--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always believed that all it would take…" description: "\"I always believed that all it would take was a decent role. I felt like a pinch hitter with a leaden bat: that if I got a chance, I could hit a home ru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/martin-landau-3492_always_i-always-believed-that-all-it-would-take_2178934.jpg" --- # I always believed that all it would take was a decent… ![“I always believed that all it would take was a decent role. I felt like a pinch hitter with a leaden bat: that if I got a chance, I could hit a home run.” quote by Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/martin-landau-3492_always_i-always-believed-that-all-it-would-take_2178934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/martin-landau-3492_always_i-always-believed-that-all-it-would-take_2178934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/martin-landau-3492_always_i-always-believed-that-all-it-would-take_2178934.jpg) > “I always believed that all it would take was a decent role. I felt like a pinch hitter with a leaden bat: that if I got a chance, I could hit a home run.” [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A modest role can be a stepping stone; seizing the chance can lead to extraordinary success. **In simple terms:** Small opportunities can become big successes. Key Takeaway Take chances even in modest roles. Themes opportunity ambition self‑belief Mood hopeful determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - acting - sports - business ventures - personal projects Key Concepts career development risk taking Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare for big opportunities? - What does a “pinch hitter” mindset entail? A Different Perspective Not every chance leads to success; risk exists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Believed Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed-decent-4698321/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Decent Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent-role-1368629/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Hitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitter/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-run/) [Pinch Hitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pinch-hitter-408997/) [Role Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-felt-3545386/) ## Related quotes > [What makes a good pinch hitter? I wish the hell I knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-murcer/what-makes-a-good-pinch-hitter-i-wish-the-hell-i-knew/) [Bobby Murcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-murcer/) > [I'm just looking for a kind of project that will have a decent role and is something that I'll really enjoy doing. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-ann-miller/i-m-just-looking-for-a-kind-of-project-that-will-have-a-decent-role/) [Penelope Ann Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-ann-miller/) > [The role I have always felt most at home in is being 'Dr. B.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/the-role-i-have-always-felt-most-at-home-in-is-being-dr-b/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [Only once have I taken on a role where I felt that I didn't quite understand her, but I said yes anyway. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/only-once-have-i-taken-on-a-role-where-i-felt-that-i-didn-t-quite/) [Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/) > [I feel very fortunate for audiences to have been so gracious as to allow me to do pretty much any role that I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-feel-very-fortunate-for-audiences-to-have-been-so-gracious-as-to/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [No one had to tell me I was never going to be a home run hitter. I was hitting the same ball as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-fox/no-one-had-to-tell-me-i-was-never-going-to-be-a-home-run-hitter-i-was/) [Nellie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-fox/) > [I've never really considered myself a home run hitter. Mostly I'm a guy who hits into the gaps for a lot of doubles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowell/i-ve-never-really-considered-myself-a-home-run-hitter-mostly-i-m-a/) [Mike Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowell/) > [I've always been a streaky hitter. For the most part, when my home runs come, they come in bunches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-gonzalez/i-ve-always-been-a-streaky-hitter-for-the-most-part-when-my-home-runs/) [Adrian Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-gonzalez/) > [The mark of a good hitter is someone who hits the ball hard, often. And if you run into a few home runs, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-berkman/the-mark-of-a-good-hitter-is-someone-who-hits-the-ball-hard-often-and/) [Lance Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-berkman/) > [I don't think I'm a home run hitter. Most of my home runs are line drives. If I hit it, thanks God. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-cano/i-don-t-think-i-m-a-home-run-hitter-most-of-my-home-runs-are-line/) [Robinson Cano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-cano/) > [Hitting in a game is no different than hitting in a home run contest. It pisses me off to say Barry Bonds is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goose-gossage/hitting-in-a-game-is-no-different-than-hitting-in-a-home-run-contest/) [Goose Gossage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goose-gossage/) > [Traditionally, baseball punishes preening. In a society increasingly tolerant of exhibitionism, it is splendid when a hitter is knocked down because in his last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/traditionally-baseball-punishes-preening-in-a-society-increasingly/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“The naked pinch hitter takes only one thing to the plate: his raw, and somewhat irrational, confidence in himself. That this confidence is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boswell/the-naked-pinch-hitter-takes-only-one-thing-to-the-plate-his-raw-and/) [Thomas Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boswell/) > [You could have the bases loaded, and you bring up the best pinch-hitter in the world to pinch hit, he hits into a double…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/you-could-have-the-bases-loaded-and-you-bring-up-the-best-pinch/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [When I stood up there as a pinch hitter, I honestly believed I was the best hitter in the game. That's the only attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-mota/when-i-stood-up-there-as-a-pinch-hitter-i-honestly-believed-i-was-the/) [Manny Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-mota/) ## More by Martin Landau > [My best stuff as a teacher was always to find the problems within each individual actor, and I'll suggest things that I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/my-best-stuff-as-a-teacher-was-always-to-find-the-problems-within/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. If I tell you a racist or dirty joke and you laugh, you're telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-are-in-denial-all-the-time-hiding-things-if-i-tell-you-a/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [You can have immediate regrets, but if you look at stuff and say, 'Things happen for a reason', there's a fatalistic thing about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/you-can-have-immediate-regrets-but-if-you-look-at-stuff-and-say/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [I did 12 shows in 13 weeks at a summer theater in Maine where we were paid $35 a week. After taxes and $25…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-did-12-shows-in-13-weeks-at-a-summer-theater-in-maine-where-we-were/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [What I'm saying not a lot of people say: What is considered good acting today isn't necessarily good acting, because everybody knows what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/what-i-m-saying-not-a-lot-of-people-say-what-is-considered-good/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [God is a luxury I can't afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/god-is-a-luxury-i-can-t-afford/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [I was offered the Gene Hackman role in 'The Poseidon Adventure' four times, and I turned it down four times. I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-was-offered-the-gene-hackman-role-in-the-poseidon-adventure-four/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [A good director makes a playground and allows you to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/a-good-director-makes-a-playground-and-allows-you-to-play/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [People do not necessarily reveal what is going on - only bad actors do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-do-not-necessarily-reveal-what-is-going-on-only-bad-actors-do/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [I've got two daughters, and it's impossible for me to say one of them is a favorite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-ve-got-two-daughters-and-it-s-impossible-for-me-to-say-one-of-them/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [An actor knows much more about a character than the character knows about himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/an-actor-knows-much-more-about-a-character-than-the-character-knows/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [You can't perish because of your own feelings; you have to embrace those things as an actor because it's part of your palette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/you-can-t-perish-because-of-your-own-feelings-you-have-to-embrace/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [I run the 'Actors Studio' on the West Cost. I'm artistic director of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-run-the-actors-studio-on-the-west-cost-i-m-artistic-director-of-that/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [The actor has to have some degree of craft, along with the talent. No one tries to laugh except bad actors. No one tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/the-actor-has-to-have-some-degree-of-craft-along-with-the-talent-no/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [My technique has always been to include all the periphery around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/my-technique-has-always-been-to-include-all-the-periphery-around-me/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) [Explore all 129 Martin Landau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always believed that all it would take was a decent role. 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