--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I'm comfortable making myself, or…" description: "\"I think I'm comfortable making myself, or my speaker, larger than life if I can then cut myself off at the ankles. The way, in \"My Major Prize,\" the sp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/randall-mann-50831_ankles_i-think-i-m-comfortable-making-myself-or_2954624.jpg" --- # I think I'm comfortable making myself, or my speaker… ![“I think I'm comfortable making myself, or my speaker, larger than life if I can then cut myself off at the ankles. The way, in "My Major Prize," the speaker does this drippy performance of sadness and poetry for some unnamed prize committee, only he lets us know that it's all a wry game.” quote by Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/randall-mann-50831_ankles_i-think-i-m-comfortable-making-myself-or_2954624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/randall-mann-50831_ankles_i-think-i-m-comfortable-making-myself-or_2954624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/randall-mann-50831_ankles_i-think-i-m-comfortable-making-myself-or_2954624.jpg) > “I think I'm comfortable making myself, or my speaker, larger than life if I can then cut myself off at the ankles. The way, in "My Major Prize," the speaker does this drippy performance of sadness and poetry for some unnamed prize committee, only he lets us know that it's all a wry game.” [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker inflates his persona for dramatic effect, then intentionally limits himself, turning the performance into a self‑aware, ironic commentary on fame and authenticity. **In simple terms:** He pretends to be grand, then pulls back to reveal the act. Key Takeaway Use self‑awareness to critique personal exaggeration. Themes performance authenticity irony Mood playful critical reflective Type satirical inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - theatre - personal branding - creative projects Key Concepts self‑presentation identity artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - When does exaggeration become harmful? - How can you balance drama with sincerity? A Different Perspective The irony may alienate audiences who miss the self‑critical nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Larger than life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/larger-than-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Prize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prize/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The writing is a joy, so seamless you nearly miss the sheer artistry of the style and the terrific, wry humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bruen/the-writing-is-a-joy-so-seamless-you-nearly-miss-the-sheer-artistry/) [Ken Bruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bruen/) > [I love the wry motto of the Paleontological Society, meant both literally and figuratively, for hammers are the main tool of our trade: Frango…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-love-the-wry-motto-of-the-paleontological-society-meant-both/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“your best men are drunks and your worst men are locking them up, your best men are killers and your worst men are selling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/your-best-men-are-drunks-and-your-worst-men-are-locking-them-up-your/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [They had each other and there was a love between them that would withstand anything. Alina and I had always intuited, with no small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/they-had-each-other-and-there-was-a-love-between-them-that-would/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [This was a new recognition that perfection is admirable but a trifle inhuman, and that a stumbling kind of semi-success can be much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-angell/this-was-a-new-recognition-that-perfection-is-admirable-but-a-trifle/) [Roger Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-angell/) > [“His mastery of the hard-luck story was of a kind never achieved by persons not wholly concentrated on themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/his-mastery-of-the-hard-luck-story-was-of-a-kind-never-achieved-by/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [Glimpses is dead-on about the high and tight nineties even as it reaches out for the sweet hereafter of the sixties. It longs for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-barthelme/glimpses-is-dead-on-about-the-high-and-tight-nineties-even-as-it/) [Frederick Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-barthelme/) > [“Sai stands in his spineless way, young but antiquated, studious but not clever, a thick steel watch on his wrist, his oiled black hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-jospeh/sai-stands-in-his-spineless-way-young-but-antiquated-studious-but-not/) Manu Jospeh > [“Vegard and Riston's job today was to guard and protect me. And considering that I was in a tower room in the Guardians' citadel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-shearin/vegard-and-riston-s-job-today-was-to-guard-and-protect-me-and/) [Lisa Shearin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-shearin/) > [ I find her \[Frances Trollope\] simply delightful, even in her prejudices and cantankerousness. It is a gift to an author to find a funny,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-morris/i-find-her-frances-trollope-simply-delightful-even-in-her-prejudices/) [Charles R. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-morris/) > [Already known as one of America’s best and wittiest poets, William Trowbridge has, in Ship of Fool, found the perfect vessel to convey his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-harper-webb/already-known-as-one-of-america-s-best-and-wittiest-poets-william/) Charles Harper Webb > [Lennon's was one of the first voices I emulated when I began to sing. When we held tryouts in my pal's dad's living room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/lennon-s-was-one-of-the-first-voices-i-emulated-when-i-began-to-sing/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [As he followed Bill back to the others a wry though came to him, born no doubt of the wine he had drunk. