--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not quite as cool as I would like to…" description: "\"I'm not quite as cool as I would like to be, really.\" — Ian Mckellen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/ian-mckellen-1396_cool_i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to_2597820.jpg" --- # I'm not quite as cool as I would like to be, really. ![“I'm not quite as cool as I would like to be, really.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/ian-mckellen-1396_cool_i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to_2597820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/ian-mckellen-1396_cool_i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to_2597820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/ian-mckellen-1396_cool_i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to_2597820.jpg) > “I'm not quite as cool as I would like to be, really.” [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑perception often falls short of desired identity, revealing humility. **In simple terms:** I’m not as cool as I want to be. Key Takeaway Accept imperfections. Themes self‑image humility aspiration Mood humorous self‑aware Type personal motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - self‑assessment - career growth Key Concepts identity confidence Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑critique affect growth? - What steps improve self‑image? A Different Perspective May limit confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [For some comedians it feels so cool to be like: 'I'll say anything, man!'. I'm not quite there yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/for-some-comedians-it-feels-so-cool-to-be-like-i-ll-say-anything-man/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I think you go through a period as a teenager of being quite cool and unaffected by things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-otto/i-think-you-go-through-a-period-as-a-teenager-of-being-quite-cool-and/) [Miranda Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-otto/) > [It feels quite cool, in a mad way, to be someone who skulks about in the shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baynham/it-feels-quite-cool-in-a-mad-way-to-be-someone-who-skulks-about-in/) [Peter Baynham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baynham/) > [I'm quite cool about my sex symbol image. It's nothing to be proud of or ashamed of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urmila-matondkar/i-m-quite-cool-about-my-sex-symbol-image-it-s-nothing-to-be-proud-of/) [Urmila Matondkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urmila-matondkar/) > [But Freedom Strike was actually quite cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-freedom-strike-was-actually-quite-cool/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Reworking other tracks is also quite cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-garrix/reworking-other-tracks-is-also-quite-cool/) [Martin Garrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-garrix/) > [Country's cool if you like that kind of thing, but it doesn't have the complexity or - what's the word? - subtlety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/country-s-cool-if-you-like-that-kind-of-thing-but-it-doesn-t-have-the/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) > [Being alone is cool, like you don't have a fear of getting rejected & at least you have time for yourself, if no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-alone-is-cool-like-you-don-t-have-a-fear-of-getting-rejected-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [- I love her she is so cool.Not like the Jade in the show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/me-d-2/i-love-her-she-is-so-cool-not-like-the-jade-in-the-show/) [Me:D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/me-d-2/) > [I'm real cool, like to smile, and like to have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bennett/i-m-real-cool-like-to-smile-and-like-to-have-fun/) [Anthony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bennett/) > [They very seldom let me lose my cool. They made me like I was Polly Perfect, which was ridiculous so that when I bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rae/they-very-seldom-let-me-lose-my-cool-they-made-me-like-i-was-polly/) [Charlotte Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rae/) > [I almost bought a DeLorean the other day just because. If I see something that I think is cool and I like it, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-almost-bought-a-delorean-the-other-day-just-because-if-i-see/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) > [“Don't be cool. Like everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaky-kane/don-t-be-cool-like-everything/) Shaky Kane > [I don't think anybody's so cool that it's like, 'I've never had my heart broken.' Like, c'mon, that's crap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-don-t-think-anybody-s-so-cool-that-it-s-like-i-ve-never-had-my/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [We'll just play it cool, like Elvis at 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-benatar/we-ll-just-play-it-cool-like-elvis-at-19/) [Pat Benatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-benatar/) ## More by Ian Mckellen > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. No actor wants to play to an empty house. We only do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-ve-always-longed-for-the-theatre-and-acting-to-be-popular-no-actor/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [It's my impression that I've done every job that I've been asked to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/it-s-my-impression-that-i-ve-done-every-job-that-i-ve-been-asked-to-do/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-fortunate-to-be-famous-for-two-rather-imposing-characters-like/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Tolkien is as good as Dickens at sketching a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/tolkien-is-as-good-as-dickens-at-sketching-a-scene/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [If you are playing King Lear you are the centre of attention anyway. You don't need to draw attention to yourself. It's all laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/if-you-are-playing-king-lear-you-are-the-centre-of-attention-anyway/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Godot is whatever it is in life that you are waiting for: 'I'm waiting to win the lottery. I'm waiting to fall in love'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/godot-is-whatever-it-is-in-life-that-you-are-waiting-for-i-m-waiting/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm only an actor. I'm not a writer. I'm not going to leave any legacy. All I've ever done is learn the lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-only-an-actor-i-m-not-a-writer-i-m-not-going-to-leave-any-legacy/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'd never read 'Lord of the Rings' until I was asked to play Gandalf, so I didn't really know it was a frightfully famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-d-never-read-lord-of-the-rings-until-i-was-asked-to-play-gandalf-so/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [You might be surprised by how interested young people are in older people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/you-might-be-surprised-by-how-interested-young-people-are-in-older/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [The strength of British theatre should be that these actors in their middle years know what they're doing and are good at it. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-strength-of-british-theatre-should-be-that-these-actors-in-their/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/elijah-looks-angelic-but-his-beauty-of-spirit-is-what-makes-his-frodo/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > ['The Lego Movie?' I've never heard of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-lego-movie-i-ve-never-heard-of-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When I appeared in 'Coronation Street,' I lived in Manchester and enjoyed it very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/when-i-appeared-in-coronation-street-i-lived-in-manchester-and/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/before-acting-i-wanted-to-become-a-journalist-i-also-toyed-with-the/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) [Explore all 247 Ian Mckellen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More Cool quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [Vo5C0y Muchos Gracias for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serivce/vo5c0y-muchos-gracias-for-your-article-really-looking-forward-to-read/) Serivce > [What a cool job to be part of - whether it's doing lighting or acting or serving food on set. You're part of telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/what-a-cool-job-to-be-part-of-whether-it-s-doing-lighting-or-acting/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [Jail is definitely not cool. Education is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-rule/jail-is-definitely-not-cool-education-is/) [Ja Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-rule/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [My family environment wasn't cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/my-family-environment-wasn-t-cool/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [It would be really cool to have my dad here to witness this, to see his grandchildren, to see this woman that I chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/it-would-be-really-cool-to-have-my-dad-here-to-witness-this-to-see/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [To us, being the bad guys is cool, because we always root for the bad guys in the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/to-us-being-the-bad-guys-is-cool-because-we-always-root-for-the-bad/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [On my podcast, I got to interview Will Ferrell, Sam Hunt, Colin Cowherd - all these different names - and it was just really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-darnold/on-my-podcast-i-got-to-interview-will-ferrell-sam-hunt-colin-cowherd/) [Sam Darnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-darnold/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I had always been scared of the unknown, and I think it had a lot to do with a lack of self-confidence (and wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-had-always-been-scared-of-the-unknown-and-i-think-it-had-a-lot-to/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [There are a lot of movies about misfits that are quite cool, that kind of glamorize it on some level. I think there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-about-misfits-that-are-quite-cool-that-kind/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) Browse all 4,681 Cool quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not quite as cool as I would like to be, really.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ian Mckellen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to-be-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cool" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to-be-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/ian-mckellen-1396_cool_i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to_2597820.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/ian-mckellen-1396_cool_i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to_2597820.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/ian-mckellen-1396_cool_i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to_2597820.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not quite as cool as I would like to be, really.” — Ian Mckellen", "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": "Ian Mckellen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not quite as cool as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to-be-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-not-quite-as-cool-as-i-would-like-to-be-really/#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 } } ] } ```