--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always think I could do better. I…" description: "\"I always think I could do better. I always think that something could be more perfect, but I think that that's just within my nature. I think I want to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/emmy-rossum-9076_character_i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-alway_1542525.png" --- # I always think I could do better. I always think that… ![“I always think I could do better. I always think that something could be more perfect, but I think that that's just within my nature. I think I want to please a director, I want to give my everything and find every which way I could have burrowed further into a character.” quote by Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/emmy-rossum-9076_character_i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-alway_1542525.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/emmy-rossum-9076_character_i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-alway_1542525.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/emmy-rossum-9076_character_i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-alway_1542525.png) > “I always think I could do better. I always think that something could be more perfect, but I think that that's just within my nature. I think I want to please a director, I want to give my everything and find every which way I could have burrowed further into a character.” [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She feels an endless drive for self‑improvement and perfection in her craft, seeing it as innate. **In simple terms:** Constantly seeking to improve and please others. Key Takeaway Embrace growth but set realistic standards. Themes perfectionism self‑improvement artistic drive Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - acting auditions - creative projects - personal development Key Concepts Intrinsic motivation self‑criticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance striving for excellence with self‑acceptance? - When does seeking approval hinder authenticity? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can cause burnout and dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Director Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-want/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Think Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-better/) [Think Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-perfect/) [Think Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-want/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-director-368075/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [When you trust the director you want to trust his or her choices. I don't want to say, 'No, I don't like this girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/when-you-trust-the-director-you-want-to-trust-his-or-her-choices-i/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I've had friends who have come away who've said, "I shouldn't have become such close friends with the director." You always want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-booth/i-ve-had-friends-who-have-come-away-who-ve-said-i-shouldn-t-have/) [Douglas Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-booth/) > [I don't want to be a director. I want to direct. There's a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-feldman/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-i-want-to-direct-there-s-a-difference/) [Marty Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-feldman/) > [But I did on projects that I produced, that I directed, that I acted in because it was important. I want to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eriq-la-salle/but-i-did-on-projects-that-i-produced-that-i-directed-that-i-acted-in/) [Eriq La Salle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eriq-la-salle/) > [You want to give the director what they want, and you don't always know exactly how it goes, so you want to try it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wittrock/you-want-to-give-the-director-what-they-want-and-you-don-t-always/) [Finn Wittrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wittrock/) > [Sometimes you can't even find the director on a movie set. Sometimes you don't want to find the director on a movie set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/sometimes-you-can-t-even-find-the-director-on-a-movie-set-sometimes/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [As a writer and director, I want to know what is behind the good manners and soft voice. Who is inside the silhouette?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/as-a-writer-and-director-i-want-to-know-what-is-behind-the-good/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [I was an executive producer. I've done a lot of jobs and I think each one helps you get closer to what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-was-an-executive-producer-i-ve-done-a-lot-of-jobs-and-i-think-each/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) > [I want to be a director's actor and stay true to their vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuthirakani/i-want-to-be-a-director-s-actor-and-stay-true-to-their-vision/) [Samuthirakani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuthirakani/) > [Your job, as an actor, is never to just do what you're told. That's boring, and life is too short. It's your job to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/your-job-as-an-actor-is-never-to-just-do-what-you-re-told-that-s/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I want to direct every now and then, but I don't want to be a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/i-want-to-direct-every-now-and-then-but-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [I didn't want to be a director for hire. It really just took me a long time to learn how to direct and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-director-for-hire-it-really-just-took-me-a-long/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [One thing I know is that I don't want to be a director for hire, making genre films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mazursky/one-thing-i-know-is-that-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-for-hire/) [Paul Mazursky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mazursky/) > [There were movies that always made me want to be a director. You see brilliant scenes and the way the emotions were handled. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/there-were-movies-that-always-made-me-want-to-be-a-director-you-see/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [As an actor, you want a director who makes you feel comfortable in a place that you can really create and try a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/as-an-actor-you-want-a-director-who-makes-you-feel-comfortable-in-a/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) ## More by Emmy Rossum > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [She's lonely and wounded and very vulnerable and it really is a story about people at the heart of it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/she-s-lonely-and-wounded-and-very-vulnerable-and-it-really-is-a-story/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [Life can be very funny and very tragic. Everyone has stuff that they've been through that makes up whatever fire it is that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/life-can-be-very-funny-and-very-tragic-everyone-has-stuff-that-they/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [I just really gravitate towards a nostalgia for a time when things were simpler. When beauty was more classical and glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-just-really-gravitate-towards-a-nostalgia-for-a-time-when-things/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [I've never had my brows done - I tweeze them myself. I used to watch my mom pluck her brows, that's how I learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-ve-never-had-my-brows-done-i-tweeze-them-myself-i-used-to-watch-my/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [There's something safe about playing a character, but then it's like, 'Who am I underneath it all?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/there-s-something-safe-about-playing-a-character-but-then-it-s-like/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [I love to create and I love to be challenged and I love to do things that are scary, so I think I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-love-to-create-and-i-love-to-be-challenged-and-i-love-to-do-things/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [If I can't find a project that I'm really interested in, I'll just go back to college where I've been studying art history and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/if-i-can-t-find-a-project-that-i-m-really-interested-in-i-ll-just-go/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [Never get your girlfriend a pet that she didn't know she was getting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/never-get-your-girlfriend-a-pet-that-she-didn-t-know-she-was-getting/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [I hate cats. But this cancer cat made me feel bad, so I was like, Okay, I'll take her back to L. A. and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-hate-cats-but-this-cancer-cat-made-me-feel-bad-so-i-was-like-okay-i/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [Everyone messes up in relationships and has peaks and valleys in their personal lives. When I realized it wasn't the end of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/everyone-messes-up-in-relationships-and-has-peaks-and-valleys-in/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [I'm an actor, so I love to be degraded!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-m-an-actor-so-i-love-to-be-degraded/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [Too many times you come across lyrics that sound like you've heard them before or you can't really relate to them. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/too-many-times-you-come-across-lyrics-that-sound-like-you-ve-heard/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [I love the silhouettes of the '50s that were feminine and womanly without being too revealing. I've always gravitated towards that kind of sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-love-the-silhouettes-of-the-50s-that-were-feminine-and-womanly/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [Hey @giseleofficial, I feel ya girl. #kidding #fakebaby #soymilk #shameless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/hey-giseleofficial-i-feel-ya-girl-kidding-fakebaby-soymilk-shameless/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) [Explore all 75 Emmy Rossum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [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/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always think I could do better. I always think that something could be more perfect, but I think that that's just within my nature. I think I want to please a director, I want to give my everything and find every which way I could have burrowed further into a character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emmy Rossum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-always-think-that-something-could/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-always-think-that-something-could/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/emmy-rossum-9076_character_i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-alway_1542525.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/emmy-rossum-9076_character_i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-alway_1542525.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/emmy-rossum-9076_character_i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-alway_1542525.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always think I could do better. I always think that something could be more perfect, but I think that…” — Emmy Rossum", "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": "Emmy Rossum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always think I could do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-always-think-that-something-could/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-always-think-i-could-do-better-i-always-think-that-something-could/#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 } } ] } ```