---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's like the worst - having the…"
description: "\"That's like the worst - having the ability to do something and not doing it is, I think, the worst thing in the world as far as in the perspective of b..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/john-dolmayan-5969_art_that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability_1936413.jpg"
---

#  That's like the worst - having the ability to do something…

![“That's like the worst - having the ability to do something and not doing it is, I think, the worst thing in the world as far as in the perspective of being an artist. You're just hurting yourself.” quote by John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/john-dolmayan-5969_art_that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability_1936413.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/john-dolmayan-5969_art_that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability_1936413.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/john-dolmayan-5969_art_that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability_1936413.jpg)

> “That's like the worst - having the ability to do something and not doing it is, I think, the worst thing in the world as far as in the perspective of being an artist. You're just hurting yourself.”

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

## About This Quote

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

Having talent but not using it is a painful self‑sabotage that hinders artistic growth.

**In simple terms:** Not using your abilities hurts you.

Key Takeaway

Act on your abilities, avoid stagnation.

Themes

potential self‑sabotage creativity artist mindset

Mood

determined introspective

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- Songwriting
- performance
- studio work
- career planning

Key Concepts

Motivation psychology career development

Questions to Reflect On

- What holds you back from creating?
- How can you turn potential into action?

A Different Perspective

Fear of failure can prevent action despite talent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Hurting yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurting-yourself/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [“The worst is being alone and not having someone with whom I can share life, someone who sees the world from the same narrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-bond/the-worst-is-being-alone-and-not-having-someone-with-whom-i-can-share/)

Nancy Bond

> [The worst part of having a crush on someone is everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crapp/the-worst-part-of-having-a-crush-on-someone-is-everything/)

[Crapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crapp/)

> [The worst of having a romance of any kind is that it leaves one so unromantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-worst-of-having-a-romance-of-any-kind-is-that-it-leaves-one-so/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-used-to-think-that-the-worst-thing-in-life-was-to-end-up-all-alone/)

[Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/)

> [“I am stronger than I am broken. I don’t want them, or anyone, to think I am nothing more than the worst thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/i-am-stronger-than-i-am-broken-i-don-t-want-them-or-anyone-to-think-i/)

[Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/)

> [I think the worst thing that's happened to sports is 'sources say.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/i-think-the-worst-thing-that-s-happened-to-sports-is-sources-say/)

[Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/)

> [I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-used-to-think-that-the-worst-thing-in-life-was-to-end-up-alone-it-s/)

[Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/)

> [“That happens in life sometimes, doesn't it? Something terrible happens and you think it's the worst thing ever and then it turns out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-morgan/that-happens-in-life-sometimes-doesn-t-it-something-terrible-happens/)

[Sarah Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-morgan/)

> [Letting someone else hurt you over and over again, is the same thing as hurting yourself. You're just letting someone else do the dirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/letting-someone-else-hurt-you-over-and-over-again-is-the-same-thing/)

[Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

> [Its hard to fight for something that you know is wrong from the very beginning. We can be so stubborn that we force ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-hard-to-fight-for-something-that-you-know-is-wrong-from-the-very/)

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

> [Hurting yourself will never make the pain go away. And hurting others will never make you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/hurting-yourself-will-never-make-the-pain-go-away-and-hurting-others/)

[Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/)

> [For the higher interest of the nation, you've got to be capable of hurting yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/for-the-higher-interest-of-the-nation-you-ve-got-to-be-capable-of/)

[Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/)

> [“Not only are you hurting yourself but you are hurting those around you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-swanson/not-only-are-you-hurting-yourself-but-you-are-hurting-those-around-you/)

Joshua Swanson

> [You can't fake the love that you have for someone without hurting yourself .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-fake-the-love-that-you-have-for-someone-without-hurting/)

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

> [Self harm is not the anwere, all u have to do is love urself. It may help u to express ur feelings tht u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-mehra/self-harm-is-not-the-anwere-all-u-have-to-do-is-love-urself-it-may/)

Sushant Mehra

## More by John Dolmayan

> [I never wanted System to take a hiatus. I think it was a disastrous move for us, because we never reached our peak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-never-wanted-system-to-take-a-hiatus-i-think-it-was-a-disastrous/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [You've gotta let things go in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/you-ve-gotta-let-things-go-in-life/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [My band is stupid, and we're gonna continue to be stupid, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/my-band-is-stupid-and-we-re-gonna-continue-to-be-stupid-i-guess/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [If you're in love with a girl, you go out with a girl and you break up with her it doesn't mean you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/if-you-re-in-love-with-a-girl-you-go-out-with-a-girl-and-you-break-up/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [When you're passionate about music, you don't give up on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/when-you-re-passionate-about-music-you-don-t-give-up-on-it/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [The fact is I don't write songs, per se; I've written a couple here and there, but that's not my forte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/the-fact-is-i-don-t-write-songs-per-se-i-ve-written-a-couple-here-and/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [There's four individuals in the band. I don't speak for any of the individuals except for myself, and neither does Serj. But because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/there-s-four-individuals-in-the-band-i-don-t-speak-for-any-of-the/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [The definition of a band is the selflessness. That's what a society is, isn't it? We're all thinking, like, together we make something great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/the-definition-of-a-band-is-the-selflessness-that-s-what-a-society-is/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [Don't believe everything the famous people tell you - they don't know anything for the most part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/don-t-believe-everything-the-famous-people-tell-you-they-don-t-know/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [I started selling in the early '90s, because at 18 years old, it's tough to go to your parents and say, 'Can I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-started-selling-in-the-early-90s-because-at-18-years-old-it-s-tough/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [It's hard to take a stand. Most people are just trying to earn a living, take care of their families, give their kids a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/it-s-hard-to-take-a-stand-most-people-are-just-trying-to-earn-a/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [No matter what, Daron is one of the best songwriters I've ever seen in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/no-matter-what-daron-is-one-of-the-best-songwriters-i-ve-ever-seen-in/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [I find it really difficult to keep my mouth shut when I see injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/i-find-it-really-difficult-to-keep-my-mouth-shut-when-i-see-injustice/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [We tried to get together multiple times to make an album, but there were certain rules set in place that made it difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/we-tried-to-get-together-multiple-times-to-make-an-album-but-there/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

> [While I was driving, I'd put on satellite radio and listen to whatever came on. Oftentimes, I'd hear something and ask myself how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/while-i-was-driving-i-d-put-on-satellite-radio-and-listen-to-whatever/)

[John Dolmayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

[Explore all 100 John Dolmayan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/)

## More Art quotes

> [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/)

[Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/)

[Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/)

> [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/)

Taf Teh

> [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/)

[Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/)

> [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/)

[Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/)

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/)

> [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/)

[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/)

> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

[Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "That's like the worst - having the ability to do something and not doing it is, I think, the worst thing in the world as far as in the perspective of being an artist. You're just hurting yourself.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Dolmayan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability-to-do-something-and-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability-to-do-something-and-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/john-dolmayan-5969_art_that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability_1936413.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/john-dolmayan-5969_art_that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability_1936413.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/john-dolmayan-5969_art_that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability_1936413.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That's like the worst - having the ability to do something and not doing it is, I think, the worst thing in…” — John Dolmayan",
                "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": "John Dolmayan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dolmayan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That's like the worst - having...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability-to-do-something-and-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolmayan/that-s-like-the-worst-having-the-ability-to-do-something-and-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
