--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The closer you can get to being personal…" description: "\"The closer you can get to being personal, the better the work is, or the more interesting the work is.\" — James Gray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/james-gray-7197_being_the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal_1384954.jpg" --- # The closer you can get to being personal, the better the… ![“The closer you can get to being personal, the better the work is, or the more interesting the work is.” quote by James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/james-gray-7197_being_the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal_1384954.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/james-gray-7197_being_the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal_1384954.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/james-gray-7197_being_the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal_1384954.jpg) > “The closer you can get to being personal, the better the work is, or the more interesting the work is.” [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal connection enhances creativity and relevance, making work more compelling and engaging. **In simple terms:** Being personal makes work better. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal relevance in projects. Themes creativity personalization engagement Mood inspired thoughtful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - writing - design - marketing - team collaboration Key Concepts human connection authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal voice with universal relevance? - What personal experiences can enrich your work? A Different Perspective Personal focus may limit broader appeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [My original business model - I actually wrote this down - was 'interesting work for interesting people.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/my-original-business-model-i-actually-wrote-this-down-was-interesting/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [“Think about what he likes and what he's interested in. Something personal is always better than something expensive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-summers/think-about-what-he-likes-and-what-he-s-interested-in-something/) [Tamara Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-summers/) > [God bless my soul, woman, the more personal you are the better! This is a story of human beings - not dummies! Be personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/god-bless-my-soul-woman-the-more-personal-you-are-the-better-this-is/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Mixtapes are very personal, and they describe who you are better than an album sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/mixtapes-are-very-personal-and-they-describe-who-you-are-better-than/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [I'm a forthright person and I am ambitious and I do hope that I get to do more, interesting work but not at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-clark/i-m-a-forthright-person-and-i-am-ambitious-and-i-do-hope-that-i-get/) [Jessica Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-clark/) > [It's interesting work for me to tell my life, as a possibility for other people to relate it to themselves - not so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/it-s-interesting-work-for-me-to-tell-my-life-as-a-possibility-for/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [The research is the most interesting part… That’s how I work. I go some place and I walk it and I talk to people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cruz-smith/the-research-is-the-most-interesting-part-that-s-how-i-work-i-go-some/) [Martin Cruz Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cruz-smith/) > [The more interesting the 9-to-5 work is, the more it takes away from my real work, which is writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rossner/the-more-interesting-the-9-to-5-work-is-the-more-it-takes-away-from/) [Judith Rossner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rossner/) > [I think a lot of the most interesting work in art and in films are often kind of polarized opinions and affect people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-cole/i-think-a-lot-of-the-most-interesting-work-in-art-and-in-films-are/) [Lily Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-cole/) > [In order to continue to do interesting work, you need to be...proceeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/in-order-to-continue-to-do-interesting-work-you-need-to-be-proceeding/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [A good deal of large and rather interesting work is drifting my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/a-good-deal-of-large-and-rather-interesting-work-is-drifting-my-way/) [Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/) > [Almost everything is interesting if you work at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/almost-everything-is-interesting-if-you-work-at-it/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [I find working on brands some of the most interesting work you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-millman/i-find-working-on-brands-some-of-the-most-interesting-work-you-can-do/) [Debbie Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-millman/) > [There was really interesting work going on, for example, in the Mississippi bayou, where there were some really exemplary health centers that also became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/there-was-really-interesting-work-going-on-for-example-in-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [There are so many people who write really interesting work and try super hard and still don't get published.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-perks/there-are-so-many-people-who-write-really-interesting-work-and-try/) [Micah Perks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-perks/) ## More by James Gray > [The key to acting - from what little I know about that wonderful craft - is listening, and interacting with the other person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-key-to-acting-from-what-little-i-know-about-that-wonderful-craft/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I've learned that you can never predict what will happen to a film. You can never predict if people will love it, if they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-never-predict-what-will-happen-to-a-film/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I don't envy the job of people who have to watch five movies a day - that's insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-don-t-envy-the-job-of-people-who-have-to-watch-five-movies-a-day/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [Most people don't watch a movie four or five times; they watch it once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/most-people-don-t-watch-a-movie-four-or-five-times-they-watch-it-once/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I'm just not willing to give up on myself. If I'm going to fail, then I want to fail to the limits of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-m-just-not-willing-to-give-up-on-myself-if-i-m-going-to-fail-then-i/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I am an Ashkenazi Jew, and there are a whole host of genetic disorders that only Ashkenazi Jews have. I don't know if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-am-an-ashkenazi-jew-and-there-are-a-whole-host-of-genetic-disorders/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [All I can say is sometimes home gets burned into your occipital lobe, and it can't leave you, and there's always that longing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/all-i-can-say-is-sometimes-home-gets-burned-into-your-occipital-lobe/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [William Atherton has a very different acting style to Bonnie Bedelia; she has a very different style than Bruce Willis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/william-atherton-has-a-very-different-acting-style-to-bonnie-bedelia/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [There are very few movies in English about romantic obsession told with a seriousness of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/there-are-very-few-movies-in-english-about-romantic-obsession-told/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I would love it if my films made a lot of money, and may I say that 'The Yards' is the only one that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-would-love-it-if-my-films-made-a-lot-of-money-and-may-i-say-that/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [My wife thinks I have an obsession with social class. So I guess I have an obsession with social class. It probably stems from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/my-wife-thinks-i-have-an-obsession-with-social-class-so-i-guess-i/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I remember as a little kid, I would always feel comfortable if the light in the crack of my parents' door was on at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-remember-as-a-little-kid-i-would-always-feel-comfortable-if-the/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [If we continue as we have for the past 20 years in California, in the year 2020, everybody in the State will either be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/if-we-continue-as-we-have-for-the-past-20-years-in-california-in-the/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [Really, what I'm doing is an attempt to continue the best work of the people I adore: Francis Coppola and Scorsese and Robert Altman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/really-what-i-m-doing-is-an-attempt-to-continue-the-best-work-of-the/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I think to be a movie critic is troubling from one major respect. If you are forced to watch ten movies a week, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-think-to-be-a-movie-critic-is-troubling-from-one-major-respect-if/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) [Explore all 93 James Gray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [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/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The closer you can get to being personal, the better the work is, or the more interesting the work is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Gray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal-the-better-the-work-is-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal-the-better-the-work-is-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/james-gray-7197_being_the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal_1384954.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/james-gray-7197_being_the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal_1384954.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffd/james-gray-7197_being_the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal_1384954.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The closer you can get to being personal, the better the work is, or the more interesting the work is.” — James Gray", "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": "James Gray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The closer you can get to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal-the-better-the-work-is-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-closer-you-can-get-to-being-personal-the-better-the-work-is-or/#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 } } ] } ```