--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You'll never make a success of yourself…" description: "\"You'll never make a success of yourself when you're doing an impersonation of somebody else.\" — Katherine Ryan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/katherine-ryan-5689_doing_you-ll-never-make-a-success-of-yourself_940703.jpg" --- # You'll never make a success of yourself when you're doing… ![“You'll never make a success of yourself when you're doing an impersonation of somebody else.” quote by Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/katherine-ryan-5689_doing_you-ll-never-make-a-success-of-yourself_940703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/katherine-ryan-5689_doing_you-ll-never-make-a-success-of-yourself_940703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/katherine-ryan-5689_doing_you-ll-never-make-a-success-of-yourself_940703.jpg) > “You'll never make a success of yourself when you're doing an impersonation of somebody else.” [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Impersonating others prevents genuine success; authenticity is essential for achievement. **In simple terms:** Being yourself leads to success. Key Takeaway Focus on your own strengths and identity. Themes authenticity success identity Mood motivational thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career development - creative work - public performance - leadership Key Concepts self‑realization personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of yourself do you hide? - How can you cultivate authenticity? A Different Perspective Mimicry may be useful for learning but not for lasting success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Impersonation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impersonation/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [You can't do an impersonation of somebody nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/you-can-t-do-an-impersonation-of-somebody-nobody-knows/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [In some ways, this one was harder, because I felt like I was doing an impersonation of myself. Which, aside from being nearly impossible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/in-some-ways-this-one-was-harder-because-i-felt-like-i-was-doing-an/) [Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/) > [There's a lot of traps you can fall into when you are playing someone who existed. If it comes out just as impersonation, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/there-s-a-lot-of-traps-you-can-fall-into-when-you-are-playing-someone/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I've played several real characters, and I've always found it very difficult because you don't want to do an impersonation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-goldwyn/i-ve-played-several-real-characters-and-i-ve-always-found-it-very/) [Tony Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-goldwyn/) > [I do a very good impersonation of an American - I went to high school here - but I've spent most of my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-do-a-very-good-impersonation-of-an-american-i-went-to-high-school/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [“(Writing is) the transformation, through an elaborate impersonation, of a personal emergency into a public act (in both senses of that word).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/writing-is-the-transformation-through-an-elaborate-impersonation-of-a/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [That smile on Stive Jobs face... My impersonation came from being a fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/that-smile-on-stive-jobs-face-my-impersonation-came-from-being-a-fan/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [There is a very thin line dividing characterisation from impersonation. I've to make sure I don't cross over into mimicry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-singh-rajput/there-is-a-very-thin-line-dividing-characterisation-from/) [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushant-singh-rajput/) > [“...sanity involves a certain measure of impersonation, not simply for the benefit of husband and servants but for the sake, first and foremost, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/sanity-involves-a-certain-measure-of-impersonation-not-simply-for-the/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Once I got into high school, any time I had to do a talk or a speech, I just loved being up in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/once-i-got-into-high-school-any-time-i-had-to-do-a-talk-or-a-speech-i/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [When they first start doing comedy, new comics or even people that have only been doing it three or four years, they're doing an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-griffin/when-they-first-start-doing-comedy-new-comics-or-even-people-that/) [Erik Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-griffin/) > [More and more, it feels like I'm doing a really bad impersonation of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/more-and-more-it-feels-like-i-m-doing-a-really-bad-impersonation-of/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Characterization requires self-knowledge, insight into human nature . . . it is more than impersonation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-surmelian/characterization-requires-self-knowledge-insight-into-human-nature-it/) Leon Surmelian > [“So I'm to duel with a snake-hope I can manage to be a good enough impersonation of a mongoose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bantock/so-i-m-to-duel-with-a-snake-hope-i-can-manage-to-be-a-good-enough/) [Nick Bantock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bantock/) > [I've been a Danish prince, a Texas slave-dealer, an Arab sheik, a Cheyenne Dog Soldier, and a Yankee navy lieutenant in my time, among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald-fraser/i-ve-been-a-danish-prince-a-texas-slave-dealer-an-arab-sheik-a/) [George MacDonald Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald-fraser/) ## More by Katherine Ryan > [When you're really famous, there's very little authenticity in people, so you prefer the company of children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/when-you-re-really-famous-there-s-very-little-authenticity-in-people/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [I had white hair when I was 19. I think bleach can be addictive, and before long, you've gone too far with it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/i-had-white-hair-when-i-was-19-i-think-bleach-can-be-addictive-and/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [Part of me has always wanted to be like Marilyn Monroe or any Fifties Hollywood starlet. On screen, they seemed so sexy and simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/part-of-me-has-always-wanted-to-be-like-marilyn-monroe-or-any-fifties/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [Anything that I'm passionate about and surprises me usually ends up turning into a joke simply because I have questions about it and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/anything-that-i-m-passionate-about-and-surprises-me-usually-ends-up/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [Many of us are quite stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/many-of-us-are-quite-stupid/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [How are people still working with Terry Richardson?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/how-are-people-still-working-with-terry-richardson/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [I'm a single mother. It's silly to turn down work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/i-m-a-single-mother-it-s-silly-to-turn-down-work/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [I don't worry about whether or not people like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/i-don-t-worry-about-whether-or-not-people-like-me/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [The Kardashian family have earned their place as an American dynasty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/the-kardashian-family-have-earned-their-place-as-an-american-dynasty/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [I'm not a nasty person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/i-m-not-a-nasty-person/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [Every time a journalist will say: "Can women be funny? Can women be pilots? Can women be scientists?" It's less of a question and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/every-time-a-journalist-will-say-can-women-be-funny-can-women-be/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [Skiing is ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/skiing-is-ridiculous/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [Justin Bieber is a lovely chap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/justin-bieber-is-a-lovely-chap/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [I am an undisputed gangster. To me, that means playing by my own rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/i-am-an-undisputed-gangster-to-me-that-means-playing-by-my-own-rules/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) > [If you're struggling for gift ideas, my advice is to give experiences rather than things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-ryan/if-you-re-struggling-for-gift-ideas-my-advice-is-to-give-experiences/) [Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) [Explore all 100 Katherine Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/) ## More Doing quotes > [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. 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No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [.\*. why u hate me..Bitches be doing the most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty/why-u-hate-me-bitches-be-doing-the-most/) Kitty > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. 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