--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you put your foot in it, be sure it's…" description: "\"If you put your foot in it, be sure it's your best foot.\" — Mae West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/mae-west-1200_actresses_if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s_2274050.jpg" --- # If you put your foot in it, be sure it's your best foot. ![“If you put your foot in it, be sure it's your best foot.” quote by Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/mae-west-1200_actresses_if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s_2274050.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/mae-west-1200_actresses_if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s_2274050.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/mae-west-1200_actresses_if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s_2274050.jpg) > “If you put your foot in it, be sure it's your best foot.” [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choose confidence and excellence when taking action; settle for mediocrity. **In simple terms:** Put your best foot forward. Key Takeaway Act with confidence and high standards. Themes confidence excellence action Mood determined hopeful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - job interview - public speaking - sports competition - artistic performance Key Concepts self‑efficacy performance Questions to Reflect On - When have you settled for less? - How can you raise your standards without fear? A Different Perspective High standards can cause anxiety; perfectionism may hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Key to success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key-to-success/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Playwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playwright/) [Recipe for success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recipe-for-success/) [Road to success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road-to-success/) [Screenwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriters/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Fill the day with enthusiasm. Give the day all you've got and it will give you all it's got, which will be plenty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/fill-the-day-with-enthusiasm-give-the-day-all-you-ve-got-and-it-will/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [If what you're working for really matters, you'll give it all you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nido-r-qubein/if-what-you-re-working-for-really-matters-you-ll-give-it-all-you-ve/) [Nido R Qubein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nido-r-qubein/) > [The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-reese/the-hardest-skill-to-acquire-in-this-sport-is-the-one-where-you/) Eddie Reese > [I have learned that all you give is all you get, so give it all you got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-horn/i-have-learned-that-all-you-give-is-all-you-get-so-give-it-all-you-got/) [Shirley Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-horn/) > [Every single day has to be excellent. You gotta give it all you got!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/every-single-day-has-to-be-excellent-you-gotta-give-it-all-you-got/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Don't ever be afraid of giving. Give. Give of your time, your forgiveness, your understanding, your love. Give of your money. Give to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/don-t-ever-be-afraid-of-giving-give-give-of-your-time-your/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [It's impossible to give it all you got and fail unless you fail to give it all you got to do the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/it-s-impossible-to-give-it-all-you-got-and-fail-unless-you-fail-to/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [I don't have to come up with the best idea. It is my job to make sure that it is always the best idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjarke-ingels/i-don-t-have-to-come-up-with-the-best-idea-it-is-my-job-to-make-sure/) [Bjarke Ingels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjarke-ingels/) > [For me, it's about making sure I do the best I can for my team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/for-me-it-s-about-making-sure-i-do-the-best-i-can-for-my-team/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I'm sure you get the best out of people if you look for the best in them. People don't need to be told when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-sure-you-get-the-best-out-of-people-if-you-look-for-the-best-in/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“She couldn’t be greedy. But she’d sure give it her best when the time came.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-jane-trent/she-couldn-t-be-greedy-but-she-d-sure-give-it-her-best-when-the-time/) Emily Jane Trent > [Just make sure you never do less than your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/just-make-sure-you-never-do-less-than-your-best/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I just take everything one at a time and make sure everything I do is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/i-just-take-everything-one-at-a-time-and-make-sure-everything-i-do-is/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [I've put in the work to make sure I'm the best that I can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-ve-put-in-the-work-to-make-sure-i-m-the-best-that-i-can-be/) [Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/) > [What ever it is that you do, just make sure you are the best at it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taoly-r/what-ever-it-is-that-you-do-just-make-sure-you-are-the-best-at-it/) Taoly R ## More by Mae West > [Reason was nowhere, time was an immovable object nailed high on the wall, except where the world kept shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/reason-was-nowhere-time-was-an-immovable-object-nailed-high-on-the/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I've been in 'Who's Who' and I know what's what, but it'll be the first time I ever made the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-in-who-s-who-and-i-know-what-s-what-but-it-ll-be-the-first/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Look your best - who said love is blind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/look-your-best-who-said-love-is-blind/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Don't let a man put anything over on you except an umbrella.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/don-t-let-a-man-put-anything-over-on-you-except-an-umbrella/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [In my long and colorful career, one thing stands out: I have been misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/in-my-long-and-colorful-career-one-thing-stands-out-i-have-been/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The finest woman that ever walked the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-finest-woman-that-ever-walked-the-streets/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The best way to hold a man is in your arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-best-way-to-hold-a-man-is-in-your-arms/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Live close, visit often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/live-close-visit-often/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [A real farmer. He spent his childhood in the wheat, and his marriage in the hay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/a-real-farmer-he-spent-his-childhood-in-the-wheat-and-his-marriage-in/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Marriage? I ain't got time for a husband or child. All my life I've looked after myself as if I was my own child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/marriage-i-ain-t-got-time-for-a-husband-or-child-all-my-life-i-ve/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“If I can't a man with a million dollars, I'll a million men with one dollar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-i-can-t-a-man-with-a-million-dollars-i-ll-a-million-men-with-one/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Sometimes I don't drink so the next day I can remember having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/sometimes-i-don-t-drink-so-the-next-day-i-can-remember-having-fun/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Positive thoughts generate positive feelings and attract positive life experiences. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/positive-thoughts-generate-positive-feelings-and-attract-positive/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I believe in the single standard -- for men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-believe-in-the-single-standard-for-men-and-women/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“Goodness had nothing to do with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/goodness-had-nothing-to-do-with-it/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) [Explore all 271 Mae West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## More Actresses quotes > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [All the baggage that comes with fame, being an actress. The down side to it is the intrusion into your life and this expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/all-the-baggage-that-comes-with-fame-being-an-actress-the-down-side/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [I've seen new actresses do one show and disappear or struggle for years to get their next break. I've been fortunate enough to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/i-ve-seen-new-actresses-do-one-show-and-disappear-or-struggle-for/) [Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/) > [I knew I wanted to be an actress as soon as I popped out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-as-soon-as-i-popped-out/) [Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/) > [Campaigning actress ASHLEY JUDD refuses to 'breed' with her racing star husband DARIO FRANCHITTI while there are starving children in the world. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/campaigning-actress-ashley-judd-refuses-to-breed-with-her-racing-star/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) [Browse all 1,881 Actresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you put your foot in it, be sure it's your best foot.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mae West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s-your-best-foot/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actresses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s-your-best-foot/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/mae-west-1200_actresses_if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s_2274050.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/mae-west-1200_actresses_if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s_2274050.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/mae-west-1200_actresses_if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s_2274050.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you put your foot in it, be sure it's your best foot.” — Mae West", "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": "Mae West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you put your foot in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s-your-best-foot/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-you-put-your-foot-in-it-be-sure-it-s-your-best-foot/#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 } } ] } ```