--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be yourself -- it's the one thing you can…" description: "\"Be yourself -- it's the one thing you can do better than anyone else.\" — Ethel Merman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/ethel-merman-11612_being-yourself_be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-d_1748544.png" --- # Be yourself -- it's the one thing you can do better than… ![“Be yourself -- it's the one thing you can do better than anyone else.” quote by Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/ethel-merman-11612_being-yourself_be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-d_1748544.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/ethel-merman-11612_being-yourself_be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-d_1748544.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/ethel-merman-11612_being-yourself_be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-d_1748544.png) > “Be yourself -- it's the one thing you can do better than anyone else.” [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being yourself is the one thing you can excel at better than anyone else. **In simple terms:** Your unique self is your greatest strength. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity to stand out. Themes self‑acceptance confidence individuality Mood confident encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career development - public speaking - creative pursuits - leadership Key Concepts personal branding performance art Questions to Reflect On - What unique qualities can you showcase? - How does authenticity influence your success? A Different Perspective May ignore the need for skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-yourself/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Love your children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-your-children/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-better/) ## Related quotes > [There is one thing we can do better than anyone else: we can be ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/there-is-one-thing-we-can-do-better-than-anyone-else-we-can-be/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [The thing you can do better than anyone else is love your children, because they're your children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rudolph/the-thing-you-can-do-better-than-anyone-else-is-love-your-children/) [Maya Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rudolph/) > [It seems as if when you try to do just one thing and nothing but, you can't do it at all. You do everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-hale/it-seems-as-if-when-you-try-to-do-just-one-thing-and-nothing-but-you/) [Nancy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-hale/) > [When you see the right thing to do, you'd better do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/when-you-see-the-right-thing-to-do-you-d-better-do-it/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [“The gifts and the lessons my father left me will last forever: Never take yourself too seriously, never miss a chance to laugh long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-serling/the-gifts-and-the-lessons-my-father-left-me-will-last-forever-never/) [Anne Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-serling/) > [You must acknowledge and experience this part of the universe. Karma is intricate, too vast. You would, with your limited human senses, consider it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuan-yin/you-must-acknowledge-and-experience-this-part-of-the-universe-karma/) [Kuan Yin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kuan-yin/) > [I walked away from this movie thinking how important it is to have a genuine selfless love for your children. You can really mess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/i-walked-away-from-this-movie-thinking-how-important-it-is-to-have-a/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [“You say that you love your children above everything else. And yet you are stealing their future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunberg/you-say-that-you-love-your-children-above-everything-else-and-yet-you/) [Greta Thunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunberg/) > [“You are still a good mom if you -forget to click a selfie with your kid -set boundaries with your little monsters -are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeksha-arora/you-are-still-a-good-mom-if-you-forget-to-click-a-selfie-with-your/) [Deeksha Arora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeksha-arora/) > [Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness, for even as he loves the arrow that flies, so he loves also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/let-your-bending-in-the-archer-s-hand-be-for-gladness-for-even-as-he/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while. Your children need your presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/to-bring-up-a-child-in-the-way-he-should-go-travel-that-way-yourself/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“As important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer or business leader will be, you are a human being first. And these human connections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/as-important-as-your-obligations-as-a-doctor-lawyer-or-business/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [You have to love your children unselfishly. That's hard. But it's the only way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/you-have-to-love-your-children-unselfishly-that-s-hard-but-it-s-the/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [Never give up on your child. But also, you have to love your child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-bridges/never-give-up-on-your-child-but-also-you-have-to-love-your-child/) [Todd Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-bridges/) > [One should think in terms of whether one is loving or not. The question of the object of love does not arise. With your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/one-should-think-in-terms-of-whether-one-is-loving-or-not-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## More by Ethel Merman > [You'll never prove you're too good for a job by not doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/you-ll-never-prove-you-re-too-good-for-a-job-by-not-doing-your-best/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I attend surprisingly few shows. The type of theater that is popular today just doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-attend-surprisingly-few-shows-the-type-of-theater-that-is-popular/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [At a flea market I always head for the junk jewelry table first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/at-a-flea-market-i-always-head-for-the-junk-jewelry-table-first/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [The only things I read are gossip columns. If I read three pages of a book, I'm out like a light. When I pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/the-only-things-i-read-are-gossip-columns-if-i-read-three-pages-of-a/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've never suffered stage fright. That fascinates people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-never-suffered-stage-fright-that-fascinates-people/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [You