--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always felt that if you're not on…" description: "\"I've always felt that if you're not on your side, why should anyone else be. So I always encourage people to be confident, and sometime even a little f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/robert-downey-jr-3620_be-confident_i-ve-always-felt-that-if-you-re-not-on-y_2050827.jpg" --- # I've always felt that if you're not on your side, why… ![“I've always felt that if you're not on your side, why should anyone else be. So I always encourage people to be confident, and sometime even a little falsely so, just so you can give yourself an opportunity.” quote by Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/robert-downey-jr-3620_be-confident_i-ve-always-felt-that-if-you-re-not-on-y_2050827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/robert-downey-jr-3620_be-confident_i-ve-always-felt-that-if-you-re-not-on-y_2050827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/robert-downey-jr-3620_be-confident_i-ve-always-felt-that-if-you-re-not-on-y_2050827.jpg) > “I've always felt that if you're not on your side, why should anyone else be. So I always encourage people to be confident, and sometime even a little falsely so, just so you can give yourself an opportunity.” [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confidence can be a self‑fulfilling prophecy; acting assured may create real opportunities. **In simple terms:** Act confident to create chances. Key Takeaway Project confidence, even if partly feigned. Themes self‑esteem motivation psychology Mood anxious optimistic Type motivational pragmatic When to use this quote - job interview - public speaking - networking - personal branding Key Concepts self‑fulfilling prophecy impostor syndrome Questions to Reflect On - When have you pretended confidence? - What risks does feigned confidence entail? A Different Perspective False confidence can backfire if discovered. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Because of my job, I learned to be confident a little earlier than most. People pick you apart when you're in the public eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/because-of-my-job-i-learned-to-be-confident-a-little-earlier-than/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [I just think it's good to be confident. If I'm not on my team why should anybody else be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-just-think-it-s-good-to-be-confident-if-i-m-not-on-my-team-why/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I was actually a very confident little kid. I would go to kindergarten in a skirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conchita-wurst/i-was-actually-a-very-confident-little-kid-i-would-go-to-kindergarten/) [Conchita Wurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conchita-wurst/) > [There's a misconception that maybe I'm overly confident or a little vapid or that I am a stereotypical, bratty, spoiled girl who doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/there-s-a-misconception-that-maybe-i-m-overly-confident-or-a-little/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I was a very confident little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-was-a-very-confident-little-kid/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I'm one of the most humblest dudes you'll ever meet, if you ask people who have been around me, but I'm also confident in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-morant/i-m-one-of-the-most-humblest-dudes-you-ll-ever-meet-if-you-ask-people/) [Ja Morant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-morant/) > [“Some people are confident because they are fools. Leonard had the look of someone who was confident because, so far, he'd never found reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/some-people-are-confident-because-they-are-fools-leonard-had-the-look/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [People who are very confident in themselves aren't hurt by criticism. They make use of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/people-who-are-very-confident-in-themselves-aren-t-hurt-by-criticism/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Basically there are two types of people in the world: people who are confident because they know they have the ability to create, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/basically-there-are-two-types-of-people-in-the-world-people-who-are/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [We tend to view confidence as a product of accomplishment rather than part of the process that leads there. But supremely confident people were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eliot/we-tend-to-view-confidence-as-a-product-of-accomplishment-rather-than/) [John Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eliot/) > [I have proved myself as a complete package, so people can be more confident about investing in me, and I do expect a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithvik-dhanjani/i-have-proved-myself-as-a-complete-package-so-people-can-be-more/) [Rithvik Dhanjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithvik-dhanjani/) > [The best and most talented directors - and I think it goes for people too - are the most confident in giving room to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/the-best-and-most-talented-directors-and-i-think-it-goes-for-people/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [People sometimes are so confident in their flawed beliefs that they get stuck - fixated - and as a result are blinded to insights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/people-sometimes-are-so-confident-in-their-flawed-beliefs-that-they/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [I want people to be confident in our country again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-toffolo/i-want-people-to-be-confident-in-our-country-again/) [Georgia Toffolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-toffolo/) > [“Religious people are so confident of having God by their side that they think they are superior to everyone else”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-shafak/religious-people-are-so-confident-of-having-god-by-their-side-that/) [Elif Shafak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-shafak/) ## More by Robert Downey, Jr > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Discipline for me is about respect. It's not even about self-respect; it's about respect for life and all it offers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/discipline-for-me-is-about-respect-it-s-not-even-about-self-respect/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Give me a scotch, I'm starving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/give-me-a-scotch-i-m-starving/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [People never change because they are under threat or under duress. Never. They change because they see something that makes their life seem valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/people-never-change-because-they-are-under-threat-or-under-duress/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Remember