---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in…"
description: "\"If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.\" — Denzel Wash..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/denzel-washington-1345_coffee_if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-ma_2684158.jpg"
---

#  If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup…

![“If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/denzel-washington-1345_coffee_if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-ma_2684158.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/denzel-washington-1345_coffee_if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-ma_2684158.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/denzel-washington-1345_coffee_if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-ma_2684158.jpg)

> “If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.”

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

## About This Quote

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

Focus on perfecting one’s craft rather than seeking external validation.

**In simple terms:** Make the best cup, ignore opinions.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize personal excellence over others’ judgments.

Themes

craftsmanship self‑improvement validation focus excellence

Mood

inspirational practical

Type

motivational reflective professional

When to use this quote

- Artistic pursuits
- career development
- personal branding

Key Concepts

Skill mastery intrinsic motivation self‑worth

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance self‑assessment with external critique?
- What defines “best” in your field?

A Different Perspective

External feedback can still be valuable for growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [“The Well or the Cup How can you tell at the start what you can give away and what you must hold to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ryan/the-well-or-the-cup-how-can-you-tell-at-the-start-what-you-can-give/)

[Kay Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ryan/)

> [A shot that goes in the cup is pure luck, but a shot to within two feet of the flag is skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hogan/a-shot-that-goes-in-the-cup-is-pure-luck-but-a-shot-to-within-two/)

[Ben Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hogan/)

> [You did it! Congratulations! World's best cup of coffee! Great job, everybody! It's great to be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/you-did-it-congratulations-world-s-best-cup-of-coffee-great-job/)

[Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/)

> [If someone asks you to make a cup of coffee, make the best cup of coffee they’ve ever had, because why would they trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-haines/if-someone-asks-you-to-make-a-cup-of-coffee-make-the-best-cup-of/)

Sara Haines

> [The FA Cup is still domestically the best cup in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hoddle/the-fa-cup-is-still-domestically-the-best-cup-in-the-world/)

[Glenn Hoddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hoddle/)

> [“This was going to be the best cup of tea ever, even if it did look piss weak and oily. He took a gentle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-dunn/this-was-going-to-be-the-best-cup-of-tea-ever-even-if-it-did-look/)

Simon Dunn

> [What goes best with a cup of coffee? Another cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/what-goes-best-with-a-cup-of-coffee-another-cup/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [ We had a guy, a gentlemen by the name of Mr. Greenleaf who lived behind the house we were shooting \[Fences\], and he was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-had-a-guy-a-gentlemen-by-the-name-of-mr-greenleaf-who-lived-behind/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/)

[Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/)

> [I like to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee on the terrace and read a book. I like to travel the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-vos/i-like-to-sit-down-relax-have-a-cup-of-coffee-on-the-terrace-and-read/)

[Marianne Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-vos/)

> [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/)

[Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/)

> [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-whole-purpose-of-places-like-starbucks-is-for-people-with-no/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [White Coffee Really Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-saicha/white-coffee-really-helps/)

[Anwar Saicha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-saicha/)

> [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/)

[Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/)

## More by Denzel Washington

> [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/)

> [My father was a minister for 50 years with Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. We prayed about everything, every day, then he always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/my-father-was-a-minister-for-50-years-with-pentecostal-church-of-god/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Family is life; acting is making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/talent-comes-from-god-if-you-have-been-given-some-then-value-it/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [ I'll be working with Ridley's \[Scott\] brother, Tony, again, someone who needless to say we've had a great amount of success together. I trust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ll-be-working-with-ridley-s-scott-brother-tony-again-someone-who/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-found-that-nothing-in-life-is-worthwhile-unless-you-take-risks/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [I and haven't been unemployed for 20 years. I'm an exception to the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-and-haven-t-been-unemployed-for-20-years-i-m-an-exception-to-the/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic make-up, but it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-m-very-proud-to-be-black-but-black-is-not-all-i-am-that-s-my/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [It's strictly business. If I loan you $25 million, I want my money back. I don't want to hear about the social impact. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/it-s-strictly-business-if-i-loan-you-25-million-i-want-my-money-back/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-have-an-enemy-then-learn-and-know-your-enemy-don-t-just-be-mad/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [“He taught us that everyone has a good story and the more of others you understand, the better your grasp of human nature, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/he-taught-us-that-everyone-has-a-good-story-and-the-more-of-others/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Religion to me is when man gets ahold of spirituality: "My god is right, yours is wrong." Religion to me is the human condition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/religion-to-me-is-when-man-gets-ahold-of-spirituality-my-god-is-right/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [I don't concern myself with award. I'd been to the party enough times to know it really didn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-award-i-d-been-to-the-party-enough-times/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [I've just directed a film called The Great Debaters, which is inspired by a true story about a young college debating team in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ve-just-directed-a-film-called-the-great-debaters-which-is-inspired/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

[Explore all 253 Denzel Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

## More Coffee quotes

> [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/)

[Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/)

> [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/)

[Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/)

> [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/)

[Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/)

> [I like to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee on the terrace and read a book. I like to travel the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-vos/i-like-to-sit-down-relax-have-a-cup-of-coffee-on-the-terrace-and-read/)

[Marianne Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-vos/)

> [White Coffee Really Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-saicha/white-coffee-really-helps/)

[Anwar Saicha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-saicha/)

> [“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-whole-purpose-of-places-like-starbucks-is-for-people-with-no/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [Coffee and tobacco are complete repose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/coffee-and-tobacco-are-complete-repose/)

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

> [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/)

[Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/)

> [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/)

[Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/)

> [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/)

[Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/)

> [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/)

[John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/)

> [I don't typically drink coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cavallari/i-don-t-typically-drink-coffee/)

[Kristin Cavallari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cavallari/)

> [I put hibiscus flower in every cup of tea I have. It's sweet, sexy, and cleansing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/i-put-hibiscus-flower-in-every-cup-of-tea-i-have-it-s-sweet-sexy-and/)

[Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/)

> [“That is why I love Starbucks. It doesn't matter how much money you have or what social world you're from, chances are you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyra-davis/that-is-why-i-love-starbucks-it-doesn-t-matter-how-much-money-you/)

[Kyra Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyra-davis/)

[Browse all 3,625 Coffee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Denzel Washington"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-making-the-best-cup-i-possibly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Coffee"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-making-the-best-cup-i-possibly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/denzel-washington-1345_coffee_if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-ma_2684158.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/denzel-washington-1345_coffee_if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-ma_2684158.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/denzel-washington-1345_coffee_if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-ma_2684158.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not…” — Denzel Washington",
                "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": "Denzel Washington",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I am a cup maker,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-making-the-best-cup-i-possibly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-i-am-a-cup-maker-i-m-interested-in-making-the-best-cup-i-possibly/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