gotta have a gimmick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/you-gotta-have-a-gimmick/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I'll admit - I was honored to be on the cover of Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ll-admit-i-was-honored-to-be-on-the-cover-of-time/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [My father taught me to read music and play the piano-but not well, even though people have said that I'm a natural musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/my-father-taught-me-to-read-music-and-play-the-piano-but-not-well/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've made a wonderful living playing that theatrical character - the professional brassy dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-made-a-wonderful-living-playing-that-theatrical-character-the/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [Cole Porter had a worldwide reputation as a sophisticate and hedonist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/cole-porter-had-a-worldwide-reputation-as-a-sophisticate-and-hedonist/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [Broadway has been very good to me. But then, I've been very good to broadway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/broadway-has-been-very-good-to-me-but-then-i-ve-been-very-good-to/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I've never cooked. I can't do much more in the kitchen than make a cup of tea and some toast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-never-cooked-i-can-t-do-much-more-in-the-kitchen-than-make-a-cup/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [As far as dramas are concerned, it's considered passe for playwrights to turn out anything the average person can understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/as-far-as-dramas-are-concerned-it-s-considered-passe-for-playwrights/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I don't like to read. The only things I read are gossip columns. If someone gives me a book, it had better have lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-don-t-like-to-read-the-only-things-i-read-are-gossip-columns-if/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [I told her that there was something about Christmas carols that always brought tears to my eyes. I added that I also cry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-told-her-that-there-was-something-about-christmas-carols-that/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) [Explore all 59 Ethel Merman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) ## More Being yourself quotes > [Make-up can't cover up an ugly personality!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-up-can-t-cover-up-an-ugly-personality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/if-you-can-t-love-yourself-how-in-the-hell-you-gonna-love-somebody/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The thing about a pick-up line is, even if it works, then what? I just figure you unapologetically be yourself, and if it works,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-astin/the-thing-about-a-pick-up-line-is-even-if-it-works-then-what-i-just/) [Skylar Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-astin/) > [Say to yourself: 'Living essentially to please others is a monumental mistake.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-robinson/say-to-yourself-living-essentially-to-please-others-is-a-monumental/) [George Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-robinson/) > [About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/about-all-you-can-do-in-life-is-be-who-you-are-some-people-will-love/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [If you don't feel free and be yourself, you can't connect. Find people who accept your quirks. They'll heal your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/if-you-don-t-feel-free-and-be-yourself-you-can-t-connect-find-people/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not pretty,I'm not smart.I'm not perfect and some people don't think I'm worth it.But if you look inside and see,you will see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-price/i-m-not-pretty-i-m-not-smart-i-m-not-perfect-and-some-people-don-t/) [Lexi Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-price/) > [Your not born knowing what sex you like because you don't know what your feelings are, then before you know what sex you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brown/your-not-born-knowing-what-sex-you-like-because-you-don-t-know-what/) [Charlie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brown/) > [You can't be everything to everyone. No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently. So concentrate on doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kitavi/you-can-t-be-everything-to-everyone-no-matter-what-you-do-there-will/) [Jonathan Kitavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kitavi/) > [The clashes of people and the clashes of cultures have assisted me in learning the openness you have to be a part of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kissey/the-clashes-of-people-and-the-clashes-of-cultures-have-assisted-me-in/) [Kissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kissey/) > [Celebrate all the things you don't like about yourself. love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/celebrate-all-the-things-you-don-t-like-about-yourself-love-yourself/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“If you're the smartest person in the room, you might wanna switch rooms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-newby/if-you-re-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-you-might-wanna-switch-rooms/) [Sabrina Newby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-newby/) > [Stop trying to impress other and start impressing yourself !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kale-bell/stop-trying-to-impress-other-and-start-impressing-yourself/) [Kale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kale-bell/) [Browse all 1,461 Being yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be yourself -- it's the one thing you can do better than anyone else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ethel Merman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-do-better-than-anyone-else/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-do-better-than-anyone-else/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/ethel-merman-11612_being-yourself_be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-d_1748544.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/ethel-merman-11612_being-yourself_be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-d_1748544.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/ethel-merman-11612_being-yourself_be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-d_1748544.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be yourself -- it's the one thing you can do better than anyone else.” — Ethel Merman", "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": "Ethel Merman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be yourself -- it's the one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-do-better-than-anyone-else/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/be-yourself-it-s-the-one-thing-you-can-do-better-than-anyone-else/#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 } } ] } ```