--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not interested in awards. I never…" description: "\"I'm not interested in awards. I never have been. I don't think they are important. Don't get me wrong, if somebody gives me a prize, I thank them as gr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/john-hurt-1669_award_i-m-not-interested-in-awards-i-never-hav_1335124.jpg" --- # I'm not interested in awards. I never have been. I don't… ![“I'm not interested in awards. I never have been. I don't think they are important. Don't get me wrong, if somebody gives me a prize, I thank them as gratefully as I know how, because it's very nice to be given a prize. But I don't think that awards ought to be sought. It encourages our business to…” quote by John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/john-hurt-1669_award_i-m-not-interested-in-awards-i-never-hav_1335124.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/john-hurt-1669_award_i-m-not-interested-in-awards-i-never-hav_1335124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/john-hurt-1669_award_i-m-not-interested-in-awards-i-never-hav_1335124.jpg) > “I'm not interested in awards. I never have been. I don't think they are important. Don't get me wrong, if somebody gives me a prize, I thank them as gratefully as I know how, because it's very nice to be given a prize. But I don't think that awards ought to be sought. It encourages our business to be competitive in absolutely the wrong way. We're not sportsmen; we're not trying to come in first.” [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses awards as detrimental, arguing they foster unhealthy competition rather than genuine achievement. **In simple terms:** Awards can create wrong competition. Key Takeaway Value intrinsic motivation over external validation. Themes integrity competition recognition motivation Mood skeptical reflective thoughtful Type philosophical critical motivational When to use this quote - team management - performance evaluation - career development Key Concepts award critique ethical work culture Questions to Reflect On - Should awards be reformed? - What motivates you beyond trophies? A Different Perspective Awards may still inspire some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Prize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prize/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not interested in awards. I never have been. I don't think they are important. Don't get me wrong, if somebody gives me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-m-not-interested-in-awards-i-never-have-been-i-don-t-think-they-are-2/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I'm honored and humbled to win the Nobel Prize. I thank all my friends for the support and assistance throughout my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-goodenough/i-m-honored-and-humbled-to-win-the-nobel-prize-i-thank-all-my-friends/) [John B. Goodenough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-goodenough/) > [Woman gives herself as a prize to the weak and as a prop to the strong and no man ever has what he should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/woman-gives-herself-as-a-prize-to-the-weak-and-as-a-prop-to-the/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [I personally am not very interested in awards or the awards circuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makoto-shinkai/i-personally-am-not-very-interested-in-awards-or-the-awards-circuit/) [Makoto Shinkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makoto-shinkai/) > [There has long been an argument in New York about what, exactly, the purpose of book awards ought to be. One model sees them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/there-has-long-been-an-argument-in-new-york-about-what-exactly-the/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [“The television episode was the foundation of another official award at Amazon, this one presented to an employee who identified an activity that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/the-television-episode-was-the-foundation-of-another-official-award/) [Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/) > [Now, all the people who spoke before, when I won the Golden Ball, have shut their mouths now the coaches and players from national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/now-all-the-people-who-spoke-before-when-i-won-the-golden-ball-have/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [This world is given as a prize for the men in earnest; and that which is true of this world is truer still of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/this-world-is-given-as-a-prize-for-the-men-in-earnest-and-that-which/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [DAY: I have a good job, a lovely apartment, I go out with very nice men to the best places, the finest restaurants, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-day/day-i-have-a-good-job-a-lovely-apartment-i-go-out-with-very-nice-men/) [Doris Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-day/) > [I wondered how I was going to do it and keep my job at Rolling Stone at the same time. They were very nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jancee-dunn/i-wondered-how-i-was-going-to-do-it-and-keep-my-job-at-rolling-stone/) [Jancee Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jancee-dunn/) > [We Americans have to tell Japan in a very nice way, we have to tell Germany, all of these countries, South Korea, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-americans-have-to-tell-japan-in-a-very-nice-way-we-have-to-tell/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Tris," he says. "What did they do to you? You're acting like a lunatic." "That's not very nice of you to say," I say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/tris-he-says-what-did-they-do-to-you-you-re-acting-like-a-lunatic/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [People said that he was very nice, but I confess that his utter grotesqueness made me uneasy; perhaps in the same way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-said-that-he-was-very-nice-but-i-confess-that-his-utter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a very nice guy, but don't mistake my kindness for weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herjavec/i-m-a-very-nice-guy-but-don-t-mistake-my-kindness-for-weakness/) [Robert Herjavec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herjavec/) > [For the time being Scherzer gives Washington a very nice rotation (on paper) with Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez, and Doug Fister, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/for-the-time-being-scherzer-gives-washington-a-very-nice-rotation-on/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) ## More by John Hurt > [I can't say that I wouldn't prefer to make small films, basically because I think they are probably more interesting in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-can-t-say-that-i-wouldn-t-prefer-to-make-small-films-basically/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Acting is an imaginative leap, really, isn't it? And imaginations prosper in different circumstances. And it's being able - I can't tell you how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/acting-is-an-imaginative-leap-really-isn-t-it-and-imaginations/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [My surname certainly suggests a man whose destiny has always been injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/my-surname-certainly-suggests-a-man-whose-destiny-has-always-been/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [ I got used to \[ Lars Von Trier\] doing the narration for 'Dogville' and 'Manderley.' And I said to him I do these narrations… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-got-used-to-lars-von-trier-doing-the-narration-for-dogville-and/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [The first thing you have to get used to in any kind of acting is the ability to make a fool of yourself. