--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Know your limitations and be content with…" description: "\"Know your limitations and be content with them. Too much ambition results in promotion to a job you can't do.\" — Ricky Gervais" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/ricky-gervais-851_ambition_know-your-limitations-and-be-content-wit_1846679.png" --- # Know your limitations and be content with them. Too much… ![“Know your limitations and be content with them. Too much ambition results in promotion to a job you can't do.” quote by Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/ricky-gervais-851_ambition_know-your-limitations-and-be-content-wit_1846679.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/ricky-gervais-851_ambition_know-your-limitations-and-be-content-wit_1846679.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/ricky-gervais-851_ambition_know-your-limitations-and-be-content-wit_1846679.png) > “Know your limitations and be content with them. Too much ambition results in promotion to a job you can't do.” [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing personal limits prevents overreaching and leads to realistic satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Know your limits to avoid overambition. Key Takeaway Set realistic goals aligned with abilities. Themes self-awareness ambition contentment Mood reflective pragmatic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - job selection - personal development - skill assessment Key Concepts psychology career planning Questions to Reflect On - What limits are you ignoring? - How can you channel ambition constructively? A Different Perspective Ambition can drive growth; balance is key. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Content Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/content-ambition-2394727/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Know Limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-limitations-341191/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Limitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitation/) [Limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitations/) [Limitations Content](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitations-content-2394728/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Promotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promotion/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [A man's got to know his limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/a-man-s-got-to-know-his-limitations/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/you-ve-got-to-know-your-limitations-i-don-t-know-what-your/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I wanted to act and do good work with good people. I wanted to be a part of good content. That was my only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mithila-palkar/i-wanted-to-act-and-do-good-work-with-good-people-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Mithila Palkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mithila-palkar/) > [I like when people know who they are, know their limitations and what they want to do. It's the same thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-like-when-people-know-who-they-are-know-their-limitations-and-what/) [Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/) > [A wise man has to know his limitations. I figured that out pretty quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/a-wise-man-has-to-know-his-limitations-i-figured-that-out-pretty/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [I know my limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-berry/i-know-my-limitations/) [Ken Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-berry/) > [The mystical kundalini energy has some, I don't know if you'd call them limitations, but there are certain operational factors which you should understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-mystical-kundalini-energy-has-some-i-don-t-know-if-you-d-call/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We as label executives, we have to know the limitations of the artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathew-knowles/we-as-label-executives-we-have-to-know-the-limitations-of-the-artists/) [Mathew Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathew-knowles/) > [I don't know what my limitations are until I reach them. I look for the challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-don-t-know-what-my-limitations-are-until-i-reach-them-i-look-for/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [Know your limitations and then defy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/know-your-limitations-and-then-defy-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've got no pretence that I want to do 'Hamlet' or anything, I know my limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-ve-got-no-pretence-that-i-want-to-do-hamlet-or-anything-i-know-my/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [“ A man's got to know his limitations." Inspector Harry Callahan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-feeney/a-man-s-got-to-know-his-limitations-inspector-harry-callahan/) [David Feeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-feeney/) > [“It is oftentimes a blessing to not know our limitations. It's the only way to accomplish the impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/it-is-oftentimes-a-blessing-to-not-know-our-limitations-it-s-the-only/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Men must know their limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/men-must-know-their-limitations/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [To understand the power of the priesthood, we must know its limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/to-understand-the-power-of-the-priesthood-we-must-know-its-limitations/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) ## More by Ricky Gervais > [I was David Bowie-thin up to about 28, and then I discovered food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-was-david-bowie-thin-up-to-about-28-and-then-i-discovered-food/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I don't like it when I see a racist comedian go up and say, 'What are we gonna do about all these immigrants?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-like-it-when-i-see-a-racist-comedian-go-up-and-say-what-are/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [The truth doesn't hurt. Whatever it is, it doesn't hurt. It's better to know the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/the-truth-doesn-t-hurt-whatever-it-is-it-doesn-t-hurt-it-s-better-to/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [There are so many films now where you know the story is a supporting role to the visual effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-are-so-many-films-now-where-you-know-the-story-is-a-supporting/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [When I was about to be famous, I feared it on a few levels. I feared it because I didn't want people to lump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/when-i-was-about-to-be-famous-i-feared-it-on-a-few-levels-i-feared-it/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [It will be great to play a short, fat sweaty loser for a change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/it-will-be-great-to-play-a-short-fat-sweaty-loser-for-a-change/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I went to university with no money. I can't understand a society that wouldn't give a poor person the same opportunity as a rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-went-to-university-with-no-money-i-can-t-understand-a-society-that/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I'm a failed pop star. I always sneak a song into everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-m-a-failed-pop-star-i-always-sneak-a-song-into-everything-i-do/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [The grass isn't always greener on the other side!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/the-grass-isn-t-always-greener-on-the-other-side/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am myself sometimes, and I do state my opinions, but not in a comedy routine and not in my character. There always has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-am-myself-sometimes-and-i-do-state-my-opinions-but-not-in-a-comedy/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Wearing cosmetics that were tested on animals makes you ugly on the inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/wearing-cosmetics-that-were-tested-on-animals-makes-you-ugly-on-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [There's a difference between a job and a career - if you're the boss you don't stop at six o'clock, you have to worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-s-a-difference-between-a-job-and-a-career-if-you-re-the-boss/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Stupidity without malice isn't horrible; some people can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/stupidity-without-malice-isn-t-horrible-some-people-can-t-help-it/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [It's interesting that music in this country... we sort of sold something to America with The Beatles and they sold something back. And we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/it-s-interesting-that-music-in-this-country-we-sort-of-sold-something/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) [Explore all 351 Ricky Gervais quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## More Ambition quotes > [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/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Know your limitations and be content with them. 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