--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing I'm not good with is…" description: "\"The thing I'm not good with is mediocrity, when someone isn't really trying to reach something.\" — Nicole Kidman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/nicole-kidman-1321_mediocrity_the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrit_2706067.jpg" --- # The thing I'm not good with is mediocrity, when someone… ![“The thing I'm not good with is mediocrity, when someone isn't really trying to reach something.” quote by Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/nicole-kidman-1321_mediocrity_the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrit_2706067.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/nicole-kidman-1321_mediocrity_the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrit_2706067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/nicole-kidman-1321_mediocrity_the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrit_2706067.jpg) > “The thing I'm not good with is mediocrity, when someone isn't really trying to reach something.” [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mediocrity is unacceptable; strive for excellence. **In simple terms:** Avoid mediocrity; aim high. Key Takeaway Pursue excellence relentlessly. Themes ambition excellence self‑improvement Mood determined intense Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - goal setting - skill mastery - performance reviews Key Concepts personal standards career growth Questions to Reflect On - What defines true excellence for you? - How do you balance effort and wellbeing? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) ## Related quotes > [“Nothing is good but mediocrity. The majority has settled that, and finds fault with him who escapes it at whichever end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/nothing-is-good-but-mediocrity-the-majority-has-settled-that-and-2/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Nothing is good but mediocrity. The majority has settled that, and finds fault with him who escapes it at whichever end... To leave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/nothing-is-good-but-mediocrity-the-majority-has-settled-that-and/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I've been trying to reach you, but my extention cord wouldn't reach that far (Now you've lost your chance) I've been patiently waiting The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saosin/i-ve-been-trying-to-reach-you-but-my-extention-cord-wouldn-t-reach/) [Saosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saosin/) > [...it's very much like your trying to reach infinity. You know that it's there, you just don't know where-but just because you can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/it-s-very-much-like-your-trying-to-reach-infinity-you-know-that-it-s/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [I'm hands-on with everything, always trying to reach the real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/i-m-hands-on-with-everything-always-trying-to-reach-the-real-people/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [You are trying not only to reach your potential but to move beyond it. If you are not in the best shape you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/you-are-trying-not-only-to-reach-your-potential-but-to-move-beyond-it/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [I'm always trying to reach the top of the mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-ortiz/i-m-always-trying-to-reach-the-top-of-the-mountain/) [Luis Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-ortiz/) > [“I'm tired of trying to reach something that was never there for me to have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-tornettta/i-m-tired-of-trying-to-reach-something-that-was-never-there-for-me-to/) Angelina Tornettta > [If you're on Facebook and you're trying to reach out, you really have to figure out how to feed and please its algorithm. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/if-you-re-on-facebook-and-you-re-trying-to-reach-out-you-really-have/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [“I dare to hope Adam is trying to reach out to me. I’m crazy enough to consider the possibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-dare-to-hope-adam-is-trying-to-reach-out-to-me-i-m-crazy-enough-to/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“That girl she was trying to reach- she must have been running from something. She must have been someone special, for her friend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/that-girl-she-was-trying-to-reach-she-must-have-been-running-from/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [Think through whom you are trying to reach. Tailor what you do and how you do it to appeal to those communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/think-through-whom-you-are-trying-to-reach-tailor-what-you-do-and-how/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [“It's very much like you're trying to reach Infinity. You know it's there, but you just don't know where--but just because you can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-very-much-like-you-re-trying-to-reach-infinity-you-know-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'll continue to climb, trying to reach the top. But no one knows where the top is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/su-shi/i-ll-continue-to-climb-trying-to-reach-the-top-but-no-one-knows-where/) [Su Shi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/su-shi/) > [The line 'Take it to the limit' was to keep trying before you reach a point in your life where you feel you've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-meisner/the-line-take-it-to-the-limit-was-to-keep-trying-before-you-reach-a/) [Randy Meisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-meisner/) ## More by Nicole Kidman > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I can't fall in love with anyone, I make men believe what they want to believe. from Moulin Rouge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-can-t-fall-in-love-with-anyone-i-make-men-believe-what-they-want-to/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I never like to tell people what they should take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-never-like-to-tell-people-what-they-should-take/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I think each role takes a little from you and circles around you for the rest of your life. I don't think you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-think-each-role-takes-a-little-from-you-and-circles-around-you-for/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I never wore glasses except when I had to read a teleprompter at an awards show or drive, so I didn't notice much. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-never-wore-glasses-except-when-i-had-to-read-a-teleprompter-at-an/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [With every character, you alter, you can’t be attached to your own identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/with-every-character-you-alter-you-can-t-be-attached-to-your-own/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I think I would be very sad if I wasn't able to have a baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-think-i-would-be-very-sad-if-i-wasn-t-able-to-have-a-baby/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [The power of work, and the power of creativity can be your salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/the-power-of-work-and-the-power-of-creativity-can-be-your-salvation/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I'm interested in going places that I haven't been. And I'm interesting in working with people that I feel are dangerous and sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-m-interested-in-going-places-that-i-haven-t-been-and-i-m/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [You have to love, without judgment, every actor that you're working with to make beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/you-have-to-love-without-judgment-every-actor-that-you-re-working/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I didn't really care about my physical health; I only cared about what was on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-didn-t-really-care-about-my-physical-health-i-only-cared-about-what/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I'm spontaneous. I jump in. I kind of like getting married and then getting to know each other; I know that it sounds incredibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-m-spontaneous-i-jump-in-i-kind-of-like-getting-married-and-then/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I credit literature for the reason I act because that was the door to me saying, ‘Oh! I can be somebody else. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-credit-literature-for-the-reason-i-act-because-that-was-the-door-to/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I don't mind being naked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-don-t-mind-being-naked/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [Deep down am I superstitious? No. Do I believe in trying to be as kind as possible and as compassionate as possible because ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/deep-down-am-i-superstitious-no-do-i-believe-in-trying-to-be-as-kind/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) [Explore all 257 Nicole Kidman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) ## 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": "The thing I'm not good with is mediocrity, when someone isn't really trying to reach something.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicole Kidman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrity-when-someone-isn-t-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mediocrity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrity-when-someone-isn-t-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/nicole-kidman-1321_mediocrity_the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrit_2706067.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/nicole-kidman-1321_mediocrity_the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrit_2706067.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/nicole-kidman-1321_mediocrity_the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrit_2706067.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing I'm not good with is mediocrity, when someone isn't really trying to reach something.” — Nicole Kidman", "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": "Nicole Kidman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing I'm not good with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrity-when-someone-isn-t-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/the-thing-i-m-not-good-with-is-mediocrity-when-someone-isn-t-really/#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 } } ] } ```