--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's anything I'm not pompous…" description: "\"If there's anything I'm not pompous about, it's myself or my work. But I seem to be able to play it.\" — William Shatner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/william-shatner-1304_able_if-there-s-anything-i-m-not-pompous-abou_531996.jpg" --- # If there's anything I'm not pompous about, it's myself or… ![“If there's anything I'm not pompous about, it's myself or my work. But I seem to be able to play it.” quote by William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/william-shatner-1304_able_if-there-s-anything-i-m-not-pompous-abou_531996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/william-shatner-1304_able_if-there-s-anything-i-m-not-pompous-abou_531996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/william-shatner-1304_able_if-there-s-anything-i-m-not-pompous-abou_531996.jpg) > “If there's anything I'm not pompous about, it's myself or my work. But I seem to be able to play it.” [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor can mask arrogance, allowing one to appear modest while still being self‑centered. **In simple terms:** Humor hides arrogance. Key Takeaway Watch for hidden ego. Themes humor arrogance self-awareness Mood wry critical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - leadership - media interviews - social media Key Concepts psychology social perception Questions to Reflect On - Do you use humor to deflect criticism? - How does humility differ from self‑deprecation? A Different Perspective Humor may alienate others if perceived as insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-play/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Pompous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pompous/) [Pompous Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pompous-work-4466866/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-able-958143/) ## Related quotes > [I know what I bring to the table, I know my work. That's why I'm able to push for what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-adesanya/i-know-what-i-bring-to-the-table-i-know-my-work-that-s-why-i-m-able/) [Israel Adesanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-adesanya/) > [What I have learned in my life and work is that the more I am able to be myself, the more it enables other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-i-have-learned-in-my-life-and-work-is-that-the-more-i-am-able-to/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The best work that I am able to do is when I am willing to write about questions I haven't quite figured out, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/the-best-work-that-i-am-able-to-do-is-when-i-am-willing-to-write/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [I am extremely lucky, and I enjoy the level of work that I am able to work at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-am-extremely-lucky-and-i-enjoy-the-level-of-work-that-i-am-able-to/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [I'm particularly fortunate to be in a position where I can bring my child to work and be able to get good child care.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-louis-dreyfus/i-m-particularly-fortunate-to-be-in-a-position-where-i-can-bring-my/) [Julia Louis-Dreyfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-louis-dreyfus/) > [You're not best friends with someone just because you work with them, but you have to be able to at least work together, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-bronze/you-re-not-best-friends-with-someone-just-because-you-work-with-them/) [Lucy Bronze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-bronze/) > [I know that in my own work I'm able to do all kinds of things I never thought I'd be able to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-know-that-in-my-own-work-i-m-able-to-do-all-kinds-of-things-i-never/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [You should be able to look at me and see my work. You should be able to look at my work and see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-decarava/you-should-be-able-to-look-at-me-and-see-my-work-you-should-be-able/) [Roy DeCarava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-decarava/) > [“..all I understand about living is having your work to do, and being able to do it. That's the pleasure, and the glory, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/all-i-understand-about-living-is-having-your-work-to-do-and-being/) [Ursula K. 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That's really the bottom line for me. Survival and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-very-grateful-to-be-where-i-m-at-and-be-able-to-play-that-s/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Representing the Selecao is a very great expectation, being able to play is even greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/representing-the-selecao-is-a-very-great-expectation-being-able-to/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [It's the only way you're able to play as long as I have, is to go out there and perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/it-s-the-only-way-you-re-able-to-play-as-long-as-i-have-is-to-go-out/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) ## More by William Shatner > [My dad died of a stroke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/my-dad-died-of-a-stroke/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [We were basically one and the same, although Jim Kirk was just about perfect, and, of course, I am perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/we-were-basically-one-and-the-same-although-jim-kirk-was-just-about/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [It's irksome to read about someone I don't recognize. It frightens me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/it-s-irksome-to-read-about-someone-i-don-t-recognize-it-frightens-me/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [You might as well aim high. Why shoot yourself in the foot when you can shoot yourself in the head?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/you-might-as-well-aim-high-why-shoot-yourself-in-the-foot-when-you/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I think the supernatural is a catch-all for everything we don't understand about the vast other parts of life that we cannot perceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-think-the-supernatural-is-a-catch-all-for-everything-we-don-t/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I always thought that the spine of a character was awe and wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-always-thought-that-the-spine-of-a-character-was-awe-and-wonder/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [We live in grief for having left the womb, for having left the teat, then school, then home. In my case, it was leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/we-live-in-grief-for-having-left-the-womb-for-having-left-the-teat/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I love cameras but I find myself reluctantly taking pictures because what's past is past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-love-cameras-but-i-find-myself-reluctantly-taking-pictures-because/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I have been accused of never saying no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-have-been-accused-of-never-saying-no/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [If you make a fool of yourself, you can do it with dignity, without taking your pants down. And if you do take your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/if-you-make-a-fool-of-yourself-you-can-do-it-with-dignity-without/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I played comedies and dramas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-played-comedies-and-dramas/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I spent years doing 'Star Trek' bits and things, and a lot of people loved it, a lot of people mocked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-spent-years-doing-star-trek-bits-and-things-and-a-lot-of-people/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I watch movies and sports. I can count on the fingers of my hand the number of times I have watched an hour show.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-watch-movies-and-sports-i-can-count-on-the-fingers-of-my-hand-the/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [Marriage is a reflection of your life in general: how you treat people, how you argue, how secure you are in your own thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/marriage-is-a-reflection-of-your-life-in-general-how-you-treat-people/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [Nature is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/nature-is-perfect/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) [Explore all 259 William Shatner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there's anything I'm not pompous about, it's myself or my work. 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