--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're playing within your capability…" description: "\"If you're playing within your capability, what's the point? If you're not pushing your own technique to its own limits with the risk that it might just..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/nigel-kennedy-29256_capability_if-you-re-playing-within-your-capability_2698860.jpg" --- # If you're playing within your capability, what's the… ![“If you're playing within your capability, what's the point? If you're not pushing your own technique to its own limits with the risk that it might just crumble at any moment, then you're not really doing your job.” quote by Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/nigel-kennedy-29256_capability_if-you-re-playing-within-your-capability_2698860.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/nigel-kennedy-29256_capability_if-you-re-playing-within-your-capability_2698860.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/nigel-kennedy-29256_capability_if-you-re-playing-within-your-capability_2698860.jpg) > “If you're playing within your capability, what's the point? If you're not pushing your own technique to its own limits with the risk that it might just crumble at any moment, then you're not really doing your job.” [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pushing beyond comfort zones is essential; staying safe means not truly fulfilling one's role. **In simple terms:** Growth requires risk and challenge. Key Takeaway Embrace risk to excel. Themes growth risk mastery Mood determined intense Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career development - artistic practice - skill training - competitive environments Key Concepts self‑actualization performance pressure Questions to Reflect On - Are you avoiding challenges out of fear? - How can you balance safety and growth? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to failure and burnout if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing Your Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-your-job/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If you're not pushing your own technique to its own limits with the risk that it might just crumble at any moment, then you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/if-you-re-not-pushing-your-own-technique-to-its-own-limits-with-the/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [“Nakajima’s past would always be there, so the foundation could crumble at any moment. That’s what happens, I realized, when people destroy other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/nakajima-s-past-would-always-be-there-so-the-foundation-could-crumble/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [As time goes on, I get more and more convinced that the right method in investment is to put fairly large sums into enterprises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/as-time-goes-on-i-get-more-and-more-convinced-that-the-right-method-2/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [It is a mistake to think that one limits one’s risk by spreading too much between enterprises about which one knows little and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/it-is-a-mistake-to-think-that-one-limits-one-s-risk-by-spreading-too/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [I don't think anything is a block as long as you are doing your job well. That counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikitin-dheer/i-don-t-think-anything-is-a-block-as-long-as-you-are-doing-your-job/) [Nikitin Dheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikitin-dheer/) > [The best way to advocate for Michigan is not on Twitter, the best way to advocate for Michigan, to fix this nation's problems, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/the-best-way-to-advocate-for-michigan-is-not-on-twitter-the-best-way/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [Painters paint outdoors, or in rooms full of people; they paint their lovers, alone, naked; they paint and eat; they paint and listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/painters-paint-outdoors-or-in-rooms-full-of-people-they-paint-their/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [If you don't have fun doing the things you love, doing your job, you shouldn't be doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-young/if-you-don-t-have-fun-doing-the-things-you-love-doing-your-job-you/) [Nick Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-young/) > [Sometimes, when the material is really good, you put expectations on yourself to make it the best possible show. You're not just serving up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/sometimes-when-the-material-is-really-good-you-put-expectations-on/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [For me, the best thing about being a footballer is that indescribable feeling when you are on a pitch doing your job. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/for-me-the-best-thing-about-being-a-footballer-is-that-indescribable/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [Being a professional means doing your job on the days you don't want to do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halberstam/being-a-professional-means-doing-your-job-on-the-days-you-don-t-want/) [David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halberstam/) > [Every action has a consequence. It may be good for strengthening. And I have no doubt that lifting a lot of weights can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/every-action-has-a-consequence-it-may-be-good-for-strengthening-and-i/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [If you're a leader at any level and your people aren't challenging you, you've got to change that or you can't be a leader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/if-you-re-a-leader-at-any-level-and-your-people-aren-t-challenging/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) ## More by Nigel Kennedy > [Yes, I mean like you know, having studied with Yehudi Menuhin that is like some direct route into Bach, because he was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/yes-i-mean-like-you-know-having-studied-with-yehudi-menuhin-that-is/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [The Four Seasons was making me popular in Britain, but EMI America had no interest in making that happen in the States, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/the-four-seasons-was-making-me-popular-in-britain-but-emi-america-had/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [Even if you're playing Brahms or a Beethoven concerto, you've got to have a different vantage point, slightly, each time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/even-if-you-re-playing-brahms-or-a-beethoven-concerto-you-ve-got-to/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [The