--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best thing anyone can do is be…" description: "\"The best thing anyone can do is be himself. Everyone was made different by God, and that's the way it should be. And if I were a writer or an announcer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/ernie-harwell-11729_am_the-best-thing-anyone-can-do-is-be-himse_3144682.png" --- # The best thing anyone can do is be himself. Everyone was… ![“The best thing anyone can do is be himself. Everyone was made different by God, and that's the way it should be. And if I were a writer or an announcer starting out, I don't think I'd imitate anybody. I'd try to be whatever I am.” quote by Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/ernie-harwell-11729_am_the-best-thing-anyone-can-do-is-be-himse_3144682.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/ernie-harwell-11729_am_the-best-thing-anyone-can-do-is-be-himse_3144682.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/ernie-harwell-11729_am_the-best-thing-anyone-can-do-is-be-himse_3144682.png) > “The best thing anyone can do is be himself. Everyone was made different by God, and that's the way it should be. And if I were a writer or an announcer starting out, I don't think I'd imitate anybody. I'd try to be whatever I am.” [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authenticity matters; individuality is a divine gift, and imitation hinders personal growth. **In simple terms:** Be true to yourself. Key Takeaway Cultivate authenticity over imitation. Themes individuality authenticity spirituality growth Mood thoughtful encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - creative writing - leadership Key Concepts self‑acceptance divine uniqueness personal development Questions to Reflect On - What does being yourself look like in your work? - How can you support others in embracing their uniqueness? A Different Perspective Authenticity can be challenged by social pressure to conform. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of people think that if they imitate the style of someone very successful then they would get more opportunities, which is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonita-gandhi/a-lot-of-people-think-that-if-they-imitate-the-style-of-someone-very/) [Jonita Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonita-gandhi/) > [You are you, be yourself never imitate anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-chinwuba/you-are-you-be-yourself-never-imitate-anybody/) Cyril Chinwuba > [When you build a career, you should never imitate anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/when-you-build-a-career-you-should-never-imitate-anybody/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I didn't want to imitate anybody. Any movement I knew, I didn't want to use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pina-bausch/i-didn-t-want-to-imitate-anybody-any-movement-i-knew-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Pina Bausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pina-bausch/) > [The game's the thing. That's why people tune in. They don't tune in to hear an announcer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/the-game-s-the-thing-that-s-why-people-tune-in-they-don-t-tune-in-to/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [What happens with any announcer when he comes into an area, if he stays four or five years and does a fairly decent job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/what-happens-with-any-announcer-when-he-comes-into-an-area-if-he/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [I think once you start as an announcer, you have to decide what kind of approach you're going to have. I decided very early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/i-think-once-you-start-as-an-announcer-you-have-to-decide-what-kind/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [Harmelody allows everybody to be an individual who does not have to imitate anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/harmelody-allows-everybody-to-be-an-individual-who-does-not-have-to/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [My style is unique and it's my own. I do not try to copy or imitate anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/my-style-is-unique-and-it-s-my-own-i-do-not-try-to-copy-or-imitate/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [Work hard and figure out how to be useful and don't try to imitate anybody else's success. Figure out how to do it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/work-hard-and-figure-out-how-to-be-useful-and-don-t-try-to-imitate/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [As I slowly managed to take what I had learned into a transition from contestant to announcer and warm-up, I first had to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-west/as-i-slowly-managed-to-take-what-i-had-learned-into-a-transition-from/) [Randy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-west/) > [Nobody, but nobody stays a public-address announcer for more than a couple of years. Truly. Public-address announcing is not a career. Public-address announcers only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-sheppard/nobody-but-nobody-stays-a-public-address-announcer-for-more-than-a/) Bob Sheppard > [One of my favourite fighters to watch ever, and of course before I was a ring announcer, was Muhammad Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/one-of-my-favourite-fighters-to-watch-ever-and-of-course-before-i-was/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [It's been the video game ever since I got out of coaching. 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That's baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/a-tall-thin-old-man-waving-a-scorecard-from-the-corner-of-his-dugout/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [I have great faith that Heaven's there and I'll see my brothers and my mom and dad when I get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/i-have-great-faith-that-heaven-s-there-and-i-ll-see-my-brothers-and/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [Baseball is a spirited race of man against man, reflex against reflex. A game of inches. Every skill is measured. Every heroic, every failing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/baseball-is-a-spirited-race-of-man-against-man-reflex-against-reflex/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [Also I'm a part of the people that I've worked with in baseball that have been so great to me, Mr. Earl Mann of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/also-i-m-a-part-of-the-people-that-i-ve-worked-with-in-baseball-that/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [Why the fairy tale of Willie Mays making a brilliant World Series catch, and then dashing off to play stickball in the street with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/why-the-fairy-tale-of-willie-mays-making-a-brilliant-world-series/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [When I went to Brooklyn in 1948 Jackie Robinson was at the height of his brilliant career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/when-i-went-to-brooklyn-in-1948-jackie-robinson-was-at-the-height-of/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [In my almost 92 years on this earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/in-my-almost-92-years-on-this-earth-the-good-lord-has-blessed-me-with/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [Baseball just a came as simple as a ball and bat. Yet, as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. A sport, a business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/baseball-just-a-came-as-simple-as-a-ball-and-bat-yet-as-complex-as/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [I think if you checked the attendance records of all the announcers, you'd find a lot better record than you would of anybody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/i-think-if-you-checked-the-attendance-records-of-all-the-announcers/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [In radio, they say, nothing happens until the announcer says it happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/in-radio-they-say-nothing-happens-until-the-announcer-says-it-happens/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [So much happened (in 1968) it was hard to keep up with everything. We had Denny McLain's thirty-one victories, Gates Brown's great pinch-hitting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/so-much-happened-in-1968-it-was-hard-to-keep-up-with-everything-we/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [That other saying, I'm a part of all that I have met, I think that would have to begin with my wonderful parents back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/that-other-saying-i-m-a-part-of-all-that-i-have-met-i-think-that/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [Sparky's the only guy I know who's written more books than he's read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/sparky-s-the-only-guy-i-know-who-s-written-more-books-than-he-s-read/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face life. I love the family values they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/i-deeply-appreciate-the-people-of-michigan-i-love-their-grit-i-love/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) [Explore all 58 Ernie Harwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. 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