--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever God gave you, you have to work…" description: "\"Whatever God gave you, you have to work that to your best ability - especially out here in Hollywood, the land of beautiful people.\" — Michael Clarke D..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/michael-clarke-duncan-19465_ability_whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-t_1586818.jpg" --- # Whatever God gave you, you have to work that to your best… ![“Whatever God gave you, you have to work that to your best ability - especially out here in Hollywood, the land of beautiful people.” quote by Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/michael-clarke-duncan-19465_ability_whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-t_1586818.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/michael-clarke-duncan-19465_ability_whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-t_1586818.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/michael-clarke-duncan-19465_ability_whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-t_1586818.jpg) > “Whatever God gave you, you have to work that to your best ability - especially out here in Hollywood, the land of beautiful people.” [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You must apply your talents fully, especially in a competitive, appearance‑focused industry. **In simple terms:** Work hard with your gifts, especially in Hollywood. Key Takeaway Give your best effort always. Themes hard work talent industry pressure Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts self‑efficacy social comparison Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance talent and effort? - What does “best ability” mean to you? A Different Perspective Talent alone isn’t enough without dedication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beautiful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-people/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Especially Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-hollywood-247052/) [Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Hollywood Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood-land-3692356/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Out here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out-here/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whatever/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-best/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [Hollywood is a land of self-invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-koppelman/hollywood-is-a-land-of-self-invention/) [Brian Koppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-koppelman/) > [Hollywood is a land of style, a world where how you present yourself matters. Many of the people working here are so dramatically good-looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-grazer/hollywood-is-a-land-of-style-a-world-where-how-you-present-yourself/) [Brian Grazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-grazer/) > [Welcome to Hollywood, a land just off the coast of planet Earth. I am never quite certain if I am visiting the zoo, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-glyn/welcome-to-hollywood-a-land-just-off-the-coast-of-planet-earth-i-am/) [Elinor Glyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-glyn/) > [I don't realize how rare it is to genuinely have sincere love for everyone you work with. Especially in Hollywood, but even in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-sher/i-don-t-realize-how-rare-it-is-to-genuinely-have-sincere-love-for/) [Eden Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-sher/) > [I've always said that the word 'genius,' especially in Hollywood, is way overused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mcginley/i-ve-always-said-that-the-word-genius-especially-in-hollywood-is-way/) [Ted McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mcginley/) > [The thing that I've run up against is that it's always been an either-or proposition, especially in Hollywood. You're either young and glamorous and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/the-thing-that-i-ve-run-up-against-is-that-it-s-always-been-an-either/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [In all of our society, but especially in Hollywood, there is an obsession with perfection that can lead to self-loathing and neurosis and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/in-all-of-our-society-but-especially-in-hollywood-there-is-an/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [I feel like, especially in Hollywood, you meet people with ulterior motives, who are trying to get something from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/i-feel-like-especially-in-hollywood-you-meet-people-with-ulterior/) [Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/) > [The U.S., especially Hollywood, is so strong for film production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-jianlin/the-u-s-especially-hollywood-is-so-strong-for-film-production/) [Wang Jianlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-jianlin/) > [I moved out here when I was 40 and guess what, they are not looking for 40-year-olds in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raci/i-moved-out-here-when-i-was-40-and-guess-what-they-are-not-looking/) [Paul Raci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-raci/) > [One thing they don't have out here in California is Rita's Italian Ices. We used to have one right next to our house and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-jonas/one-thing-they-don-t-have-out-here-in-california-is-rita-s-italian/) [Joe Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-jonas/) > [Walk away from anyone who is unduly focused on vacation and compensation. It's a sign of potential trouble. No matter how talented you are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/walk-away-from-anyone-who-is-unduly-focused-on-vacation-and/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [I'm kind of a builder of institutions. I think I've got some ability to look at what's out here, look at a playing field,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/i-m-kind-of-a-builder-of-institutions-i-think-i-ve-got-some-ability/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [It would be a tragic mistake for us out here to imagine that Bush represents the hearts and the minds of the majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-would-be-a-tragic-mistake-for-us-out-here-to-imagine-that-bush/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [Ireland's always going to be my home, but so much is filmed in L.A., so you have to spend time out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bolger/ireland-s-always-going-to-be-my-home-but-so-much-is-filmed-in-l-a-so/) [Sarah Bolger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bolger/) ## More by Michael Clarke Duncan > [When I get the chance, I'm at the theaters all the time, trying to check out the latest movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/when-i-get-the-chance-i-m-at-the-theaters-all-the-time-trying-to/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [I believe that teachers committed to the community are the ones who deserve to earn the top dollar, a starting salary of a quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/i-believe-that-teachers-committed-to-the-community-are-the-ones-who/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [I love acting it's apart of me and I try to put a little bit of myself in each of my roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/i-love-acting-it-s-apart-of-me-and-i-try-to-put-a-little-bit-of/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [The government needs the help of industry. But the reality is companies will balance that against their own commercial interest in a very competitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/the-government-needs-the-help-of-industry-but-the-reality-is/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [I don't like it when someone can look you in the eye and lie to you, or pretend that they're more than you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/i-don-t-like-it-when-someone-can-look-you-in-the-eye-and-lie-to-you/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [China has been a textbook case of how the government did just enough intervention to increase penetration, but the reality is that it isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/china-has-been-a-textbook-case-of-how-the-government-did-just-enough/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [When I was coming up, I kept a ton of comic books, almost 300 comic books. Back in the day, they didn't used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/when-i-was-coming-up-i-kept-a-ton-of-comic-books-almost-300-comic/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [I'm an emotional person, a very emotional person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/i-m-an-emotional-person-a-very-emotional-person/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [I came up during that time when music, to me, was really music. It wasn't about talking about a woman and calling them a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/i-came-up-during-that-time-when-music-to-me-was-really-music-it-wasn/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [I'm used to being the big tough guy, the bodyguard type.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/i-m-used-to-being-the-big-tough-guy-the-bodyguard-type/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [People always have an opinion. Doesn't mean it's right, doesn't mean it's wrong, but we have to respect their opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/people-always-have-an-opinion-doesn-t-mean-it-s-right-doesn-t-mean-it/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [I really don't have favorites; I'm just a fan of movies, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/i-really-don-t-have-favorites-i-m-just-a-fan-of-movies-period/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [My best advice about working in Hollywood is: Save your money!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/my-best-advice-about-working-in-hollywood-is-save-your-money/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [I think as an actor you want to keep being challenged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/i-think-as-an-actor-you-want-to-keep-being-challenged/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) > [You gotta remember I was homeless. Whenever I think I have something to complain about. I go outside, walk across the street and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/you-gotta-remember-i-was-homeless-whenever-i-think-i-have-something/) [Michael Clarke Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) [Explore all 32 Michael Clarke Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever God gave you, you have to work that to your best ability - especially out here in Hollywood, the land of beautiful people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Clarke Duncan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-that-to-your-best-ability/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-that-to-your-best-ability/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/michael-clarke-duncan-19465_ability_whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-t_1586818.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/michael-clarke-duncan-19465_ability_whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-t_1586818.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecc/michael-clarke-duncan-19465_ability_whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-t_1586818.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whatever God gave you, you have to work that to your best ability - especially out here in Hollywood, the…” — Michael Clarke Duncan", "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": "Michael Clarke Duncan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke-duncan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whatever God gave you, you have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-that-to-your-best-ability/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke-duncan/whatever-god-gave-you-you-have-to-work-that-to-your-best-ability/#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 } } ] } ```