Beatles are a classical group because they're classic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/the-beatles-are-a-classical-group-because-they-re-classic/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [You can't learn pathos or profundity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/you-can-t-learn-pathos-or-profundity/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [Menuhin was playing Bach on a fantastic spiritual level when he was a teenager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/menuhin-was-playing-bach-on-a-fantastic-spiritual-level-when-he-was-a/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [I hate complacency. I play every gig as if it could be my last, then I enjoy it more than ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/i-hate-complacency-i-play-every-gig-as-if-it-could-be-my-last-then-i/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [I've learnt new scales through playing different types of music, like Indian raga scales, gipsy scales and harmonically-based jazz scales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/i-ve-learnt-new-scales-through-playing-different-types-of-music-like/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [Why would you want to stand there waving a stick when you could be playing an instrument?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/why-would-you-want-to-stand-there-waving-a-stick-when-you-could-be/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [I think Bach is equally a romantic composer because he laid the seeds harmonically for people like Chopin and the great Romantics, Brahms, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/i-think-bach-is-equally-a-romantic-composer-because-he-laid-the-seeds/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [Bach was a top harmonist geezer, which is why the jazz cats love him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/bach-was-a-top-harmonist-geezer-which-is-why-the-jazz-cats-love-him/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [If you do the same thing every night, that's the death of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/if-you-do-the-same-thing-every-night-that-s-the-death-of-music/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [If you're not pushing your own technique to its own limits with the risk that it might just crumble at any moment, then you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/if-you-re-not-pushing-your-own-technique-to-its-own-limits-with-the/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [I'm always improving and I want to get better and never hit a plateau. I find it an amazing adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/i-m-always-improving-and-i-want-to-get-better-and-never-hit-a-plateau/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [Maybe it's egocentric or whatever, but when I'm playing Beethoven, Bach, Hendrix, or whoever it is, in the end, it just feels like my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/maybe-it-s-egocentric-or-whatever-but-when-i-m-playing-beethoven-bach/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) [Explore all 18 Nigel Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) ## More Capability quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We artists give daily thanks for the miracle of our planet and for the inclination and the capability to honour it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/we-artists-give-daily-thanks-for-the-miracle-of-our-planet-and-for/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Few men realize that their life, the very essence of their character, their capabilities and their audacities, are only the expression of their belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/few-men-realize-that-their-life-the-very-essence-of-their-character/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [One of the capabilities, which seems to be the most difficult for aspiring leaders to maste is realistic optimism. It requires one to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/one-of-the-capabilities-which-seems-to-be-the-most-difficult-for/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [You have the capability to change your life all with a simple shift in perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-have-the-capability-to-change-your-life-all-with-a-simple-shift/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [If you are facing a new challenge or being asked to do something that you have never done before don’t be afraid to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/if-you-are-facing-a-new-challenge-or-being-asked-to-do-something-that/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Clearly, if wed had the kind of computer graphics capability then that we have now, the Star Gate sequence would be much more complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-trumbull/clearly-if-wed-had-the-kind-of-computer-graphics-capability-then-that/) [Douglas Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-trumbull/) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I'm just confident in myself and my capability to be able to play this position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/i-m-just-confident-in-myself-and-my-capability-to-be-able-to-play/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [The Iranians know that if they develop nuclear weapons, they will be in tremendous jeopardy from military capabilities of their neighbors and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/the-iranians-know-that-if-they-develop-nuclear-weapons-they-will-be/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [I have proved my capability to everyone - my fans and critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arshad-warsi/i-have-proved-my-capability-to-everyone-my-fans-and-critics/) [Arshad Warsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arshad-warsi/) > [I will then ask for a plan to immediately protect those vulnerabilities and then fix them.At the same time, we will invest heavily in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-then-ask-for-a-plan-to-immediately-protect-those/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I've seen people recover physical abilities, yet never get over emotional trauma after a serious accident. I've seen other people overcome the psychological and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/i-ve-seen-people-recover-physical-abilities-yet-never-get-over/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) Browse all 801 Capability quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're playing within your capability, what's the point? 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