---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't be hesitant about who you are."
description: "\"You can't be hesitant about who you are.\" — Viola Davis"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/viola-davis-1174_funny_you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are_1967235.png"
---

#  You can't be hesitant about who you are.

![“You can't be hesitant about who you are.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/viola-davis-1174_funny_you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are_1967235.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/viola-davis-1174_funny_you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are_1967235.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/viola-davis-1174_funny_you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are_1967235.png)

> “You can't be hesitant about who you are.”

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Accepting your identity removes self‑doubt and enables authentic action.

**In simple terms:** Know yourself, act confidently.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your true self.

Themes

self‑acceptance confidence authenticity

Mood

determined empowering

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- leadership
- public speaking

Key Concepts

identity self‑esteem

Questions to Reflect On

- How does knowing who you are affect your decisions?
- What fears arise when you reveal your true self?

A Different Perspective

Self‑acceptance can be challenged by external criticism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Hesitant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hesitant/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-you-are/)

## Related quotes

> [Don't let other people tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/don-t-let-other-people-tell-you-who-you-are/)

[Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/)

> [When I fall in love, I feel more valuable and I treat myself with more care. We have all observed the hesitant adolescent, uncertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/when-i-fall-in-love-i-feel-more-valuable-and-i-treat-myself-with-more/)

[Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/)

> [Since Christ Himself said in reference to the bread: "This is My Body," who will dare remain hesitant? And since with equal clarity He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-of-jerusalem/since-christ-himself-said-in-reference-to-the-bread-this-is-my-body/)

[Cyril of Jerusalem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-of-jerusalem/)

> [The body moves naturally, automatically, unconsciously, without any personal intervention or awareness. But if we begin to use our faculty of reasoning, our actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaimal-yogis/the-body-moves-naturally-automatically-unconsciously-without-any/)

[Jaimal Yogis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaimal-yogis/)

> [I'm always hesitant to make any serious moves because you never know how the N.F.L. will treat you, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquise-goodwin/i-m-always-hesitant-to-make-any-serious-moves-because-you-never-know/)

[Marquise Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquise-goodwin/)

> [Indulgences should never be hesitant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adcock/indulgences-should-never-be-hesitant/)

[Thomas Adcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adcock/)

> [If the veteran only has a year or two left on his contract, teams are hesitant to trade a draft pick for a player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-hurney/if-the-veteran-only-has-a-year-or-two-left-on-his-contract-teams-are/)

[Marty Hurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-hurney/)

> [“I couldn't understand how boldness and sorrow, how you're so hard and do you really care for me? could be so thoroughly bound together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/i-couldn-t-understand-how-boldness-and-sorrow-how-you-re-so-hard-and/)

[André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/)

> [Although the road is never ending take a step and keep walking, do not look fearfully into the distance... On this path let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/although-the-road-is-never-ending-take-a-step-and-keep-walking-do-not/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [The modern spirit is a hesitant one. Spontaneity has given way to cautious legalisms, and the age of heroes has been superseded by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-lowenstein/the-modern-spirit-is-a-hesitant-one-spontaneity-has-given-way-to/)

[Roger Lowenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-lowenstein/)

> [The challenge excites me. Being hesitant to approach or audition for things pushes me out of my comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-cole/the-challenge-excites-me-being-hesitant-to-approach-or-audition-for/)

[Finn Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-cole/)

> [I was hesitant about doing too big a role in an American movie because it meant losing my German accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franka-potente/i-was-hesitant-about-doing-too-big-a-role-in-an-american-movie/)

[Franka Potente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franka-potente/)

> [Catching feelings is the worst, I just be so hesitant man. Nobody seems genuine these days...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/catching-feelings-is-the-worst-i-just-be-so-hesitant-man-nobody-seems/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You have to feel confident. If you don't, then you're going to be hesitant and defensive, and there'll be a lot of things working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/you-have-to-feel-confident-if-you-don-t-then-you-re-going-to-be/)

[Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/)

> [I think my vision's blurred," he murmurred. SHe responded with a hesitant laugh. "If that's all that happened, you're a heck of a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/i-think-my-vision-s-blurred-he-murmurred-she-responded-with-a/)

[Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/)

## More by Viola Davis

> [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

> [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/)

[Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

[Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/)

## More Funny quotes

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers &amp; think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/)

[Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/)

> [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [Penis goes in , sperms cums out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/penis-goes-in-sperms-cums-out/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/)

[Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

[Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/)

> [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/)

[Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/)

> [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/)

[Michael Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fishman/)

[Browse all 39,858 Funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You can't be hesitant about who you are.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Viola Davis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Funny"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/viola-davis-1174_funny_you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are_1967235.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/viola-davis-1174_funny_you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are_1967235.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbb/viola-davis-1174_funny_you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are_1967235.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You can't be hesitant about who you are.” — Viola Davis",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Viola Davis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You can't be hesitant about who...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/you-can-t-be-hesitant-about-who-you-are/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
