--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I'm even close to…" description: "\"I don't think I'm even close to fulfilling my potential. And I think also that, unlike a pianist or a flutist, an actor has an instrument that is const..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/kerry-washington-7918_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-even-close-to-fulfilli_1958011.jpg" --- # I don't think I'm even close to fulfilling my potential… ![“I don't think I'm even close to fulfilling my potential. And I think also that, unlike a pianist or a flutist, an actor has an instrument that is constantly changing.” quote by Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/kerry-washington-7918_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-even-close-to-fulfilli_1958011.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/kerry-washington-7918_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-even-close-to-fulfilli_1958011.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/kerry-washington-7918_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-even-close-to-fulfilli_1958011.jpg) > “I don't think I'm even close to fulfilling my potential. And I think also that, unlike a pianist or a flutist, an actor has an instrument that is constantly changing.” [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors face a moving instrument—their body and voice—making self‑assessment of potential uniquely fluid and ongoing. **In simple terms:** Actors constantly change, making potential hard to gauge. Key Takeaway Embrace continual growth and adaptability. Themes self‑development artistry identity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type career personal development When to use this quote - acting auditions - career planning - skill workshops - personal coaching Key Concepts fluidity self‑assessment potential Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure growth as an actor? - What practices help adapt to change? A Different Perspective Potential is not static; it evolves with experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Pianist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianist/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The actor should not play a part. Like the Aeolian harps that used to be hung in the trees to be played only by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alla-nazimova/the-actor-should-not-play-a-part-like-the-aeolian-harps-that-used-to/) Alla Nazimova > [An actor is an instrument. One needs to control them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-dumont/an-actor-is-an-instrument-one-needs-to-control-them/) [Bruno Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-dumont/) > [You've got to understand that in Bollywood, every actor is an instrument, and yet a human being. They come to the set with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-nair/you-ve-got-to-understand-that-in-bollywood-every-actor-is-an/) [Mira Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-nair/) > [My body is an object of work. That's why I think to be an actor is one of the most violent jobs. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/my-body-is-an-object-of-work-that-s-why-i-think-to-be-an-actor-is-one/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [“If each person does the best with what he has, that’s winning. He’s fulfilling his own potential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king-via-lynn-gilbert/if-each-person-does-the-best-with-what-he-has-that-s-winning-he-s/) Billie Jean King via Lynn Gilbert > [Excuses excuse us from fulfilling our potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/excuses-excuse-us-from-fulfilling-our-potential/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Create your legacy by fulfilling your potential...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gino-norris/create-your-legacy-by-fulfilling-your-potential/) [Gino Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gino-norris/) > [As far as my leadership style is concerned what makes me happiest is fulfilling my potential and helping others realize theirs. If you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-soota/as-far-as-my-leadership-style-is-concerned-what-makes-me-happiest-is/) [Ashok Soota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-soota/) > [We remain a country where a young person's chance of fulfilling their potential rests on the vagaries of where they were born and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciana-berger/we-remain-a-country-where-a-young-person-s-chance-of-fulfilling-their/) [Luciana Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciana-berger/) > [My therapist says I'm afraid of success. I guess I could understand that, because after all, fulfilling my potential would REALLY cut into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/my-therapist-says-i-m-afraid-of-success-i-guess-i-could-understand/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [My family was musical on both sides. My father's family had a famous flautist and a classical pianist. My mother won a contest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/my-family-was-musical-on-both-sides-my-father-s-family-had-a-famous/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [I want to act in a film like 'The Pianist.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-dev/i-want-to-act-in-a-film-like-the-pianist/) [Rahul Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-dev/) > [Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/please-do-not-shoot-the-pianist-he-is-doing-his-best/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A mission that comes from the heart to promote these things and to encourage composers to write, then of course they should do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/a-mission-that-comes-from-the-heart-to-promote-these-things-and-to/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [My dad's family were political and he was always a theatrical creature, whereas my mum is really musical and her father was the touring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/my-dad-s-family-were-political-and-he-was-always-a-theatrical/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) ## More by Kerry Washington > [Making the unbelievable believable is different on a set with 'Fantastic Four,' where it's like, 'Wind machines! Because the airship is coming in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/making-the-unbelievable-believable-is-different-on-a-set-with/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [I wouldn't just come home from school and watch TV everyday, they had me involved in lots of local theatre. I was a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/i-wouldn-t-just-come-home-from-school-and-watch-tv-everyday-they-had/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [I'd figure out ways to use role-playing in the healing of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/i-d-figure-out-ways-to-use-role-playing-in-the-healing-of-people/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [People don't think about the fact that when Barack Obama's parents had him it was illegal for them to be married in several states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/people-don-t-think-about-the-fact-that-when-barack-obama-s-parents/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [Your life is your story, and the adventure ahead of you is the journey to fulfill your own purpose and potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/your-life-is-your-story-and-the-adventure-ahead-of-you-is-the-journey/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [I'll be honest with you. 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