every day and don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/i-was-approached-for-acting-roles-when-i-was-young-i-had-said-that-i/) [Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/) > [Any acting roles will be few and far between until my kids are older and by then, who knows what I'll want to do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/any-acting-roles-will-be-few-and-far-between-until-my-kids-are-older/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I'd like to get more bit-acting roles. I don't know if my talent would allow for a long dialogue, but I could definitely knock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-d-like-to-get-more-bit-acting-roles-i-don-t-know-if-my-talent-would/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [Because modeling is lucrative, I'm able to save up and be more particular about the acting roles I take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-ireland/because-modeling-is-lucrative-i-m-able-to-save-up-and-be-more/) [Kathy Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-ireland/) > [In 1998, the acting roles suddenly bottomed out. I was no longer getting scripts; even my agent stopped calling. When I finally got him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ebersole/in-1998-the-acting-roles-suddenly-bottomed-out-i-was-no-longer/) [Christine Ebersole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-ebersole/) > [Give more acting roles to 48-year-old half-Lithuanians who just don't want to be pigeon-holed as bakery presenters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-giedroyc/give-more-acting-roles-to-48-year-old-half-lithuanians-who-just-don-t/) [Mel Giedroyc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-giedroyc/) > [“None of them even know who they are. They're just acting out their roles. Being what their parents made them. Always trying to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-sexton/none-of-them-even-know-who-they-are-they-re-just-acting-out-their/) [Marie Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-sexton/) ## More by David Jason > [I hadn't been to drama school. I hadn't been to university and acted there. I had no qualifications behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-hadn-t-been-to-drama-school-i-hadn-t-been-to-university-and-acted/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [My mum, Olwen, was a bright and talkative woman who loved a gossip and a story and was given slightly to malapropisms. And she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/my-mum-olwen-was-a-bright-and-talkative-woman-who-loved-a-gossip-and/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I'm a qualified Professional Association of Diving Instructors Divemaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-m-a-qualified-professional-association-of-diving-instructors/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [My father used to say, 'What the hell are you listening to? Put that bloody rubbish off.' And it was The Beatles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/my-father-used-to-say-what-the-hell-are-you-listening-to-put-that/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I enjoy life so much I don't want it to end, and dying does worry me. If you've got faith, you believe that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-enjoy-life-so-much-i-don-t-want-it-to-end-and-dying-does-worry-me/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [Classic comedy is classic comedy, and it will go on for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/classic-comedy-is-classic-comedy-and-it-will-go-on-for-years/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I can be intolerant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-can-be-intolerant/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [It has taken a lot of persuasion for me to take part in an official documentary about 'Only Fools and Horses.' But, as time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/it-has-taken-a-lot-of-persuasion-for-me-to-take-part-in-an-official/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [Don't get me started on BBC salaries. We were never the big league. Situation comedy has always been the poor relation in the television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/don-t-get-me-started-on-bbc-salaries-we-were-never-the-big-league/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [In 1977, while I was performing in a play in Cardiff, a friend introduced me to a striking redhead called Myfanwy Talog, famed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/in-1977-while-i-was-performing-in-a-play-in-cardiff-a-friend/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I'm a twin, but only I emerged live from the womb. The fact that I was originally one half of a duo gave rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-m-a-twin-but-only-i-emerged-live-from-the-womb-the-fact-that-i-was/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [When I made my first decision, come hell or high water, that I would try to be a professional actor, I was burnt. Emotionally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/when-i-made-my-first-decision-come-hell-or-high-water-that-i-would/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [It seems to me that as soon as politicians get in, they become part of this club, and the rest of us, beneath them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/it-seems-to-me-that-as-soon-as-politicians-get-in-they-become-part-of/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [Journalists are out to trap me with my underwear showing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/journalists-are-out-to-trap-me-with-my-underwear-showing/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I was a very shy sort of person, and by acting different characters, I could immerse myself and make them do what, perhaps, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-was-a-very-shy-sort-of-person-and-by-acting-different-characters-i/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) [Explore all 104 David Jason quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I would ever have taken on professional acting roles if I hadn't had the ability to fly. 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