--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that this sounds grand, but I…" description: "\"I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone. The kind of people I'm co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/stephen-merchant-15797_allen_i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don_98842.jpg" --- # I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete… ![“I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone. The kind of people I'm competing with are my heroes - Woody Allen, Billy Wilder - who I know I'm going to fall short of.” quote by Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/stephen-merchant-15797_allen_i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don_98842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/stephen-merchant-15797_allen_i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don_98842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/stephen-merchant-15797_allen_i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don_98842.jpg) > “I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone. The kind of people I'm competing with are my heroes - Woody Allen, Billy Wilder - who I know I'm going to fall short of.” [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) ## 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 avoids competing with others, believing success is abundant, and measures themselves against admired creators, accepting inevitable shortfall. **In simple terms:** Competing with heroes is a personal benchmark, not a race. Key Takeaway Self‑comparison to idols fosters humility and realistic expectations. Themes humility self‑assessment inspiration competition Mood thoughtful humble Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - creative workshops - personal coaching Key Concepts growth mindset Practical Applications - Set personal goals based on values, not rivalry - Study mentors for learning, not comparison Questions to Reflect On - How does comparing yourself to heroes affect motivation? - What balance exists between admiration and self‑acceptance? A Different Perspective Idealizing heroes may create unrealistic standards that hinder confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pie/) ## Related quotes > [First off, I love Woody Allen. His early movies, like 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' are incredible. I also love anything by Billy Wilder, Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-story/first-off-i-love-woody-allen-his-early-movies-like-hannah-and-her/) [Tim Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-story/) > [A lot of my comic influences are distinctly American: Woody Allen and Bob Hope, for example. They were always the underdogs who were using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/a-lot-of-my-comic-influences-are-distinctly-american-woody-allen-and/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [My heroes - people like Woody Allen - were stand-up comedians. Therefore, I always felt I should give it a go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/my-heroes-people-like-woody-allen-were-stand-up-comedians-therefore-i/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I am definitely writing letters to lots of directors in my mind when I'm making a film. I'm chasing Woody Allen and Godard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/i-am-definitely-writing-letters-to-lots-of-directors-in-my-mind-when/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [I would love to have a long and serious conversation with the Pope. And Woody Allen, whom I have never interviewed. Then, after those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rose/i-would-love-to-have-a-long-and-serious-conversation-with-the-pope/) [Charlie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rose/) > [Woody Allen's movies are so much a part of me. I grew up watching them over and over and would read all his comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/woody-allen-s-movies-are-so-much-a-part-of-me-i-grew-up-watching-them/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [I'm very physical. I'm extremely active, and I would love to do something a little more sexy and dangerous, a la Sophia Loren, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azita-ghanizada/i-m-very-physical-i-m-extremely-active-and-i-would-love-to-do/) [Azita Ghanizada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azita-ghanizada/) > [When I worked with anybody like Woody Allen, there's the name, and your understanding of who they are before you meet them, that stays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/when-i-worked-with-anybody-like-woody-allen-there-s-the-name-and-your/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [I'm so from the Woody Allen/Spike Lee school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/i-m-so-from-the-woody-allen-spike-lee-school/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [While filming 'Annie Hall,' I never really hung out with Woody Allen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/while-filming-annie-hall-i-never-really-hung-out-with-woody-allen/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [Obviously, if Woody Allen calls and says he wants you to read a script, of course you read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/obviously-if-woody-allen-calls-and-says-he-wants-you-to-read-a-script/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I would like to work with people whose films I really like: Walter Salles, Woody Allen, Julio Medem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/i-would-like-to-work-with-people-whose-films-i-really-like-walter/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [I don't know enough about Woody Allen to be a fan of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ritchie/i-don-t-know-enough-about-woody-allen-to-be-a-fan-of-him/) [Guy Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ritchie/) > [My older brother took me to Woody Allen double features when I was still teething.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/my-older-brother-took-me-to-woody-allen-double-features-when-i-was/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Being in a Woody Allen film. I cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/being-in-a-woody-allen-film-i-cherish-it/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) ## More by Stephen Merchant > [It's not like I think: 'By the age of 40 I've got to be an international household name.' When the opportunity to perform comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/it-s-not-like-i-think-by-the-age-of-40-i-ve-got-to-be-an/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [Things don't get better when you become well known or go on TV. I'm just being rejected by a better class of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/things-don-t-get-better-when-you-become-well-known-or-go-on-tv-i-m/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [There's this way pop culture has been rammed down our throats that people think that if they were just in the right place at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/there-s-this-way-pop-culture-has-been-rammed-down-our-throats-that/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [When I started to mention to people who know about such things, 'I'm doing this game, 'Portal 2', they got very excited, suddenly. More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-i-started-to-mention-to-people-who-know-about-such-things-i-m/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [Once