that just because you hit bottom doesn't mean you have to stay there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/remember-that-just-because-you-hit-bottom-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I don't like words coming out of a character's mouth that I adore because not only is he a little bit duplicitous but he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-don-t-like-words-coming-out-of-a-character-s-mouth-that-i-adore/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I don't want to be so confident in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-don-t-want-to-be-so-confident-in-myself/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Pick a dysfunction and it's a family problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/pick-a-dysfunction-and-it-s-a-family-problem/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [My old man had a philosophy: peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/my-old-man-had-a-philosophy-peace-means-having-a-bigger-stick-than/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Nobody learns a German aria overnight, except Jared Harris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/nobody-learns-a-german-aria-overnight-except-jared-harris/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [You can't go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary, and really understand it, and come out a liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/you-can-t-go-from-a-2-000-a-night-suite-at-la-mirage-to-a/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I'm an actor, a husband, a father of two, and a full-time Avenger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-m-an-actor-a-husband-a-father-of-two-and-a-full-time-avenger/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I take some pride in... representing myself exactly how I would like to have my son remember me to his kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-take-some-pride-in-representing-myself-exactly-how-i-would-like-to/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/peace-means-having-a-bigger-stick-than-the-other-guy/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [I've always just shown up and tried to figure out what's for lunch and am I going to get to play some racquetball that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-ve-always-just-shown-up-and-tried-to-figure-out-what-s-for-lunch/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) [Explore all 126 Robert Downey, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) ## More Be confident quotes > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [I have seen countless people make a choice to be confident. If you don't naturally feel bold and confident, you can choose an attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-devos/i-have-seen-countless-people-make-a-choice-to-be-confident-if-you-don/) [Richard DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-devos/) > [Just be confident. Confidence is the most attractive part of a person. Because if they're not confident enough to show you who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/just-be-confident-confidence-is-the-most-attractive-part-of-a-person/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [If you want to be confident, but don't normally act that way, today, just this once, act in the physical world the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/if-you-want-to-be-confident-but-don-t-normally-act-that-way-today/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Be confident, and just do it. It's all about not questioning what everyone else is thinking, since they're probably looking to others to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/be-confident-and-just-do-it-it-s-all-about-not-questioning-what/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Sometimes being different is not going to be the most popular thing. But you have to be confident in you and what you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delisha-milton-jones/sometimes-being-different-is-not-going-to-be-the-most-popular-thing/) [DeLisha Milton-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delisha-milton-jones/) > [I had an upbringing in which I was allowed to be free and use my mind. My parents only helped me to be myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-lewis/i-had-an-upbringing-in-which-i-was-allowed-to-be-free-and-use-my-mind/) [Juliette Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-lewis/) > [Just be confident. I think confidence is the most attractive part of a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/just-be-confident-i-think-confidence-is-the-most-attractive-part-of-a/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [Frequent risk-takers have had their fair shares of failures and successes, hence, being confident in reaching their goals, they will usually seem insensitive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/frequent-risk-takers-have-had-their-fair-shares-of-failures-and/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Being an artist is like being an athlete. You have to be in there every day, keeping in shape. You have to be fearless.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-jordan/being-an-artist-is-like-being-an-athlete-you-have-to-be-in-there/) [Lawrence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-jordan/) > [I'm an outgoing person when it comes to friends, but when it comes to being confident and sexy, the sexy word scares me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-vega/i-m-an-outgoing-person-when-it-comes-to-friends-but-when-it-comes-to/) [Alexa Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-vega/) > [To rest in God's power when your own weaknesses seem to be screaming at you? That's grace! To be confident in who God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-cooke/to-rest-in-god-s-power-when-your-own-weaknesses-seem-to-be-screaming/) [Graham Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-cooke/) > [I think there's a part of society that is very for women being confident and being empowered, but I think there's another part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harnaam-kaur/i-think-there-s-a-part-of-society-that-is-very-for-women-being/) [Harnaam Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harnaam-kaur/) > [People expect those in authority to take on big problems and to solve them. We had an opportunity to reform Social Security in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/people-expect-those-in-authority-to-take-on-big-problems-and-to-solve/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I think that's part of being a comedy writer. You have to be confident. If you're sitting around worrying about, like, oh my God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mandel/i-think-that-s-part-of-being-a-comedy-writer-you-have-to-be-confident/) [David Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mandel/) Browse all 194 Be confident quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always felt that if you're not on your side, why should anyone else be. 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