---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're only as much as you settle for. If…"
description: "\"You're only as much as you settle for. If they settle for being somebody's dishwasher that's their own f***ing problem. If you don't settle for that an..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/janis-joplin-6558_dishwashers_you-re-only-as-much-as-you-settle-for-if_1924140.jpg"
---

#  You're only as much as you settle for. If they settle for…

![“You're only as much as you settle for. If they settle for being somebody's dishwasher that's their own f&#42;&#42;&#42;ing problem. If you don't settle for that and you keep fighting it, you know, you'll end up anything you want to be.” quote by Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/janis-joplin-6558_dishwashers_you-re-only-as-much-as-you-settle-for-if_1924140.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/janis-joplin-6558_dishwashers_you-re-only-as-much-as-you-settle-for-if_1924140.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/janis-joplin-6558_dishwashers_you-re-only-as-much-as-you-settle-for-if_1924140.jpg)

> “You're only as much as you settle for. If they settle for being somebody's dishwasher that's their own f\*\*\*ing problem. If you don't settle for that and you keep fighting it, you know, you'll end up anything you want to be.”

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

You define yourself by refusing to accept low expectations; fighting for higher aspirations.

**In simple terms:** Don’t settle for low roles.

Key Takeaway

Pursue your true potential.

Themes

self‑worth ambition resilience

Mood

motivational empowering

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- creative pursuits
- personal development

Key Concepts

personal growth social mobility

Questions to Reflect On

- What limits your aspirations?
- How can you overcome them?

A Different Perspective

Success requires external support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dishwasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishwasher/) [Dishwasher Ing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishwasher-ing-2973086/) [Dishwashers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishwashers/) [End Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-want-408670/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Settling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling/) [Somebody Dishwasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-dishwasher-2973085/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/)

## Related quotes

> [Everything important I learned, I learned as a dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/everything-important-i-learned-i-learned-as-a-dishwasher/)

[Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/)

> [You wouldn't put your soul in a dishwasher!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaharu-morimoto/you-wouldn-t-put-your-soul-in-a-dishwasher/)

[Masaharu Morimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaharu-morimoto/)

> [I live in, literally, the same home when I was swiping my first bank card and wondering if I'd have to put back the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-live-in-literally-the-same-home-when-i-was-swiping-my-first-bank/)

[Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/)

> [The society, is, a dishwasher, where all the water, is, dead chipmunk blood. God I'm brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/the-society-is-a-dishwasher-where-all-the-water-is-dead-chipmunk/)

[Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/)

> [I'm a very good dishwasher. I'm a terrible cook. I'm an awful cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/i-m-a-very-good-dishwasher-i-m-a-terrible-cook-i-m-an-awful-cook/)

[Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/)

> [“You emptied the top rack of the dishwasher but not the bottom, so the clean dishes have gotten all mixed up with the dirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/you-emptied-the-top-rack-of-the-dishwasher-but-not-the-bottom-so-the/)

[Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/)

> [As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/as-for-money-when-i-have-it-it-s-great-when-i-don-t-i-go-get-some-i/)

[Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/)

> [My family keeps me pretty grounded. Like if I try anything diva, they're like, 'Oh shut up. Go and do the dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/my-family-keeps-me-pretty-grounded-like-if-i-try-anything-diva-they/)

[Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/)

> [Multi-Choice question: My dishwasher is: efficient; hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/multi-choice-question-my-dishwasher-is-efficient-hilarious/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [Babies aren't dishwasher-safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/babies-aren-t-dishwasher-safe/)

[Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/)

> [YOU are using a frisbee as a plate." "Uh, what? I'm not using a--oh hang on, this is a frisbee. Weird." Victor glared at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/you-are-using-a-frisbee-as-a-plate-uh-what-i-m-not-using-a-oh-hang-on/)

[Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/)

> [My coolest job was when I was 12 and I was a dishwasher at the Three Pigs Bar-B-Que for $2.50 an hour. All the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/my-coolest-job-was-when-i-was-12-and-i-was-a-dishwasher-at-the-three/)

[Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/)

> [I don't function well in chaos, whether it be my sheets or the dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/i-don-t-function-well-in-chaos-whether-it-be-my-sheets-or-the/)

[Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/)

> [If you want a reliable tip, drive into a town, go to the nearest appliance store and seek out the dishwasher repair man. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-q-miller/if-you-want-a-reliable-tip-drive-into-a-town-go-to-the-nearest/)

[Bryan Q. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-q-miller/)

> [I'm not a dishwasher anymore. But I'm still from Sangamon Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-dishwasher-anymore-but-i-m-still-from-sangamon-street/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Janis Joplin