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/as-he-followed-bill-back-to-the-others-a-wry-though-came-to-him-born/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Do you know what I am going to tell you, he said with his wry mouth, a pint of plain is your only man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flann-o-brien/do-you-know-what-i-am-going-to-tell-you-he-said-with-his-wry-mouth-a/) [Flann O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flann-o-brien/) > [“She's some kind of Socialist-anarchist-anarcho-syndicalist-Communist. Unless you're one of them you can't tell exactly what any of them are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow-2/she-s-some-kind-of-socialist-anarchist-anarcho-syndicalist-communist/) [E.L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow-2/) ## More by Randall Mann > [I'm working on poems about work, I guess. Or related to work. Which sounds dull as drywall but I'm having great fun working the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/i-m-working-on-poems-about-work-i-guess-or-related-to-work-which/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) > [I often think, no one wants to read this. No one wants to hear this. My own work makes me cringe sometimes, cringe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/i-often-think-no-one-wants-to-read-this-no-one-wants-to-hear-this-my/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) > [Some reviewers have read this as cynicism but I don't see it that way. When I say "I am so sick / of pretending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/some-reviewers-have-read-this-as-cynicism-but-i-don-t-see-it-that-way/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) > [I have always wanted to midcourse-correct (or undermine) in a poem, and let that be the turn. That poem is to do with displacement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/i-have-always-wanted-to-midcourse-correct-or-undermine-in-a-poem-and/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) > [I would like to say that I helped out our men in uniform, but the truth is I probably just grumbled at the noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/i-would-like-to-say-that-i-helped-out-our-men-in-uniform-but-the/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) > [I am probably going to pay for this at some point, but I think pretty much everyone I come into contact with is fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/i-am-probably-going-to-pay-for-this-at-some-point-but-i-think-pretty/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) [Explore all 7 Randall Mann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) ## More Ankles quotes > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [The sugar maple is remarkable for its clean ankle. 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I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I've broken all my fingers, I've broken my hand, ribs, ankles... everything, I've broken everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sky-blu/i-ve-broken-all-my-fingers-i-ve-broken-my-hand-ribs-ankles-everything/) [Sky Blu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sky-blu/) > [Never walk near the bed; to a ghost your ankle is your most vulnerable part-once in bed, you're safe; he may lie around under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/never-walk-near-the-bed-to-a-ghost-your-ankle-is-your-most-vulnerable/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [You may feel a tugging sensation near your ankles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-may-feel-a-tugging-sensation-near-your-ankles/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Rock stars are like sports stars: If you snap your ankle, you're done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/rock-stars-are-like-sports-stars-if-you-snap-your-ankle-you-re-done/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [A tall blonde entered the room, wearing a yellow sash that marked her as advocate. Two men followed her, carrying papers. She was lean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/a-tall-blonde-entered-the-room-wearing-a-yellow-sash-that-marked-her/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [We're told cars cause pollution. A hundred years ago city streets were ankle deep in horse excrement. What kind of pollution do you want?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/we-re-told-cars-cause-pollution-a-hundred-years-ago-city-streets-were/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In the past five weeks I've trained hard, trying to get my ankle back to where I want it to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-flintoff/in-the-past-five-weeks-i-ve-trained-hard-trying-to-get-my-ankle-back/) [Andrew Flintoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-flintoff/) > [It isn't a coincidence that governments everywhere want to educate children. Government education, in turn, is supposed to be evidence of the state's goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/it-isn-t-a-coincidence-that-governments-everywhere-want-to-educate/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [I have kind of loose ankles a little bit, and sometimes that's not always good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/i-have-kind-of-loose-ankles-a-little-bit-and-sometimes-that-s-not/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) > [Doctor." Gideon set one ankle on the opposite knee and settled back, creating a picture of unyielding decisiveness. "The only way I'm keeping my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/doctor-gideon-set-one-ankle-on-the-opposite-knee-and-settled-back/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [Why do guys insist on wearing those odious jeans with their rear ends hanging down around their ankles? Do they really think it's hot?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kluger/why-do-guys-insist-on-wearing-those-odious-jeans-with-their-rear-ends/) [Steve Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kluger/) > [Dancers, you know, they have pain everywhere: ankles in the morning, or back or neck or ribs or knees or the muscles. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/dancers-you-know-they-have-pain-everywhere-ankles-in-the-morning-or/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) Browse all 239 Ankles quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I'm comfortable making myself, or my speaker, larger than life if I can then cut myself off at the ankles. 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