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/the-first-thing-you-have-to-get-used-to-in-any-kind-of-acting-is-the/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [One wonders sometimes, looking at the world, how it's dealing with itself. There are days when you wake up and you feel very optimistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/one-wonders-sometimes-looking-at-the-world-how-it-s-dealing-with/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [To me, nothing ever feels like a sure thing. I cling to that because it's very important you don't ever think anything is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/to-me-nothing-ever-feels-like-a-sure-thing-i-cling-to-that-because-it/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Things come in a quieter way to me. It's not laziness, and it's not diffidence. I just know how far you have to bend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/things-come-in-a-quieter-way-to-me-it-s-not-laziness-and-it-s-not/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I've spent a great deal of my life doing independent film, and that is partly because the subject matter interests me and partly because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-ve-spent-a-great-deal-of-my-life-doing-independent-film-and-that-is/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I find myself more interested in producing. Not because I'm interested in the financial side of it, but just getting together the right elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-find-myself-more-interested-in-producing-not-because-i-m-interested/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Actors are not always the best judges. We have a peculiar idea of what we think we are, and sometimes it's best left to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/actors-are-not-always-the-best-judges-we-have-a-peculiar-idea-of-what/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [My parents felt that acting was far too insecure. Don't ask me what made them think that painting would be more secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/my-parents-felt-that-acting-was-far-too-insecure-don-t-ask-me-what/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [I've done all sorts of children's things before, but none as big as 'Harry Potter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/i-ve-done-all-sorts-of-children-s-things-before-but-none-as-big-as/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [Really, I'm only alive out of curiosity. I'm very curious about where we're all marching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/really-i-m-only-alive-out-of-curiosity-i-m-very-curious-about-where/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > [You carry that through and adapt it to a camera lens, but you're quite right, you cannot be sure of what an audience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/you-carry-that-through-and-adapt-it-to-a-camera-lens-but-you-re-quite/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) [Explore all 217 John Hurt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) ## More Award quotes > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [I love my role in 'Deshamuduru' but I did not get any award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali/i-love-my-role-in-deshamuduru-but-i-did-not-get-any-award/) [Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Some of my contemporaries don't want to talk about the female problem because they feel like whenever they get a teaching position or an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-yun/some-of-my-contemporaries-don-t-want-to-talk-about-the-female-problem/) [Du Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-yun/) > [I'm not a great believer in awards-of course the fact that I've never won one has nothing to do with it at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/i-m-not-a-great-believer-in-awards-of-course-the-fact-that-i-ve-never/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [Any award the NBA gives you, whether it's on the court or off the court, it's definitely an honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-thompson/any-award-the-nba-gives-you-whether-it-s-on-the-court-or-off-the/) [Tristan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-thompson/) > [I look to a time when brotherhood needs no publicity; to a time when a brotherhood award would be as ridiculous as an award…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-mich/i-look-to-a-time-when-brotherhood-needs-no-publicity-to-a-time-when-a/) Daniel D. Mich > [I am not after any award. Love and affection of the audience is the biggest award for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-tiwari/i-am-not-after-any-award-love-and-affection-of-the-audience-is-the/) [Mukesh Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-tiwari/) > [I don't like the energy at award shows. It's rehearsed and everybody is just focused on themselves and nobody wants to genuinely applaud for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/i-don-t-like-the-energy-at-award-shows-it-s-rehearsed-and-everybody/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [You don't want to make awards the reason you're doing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/you-don-t-want-to-make-awards-the-reason-you-re-doing-things/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [Winning or not winning an award doesn't affect me. I just like to do my work in the best possible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/winning-or-not-winning-an-award-doesn-t-affect-me-i-just-like-to-do/) KK > [I don't feel I have to acknowledge how I'm doing by an award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-acknowledge-how-i-m-doing-by-an-award/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I never thought I would get a National Award. For me, it was huge, and I got complacent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/i-never-thought-i-would-get-a-national-award-for-me-it-was-huge-and-i/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [You don't do a play to compete for an award. This was the argument I always had over the Oscars. I didn't win them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/you-don-t-do-a-play-to-compete-for-an-award-this-was-the-argument-i/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [I was on MTV's 'Real World' at the time when 'Queer Eye' came out. I remember, the first time I won an award, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-was-on-mtv-s-real-world-at-the-time-when-queer-eye-came-out-i/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) Browse all 647 Award quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not interested in awards. I never have been. I don't think they are important. Don't get me wrong, if somebody gives me a prize, I thank them as gratefully as I know how, because it's very nice to be given a prize. But I don't think that awards ought to be sought. It encourages our business to be competitive in absolutely the wrong way. 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