I began doing stand-up, I didn't get a kick out of the applause or being the centre of attention - but I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/once-i-began-doing-stand-up-i-didn-t-get-a-kick-out-of-the-applause/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I've always been a fan of physical comedy. It kind of hits you in a different way; it bypasses the intellect and hits you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-physical-comedy-it-kind-of-hits-you-in-a/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I wish I could write 'Taxi Driver,' or 'Blue Velvet,' something brave, audacious, dramatic and dark. I don't know if I have the darkness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-wish-i-could-write-taxi-driver-or-blue-velvet-something-brave/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [When I was a teenager, I met a comedian who I admired, and he was very rude to me. That's why when people come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-met-a-comedian-who-i-admired-and-he-was-very/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [Remember that film 'Sliding Doors,' when John Hannah woos Gwyneth Paltrow by reciting Monty Python sketches? I can tell you now that doesn't work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/remember-that-film-sliding-doors-when-john-hannah-woos-gwyneth/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I very rarely laugh. I remember I used to have a joy at comedy. I remember going to see Sean Lock for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-very-rarely-laugh-i-remember-i-used-to-have-a-joy-at-comedy-i/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I don't have any hidden depths; I'm a very superficial person. It's a constant frustration to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-don-t-have-any-hidden-depths-i-m-a-very-superficial-person-it-s-a/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I'm too tall. I am 6ft 7in, so I've been most people's height at some point in my life, and 6ft 4in is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-m-too-tall-i-am-6ft-7in-so-i-ve-been-most-people-s-height-at-some/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [My heroes - people like Woody Allen - were stand-up comedians. Therefore, I always felt I should give it a go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/my-heroes-people-like-woody-allen-were-stand-up-comedians-therefore-i/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [A lot of my comic influences are distinctly American: Woody Allen and Bob Hope, for example. They were always the underdogs who were using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/a-lot-of-my-comic-influences-are-distinctly-american-woody-allen-and/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I just always remember there being an ability to amuse schoolmates. Not in a kind of 'dance-around-at-the-front-of-the-room-with-his-trousers-off' way, but probably with a sardonic quip.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-just-always-remember-there-being-an-ability-to-amuse-schoolmates/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) [Explore all 42 Stephen Merchant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) ## More Allen quotes > [Being in a Woody Allen film. I cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/being-in-a-woody-allen-film-i-cherish-it/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [My older brother took me to Woody Allen double features when I was still teething.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/my-older-brother-took-me-to-woody-allen-double-features-when-i-was/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [I don't know enough about Woody Allen to be a fan of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ritchie/i-don-t-know-enough-about-woody-allen-to-be-a-fan-of-him/) [Guy Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ritchie/) > [I would like to work with people whose films I really like: Walter Salles, Woody Allen, Julio Medem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/i-would-like-to-work-with-people-whose-films-i-really-like-walter/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [When you win, everything is everything. But when you lose, it's all about Allen Iverson and Larry Brown. When we win, I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/when-you-win-everything-is-everything-but-when-you-lose-it-s-all/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) > [Obviously, if Woody Allen calls and says he wants you to read a script, of course you read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/obviously-if-woody-allen-calls-and-says-he-wants-you-to-read-a-script/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Some people said my acting was a cross between Euell Gibbons, Rodney Allen Rippy and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfman-jack/some-people-said-my-acting-was-a-cross-between-euell-gibbons-rodney/) [Wolfman Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfman-jack/) > [While filming 'Annie Hall,' I never really hung out with Woody Allen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/while-filming-annie-hall-i-never-really-hung-out-with-woody-allen/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [First off, I love Woody Allen. His early movies, like 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' are incredible. I also love anything by Billy Wilder, Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-story/first-off-i-love-woody-allen-his-early-movies-like-hannah-and-her/) [Tim Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-story/) > [I'm so from the Woody Allen/Spike Lee school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/i-m-so-from-the-woody-allen-spike-lee-school/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [When I worked with anybody like Woody Allen, there's the name, and your understanding of who they are before you meet them, that stays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/when-i-worked-with-anybody-like-woody-allen-there-s-the-name-and-your/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [I'm very physical. I'm extremely active, and I would love to do something a little more sexy and dangerous, a la Sophia Loren, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azita-ghanizada/i-m-very-physical-i-m-extremely-active-and-i-would-love-to-do/) [Azita Ghanizada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azita-ghanizada/) > [When television began, it modeled itself after radio. Many early television programs were radio programs first. 'My Favorite Wife,' 'The Jack Benny Show,' 'Burns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/when-television-began-it-modeled-itself-after-radio-many-early/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [Woody Allen's movies are so much a part of me. I grew up watching them over and over and would read all his comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/woody-allen-s-movies-are-so-much-a-part-of-me-i-grew-up-watching-them/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [I would love to have a long and serious conversation with the Pope. And Woody Allen, whom I have never interviewed. Then, after those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rose/i-would-love-to-have-a-long-and-serious-conversation-with-the-pope/) [Charlie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rose/) Browse all 105 Allen quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone. 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