--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mediocrity is underrated." description: "\"Mediocrity is underrated.\" — Mary-Louise Parker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/mary-louise-parker-11278_mediocrity_mediocrity-is-underrated-1239595_1239595.png" --- # Mediocrity is underrated. ![“Mediocrity is underrated.” quote by Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/mary-louise-parker-11278_mediocrity_mediocrity-is-underrated-1239595_1239595.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/mary-louise-parker-11278_mediocrity_mediocrity-is-underrated-1239595_1239595.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/mary-louise-parker-11278_mediocrity_mediocrity-is-underrated-1239595_1239595.png) > “Mediocrity is underrated.” [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that being average is often overlooked as a valuable state. **In simple terms:** Average can be valuable. Key Takeaway Recognize the worth of mediocrity. Themes self-acceptance realism humility Mood contemplative balanced Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - personal expectations - social comparison - goal setting Key Concepts cultural critique self-esteem Questions to Reflect On - Do you equate mediocrity with failure? - How can embracing average improve wellbeing? A Different Perspective May undervalue excellence in pursuit of perfection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Mediocrity Underrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity-underrated-3865271/) [Underrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underrated/) ## Related quotes > [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [Silences are the most underrated part of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/silences-are-the-most-underrated-part-of-comedy/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [Fear is an underrated emotion. And that's why I think it's very dangerous to try and cosset children from it. A healthy scare is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/fear-is-an-underrated-emotion-and-that-s-why-i-think-it-s-very/) [Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/) > [Punting is an underrated art because of the strategy, skill and athleticism involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/punting-is-an-underrated-art-because-of-the-strategy-skill-and/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) > [Denver has been underrated all year and so have we. That makes for a really great game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/denver-has-been-underrated-all-year-and-so-have-we-that-makes-for-a/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [Yeah, well, we were looking for something sort of anonymous. It suggests what it is, but I like that it's modest. I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/yeah-well-we-were-looking-for-something-sort-of-anonymous-it-suggests/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [Talent? Overrated. Leadership? Underrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/talent-overrated-leadership-underrated/) [Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/) > [It may sound strange to say it of someone so famous, but I think Leonardo DiCaprio is underrated, particularly from an awards perspective. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/it-may-sound-strange-to-say-it-of-someone-so-famous-but-i-think/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [The most underrated component of your whole you is your Soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-a/the-most-underrated-component-of-your-whole-you-is-your-soul/) [Carlos A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-a/) > [With 'Aurangzeb,' I just knew that the film wasn't going to work, though I think it was one of my most underrated performances. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/with-aurangzeb-i-just-knew-that-the-film-wasn-t-going-to-work-though/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Stalking is an underrated startup strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/stalking-is-an-underrated-startup-strategy/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) > [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [I think that comfort is underrated in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-think-that-comfort-is-underrated-in-a-lot-of-ways/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [The value of beauty and inspiration is very much underrated, no question. But I want to be clear: I'm not trying to be anyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-value-of-beauty-and-inspiration-is-very-much-underrated-no/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) ## More by Mary-Louise Parker > [Unless you got a really good reason, you should be nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/unless-you-got-a-really-good-reason-you-should-be-nice/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I like to pretend that I'm a tough guy. It's kind of an admission of defeat if I have to ask for help -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-like-to-pretend-that-i-m-a-tough-guy-it-s-kind-of-an-admission-of/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I'm naked in Esquire in August. I was naked on the set the other day. I'm always naked. I'm naked right now, in fact,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-m-naked-in-esquire-in-august-i-was-naked-on-the-set-the-other-day-i/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [Well, it's kind of like that classic sort of trajectory in this kind of movie where there's conflict and they're estranged and they kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/well-it-s-kind-of-like-that-classic-sort-of-trajectory-in-this-kind/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I don't get tired of hearing that somebody liked my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-don-t-get-tired-of-hearing-that-somebody-liked-my-work/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I don't think you necessarily have to be part of a traditional nuclear family to be a good mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-don-t-think-you-necessarily-have-to-be-part-of-a-traditional/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I never feel more useful than when I'm making my kids a bowl of soup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-never-feel-more-useful-than-when-i-m-making-my-kids-a-bowl-of-soup/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I'm