> [Guess what, I might be the first hippie pinup girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/guess-what-i-might-be-the-first-hippie-pinup-girl/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/gimme-a-pigfoot-and-a-bottle-of-beer/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [All my life I just wanted to be a beatnik. Meet all the heavies, get stoned, get laid, have a good time. That's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/all-my-life-i-just-wanted-to-be-a-beatnik-meet-all-the-heavies-get/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/on-stage-i-make-love-to-twenty-five-thousand-people-and-then-i-go/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [I'm a victim of my own insides. There was a time when I wanted to know everything. It used to make me very unhappy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/i-m-a-victim-of-my-own-insides-there-was-a-time-when-i-wanted-to-know/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [“Tomorrow never happens. It’s all the same fucking day, man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/tomorrow-never-happens-it-s-all-the-same-fucking-day-man/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [All of a sudden, someone threw me in front of this rock and roll band. And I decided then and there that was it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/all-of-a-sudden-someone-threw-me-in-front-of-this-rock-and-roll-band/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [You are what you settle for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/you-are-what-you-settle-for/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [If you've got a today, don't wear it tomorrow. Tomorrow never happens. It's all the same day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/if-you-ve-got-a-today-don-t-wear-it-tomorrow-tomorrow-never-happens/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [This whole thing that's happened to me, you see, this whole success thing..it hasn't yet really compromised the position that I took a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/this-whole-thing-that-s-happened-to-me-you-see-this-whole-success/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [Like most girls I'm always really self-conscious about do I look fat, if my legs are short, if I'm weird shaped, but when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/like-most-girls-i-m-always-really-self-conscious-about-do-i-look-fat/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [You are what you settle for. You are only as much as you settle for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/you-are-what-you-settle-for-you-are-only-as-much-as-you-settle-for/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [It's not what isn't, it's what you wish was that makes unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/it-s-not-what-isn-t-it-s-what-you-wish-was-that-makes-unhappiness/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [I'm tired of all these hippie jack-offs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/i-m-tired-of-all-these-hippie-jack-offs/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

> [At my concerts most of the chicks are looking for liberation, they think I'm gonna show 'em how to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/at-my-concerts-most-of-the-chicks-are-looking-for-liberation-they/)

[Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

[Explore all 98 Janis Joplin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/)

## More Dishwasher quotes

> [Ninety-eight percent of the singing I did was private singing - it was in the shower, at the dishwasher, driving my car, singing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-singing-i-did-was-private-singing-it-was/)

[Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/)

> [Everything important I learned, I learned as a dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/everything-important-i-learned-i-learned-as-a-dishwasher/)

[Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/)

> [If you want a reliable tip, drive into a town, go to the nearest appliance store and seek out the dishwasher repair man. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-q-miller/if-you-want-a-reliable-tip-drive-into-a-town-go-to-the-nearest/)

[Bryan Q. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-q-miller/)

> [While we women dilly-dally, making decisions, leaving jobs half done, forgetting where we've put the house keys while we water the Hoover and leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/while-we-women-dilly-dally-making-decisions-leaving-jobs-half-done/)

[Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/)

> [You know, you can really get wet playing games in that new Pentium-VI dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/you-know-you-can-really-get-wet-playing-games-in-that-new-pentium-vi/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [Let's say I try to ignore the small stuff, like wet towels on the floor, the dishwasher full to the brim and not turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/let-s-say-i-try-to-ignore-the-small-stuff-like-wet-towels-on-the/)

[Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/)

> [Work done by other people sounds easy. How hard can it be to take care of a newborn who sleeps 20 hours a day?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/work-done-by-other-people-sounds-easy-how-hard-can-it-be-to-take-care/)

[Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/)

> [I don't function well in chaos, whether it be my sheets or the dishwasher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/i-don-t-function-well-in-chaos-whether-it-be-my-sheets-or-the/)

[Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/)

> [I don't like when people put their dishes in the dishwasher without scrubbing them properly because it comes out with those little white dots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-robertson/i-don-t-like-when-people-put-their-dishes-in-the-dishwasher-without/)

[Britt Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-robertson/)

> [“Farrukh, tonight you have won a dishwasher”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-torday/farrukh-tonight-you-have-won-a-dishwasher/)

[Paul Torday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-torday/)

> [Our generation be like... Wheres the dishwasher?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-generation-be-like-wheres-the-dishwasher/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My coolest job was when I was 12 and I was a dishwasher at the Three Pigs Bar-B-Que for $2.50 an hour. All the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/my-coolest-job-was-when-i-was-12-and-i-was-a-dishwasher-at-the-three/)

[Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/)

> [YOU are using a frisbee as a plate." "Uh, what? I'm not using a--oh hang on, this is a frisbee. Weird." Victor glared at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/you-are-using-a-frisbee-as-a-plate-uh-what-i-m-not-using-a-oh-hang-on/)

[Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/)

> [I was 18 when I first started working at a restaurant. I was a dishwasher. I only got the job because I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/i-was-18-when-i-first-started-working-at-a-restaurant-i-was-a/)

[Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/)

> [My father, who worked as a dishwasher, was especially anxious. He did not like being here undocumented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/my-father-who-worked-as-a-dishwasher-was-especially-anxious-he-did/)

[Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/)

[Browse all 53 Dishwasher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishwasher/)

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