not saying pot is a bad thing. I know plenty of people who should be smoking pot. I'm just not one of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-m-not-saying-pot-is-a-bad-thing-i-know-plenty-of-people-who-should/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I always wondered what people thought of it because it looked so stupid to me on the page and I loved the other finale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-always-wondered-what-people-thought-of-it-because-it-looked-so/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [ I don’t think it’s that controversial. I’m really in favor of legalizing marijuana. I thought people would be more offended by \[this series\] than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-don-t-think-it-s-that-controversial-i-m-really-in-favor-of/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [The theater is who I am - it's where I feel the most inspired, the most at home, the most useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/the-theater-is-who-i-am-it-s-where-i-feel-the-most-inspired-the-most/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [My parents have been together for 65 years. They're both really stubborn. They're not quitters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/my-parents-have-been-together-for-65-years-they-re-both-really/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I don't really ever think about whether or not I like the characters I'm playing. I'm more into the minutiae of their behaviour or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-don-t-really-ever-think-about-whether-or-not-i-like-the-characters/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I'm not comfortable with getting a job by being at the right Hollywood party; I'm not a terribly sociable creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-m-not-comfortable-with-getting-a-job-by-being-at-the-right/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [I enjoy cooking and baking. Alicia Silverstone's vegan cookbook is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-enjoy-cooking-and-baking-alicia-silverstone-s-vegan-cookbook-is/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) [Explore all 60 Mary-Louise Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) ## More Mediocrity quotes > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/only-mediocrity-can-be-trusted-to-be-always-at-its-best/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [If you want to be average, do what others do. If you want to be awesome, do what no one does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/if-you-want-to-be-average-do-what-others-do-if-you-want-to-be-awesome/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) > [There has been an obvious effort to play it safe, to make 'Bonanza' a good family show that would offend no one and hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pernell-roberts/there-has-been-an-obvious-effort-to-play-it-safe-to-make-bonanza-a/) [Pernell Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pernell-roberts/) > [Philadelphians are every whit as mediocre as their neighbors, but they seldom encourage each other in mediocrity by giving it a more agreeable name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/philadelphians-are-every-whit-as-mediocre-as-their-neighbors-but-they/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Once you decide that mediocrity is unthinkable, your only choices are excellence and quitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-murray/once-you-decide-that-mediocrity-is-unthinkable-your-only-choices-are/) [Nick Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-murray/) > [At independence Kenya's economic indicators were equal to those of South Korea, but 45 years down the road, Korea's economy is 40 times that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/at-independence-kenya-s-economic-indicators-were-equal-to-those-of/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) > [Trying to be cool is the easiest path to mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/trying-to-be-cool-is-the-easiest-path-to-mediocrity/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [All greatness of character is dependent on individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/all-greatness-of-character-is-dependent-on-individuality/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [When Americans decry our politicians, we must remember that ultimately, politicians reflect us. When we demand more than mediocrity - and the passing comforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/when-americans-decry-our-politicians-we-must-remember-that-ultimately/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [We will meet our challenges head on and we will do it by rejecting the politics of mediocrity and corruption. You voted for change;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/we-will-meet-our-challenges-head-on-and-we-will-do-it-by-rejecting/) [Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/) > [The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-greatest-danger-to-christianity-is-i-contend-not-heresies-not/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) [Browse all 929 Mediocrity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mediocrity is underrated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary-Louise Parker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/mediocrity-is-underrated/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mediocrity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/mediocrity-is-underrated/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/mary-louise-parker-11278_mediocrity_mediocrity-is-underrated-1239595_1239595.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/mary-louise-parker-11278_mediocrity_mediocrity-is-underrated-1239595_1239595.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/975/mary-louise-parker-11278_mediocrity_mediocrity-is-underrated-1239595_1239595.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mediocrity is underrated.” — Mary-Louise Parker", "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": "Mary-Louise Parker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mediocrity is underrated.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/mediocrity-is-underrated/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/mediocrity-is-underrated/#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 } } ] } ```