--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honestly, the only way Garden State could…" description: "\"Honestly, the only way Garden State could have been better was if I played every character. I'm awesome.\" — Zach Braff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/zach-braff-854_character_honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could_2989742.jpg" --- # Honestly, the only way Garden State could have been better… ![“Honestly, the only way Garden State could have been better was if I played every character. I'm awesome.” quote by Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/zach-braff-854_character_honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could_2989742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/zach-braff-854_character_honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could_2989742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/zach-braff-854_character_honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could_2989742.jpg) > “Honestly, the only way Garden State could have been better was if I played every character. I'm awesome.” [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humorously claims that playing every role would improve the movie, reflecting ego. **In simple terms:** I think I could improve everything. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of ego. Themes ego creativity humor Mood playful self‑deprecating Type entertainment personal growth When to use this quote - acting workshops - scriptwriting - self‑reflection Key Concepts film theory self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does ego affect teamwork? - When is self‑promotion appropriate? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can hinder collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [Garden state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden-state/) ## Related quotes > [The bigger the bet, the better I played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/the-bigger-the-bet-the-better-i-played/) [Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/) > [I only have words of thanks to Mourinho, he has made me better. I played a lot under him and I was named player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/i-only-have-words-of-thanks-to-mourinho-he-has-made-me-better-i/) [Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/) > [When you're the director and the writer, you never have to remember your lines, and there's no one to call you on it. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-you-re-the-director-and-the-writer-you-never-have-to-remember/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I did 'Narnia' because it was a good opportunity and all that, but really? I wanted to play Mr. Tumnus because he's my favourite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-did-narnia-because-it-was-a-good-opportunity-and-all-that-but/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [People still make New Year's resolutions? Wow. I figured those were pointless once I perfected myself by directing, writing, and acting in Garden State.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/people-still-make-new-year-s-resolutions-wow-i-figured-those-were/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Over half a century on and they're still complaining about it. Compare it to the fact that Garden State didn't win an Oscar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/over-half-a-century-on-and-they-re-still-complaining-about-it-compare/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Is 'Garden State' the next 'Citizen Kane'? Of course not. I'd like to think we aimed a little higher than that, frankly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/is-garden-state-the-next-citizen-kane-of-course-not-i-d-like-to-think/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I feel really bad for everyone who died on 9/11. Not just the people in the World Trade Center, Pentagon, or Flight 93, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-feel-really-bad-for-everyone-who-died-on-9-11-not-just-the-people/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [If we're going to solve the problems in North Korea, the first thing we're going to have to do is start helping them get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/if-we-re-going-to-solve-the-problems-in-north-korea-the-first-thing/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I don't ask questions. I just figure the extra warm days are God's way of rewarding me for Garden State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-don-t-ask-questions-i-just-figure-the-extra-warm-days-are-god-s-way/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I like to think of myself as the Chris Benoit of the movie industry, capable of taking any picture and carrying it to box-office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-the-chris-benoit-of-the-movie-industry/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Complete garbage. It's like Garden State, but in outer space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/complete-garbage-it-s-like-garden-state-but-in-outer-space/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I never could have imagined or dreamed where my career would be taking me the way it has with the Goldust character. It's awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/i-never-could-have-imagined-or-dreamed-where-my-career-would-be/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) > [If I could change anything about Garden State, it would be to cast somebody else for the female lead. Natalie just isn't really that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/if-i-could-change-anything-about-garden-state-it-would-be-to-cast/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Even though I was theatrically trained, learning to develop a character was an awesome experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corin-nemec/even-though-i-was-theatrically-trained-learning-to-develop-a/) [Corin Nemec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corin-nemec/) ## More by Zach Braff > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [When you're the director and the writer, you never have to remember your lines, and there's no one to call you on it. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-you-re-the-director-and-the-writer-you-never-have-to-remember/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Yea, he's alright...but he's no Zach Braff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/yea-he-s-alright-but-he-s-no-zach-braff/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [It was really starting to get pathetic, everyday they would come in looking for one thing or another. 'Zach, can you give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/it-was-really-starting-to-get-pathetic-everyday-they-would-come-in/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [People ask me, 'Did the fame come too fast? Do you ever wish for your old life?' I always tell them that there's nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/people-ask-me-did-the-fame-come-too-fast-do-you-ever-wish-for-your/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I wouldn't exactly call it 'Intelligent', but somebody has to be behind designing the human form other than just biological necessity. Why else would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-wouldn-t-exactly-call-it-intelligent-but-somebody-has-to-be-behind/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [People have called me fake, but personally, I don't think I'm fake because I'm so insincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/people-have-called-me-fake-but-personally-i-don-t-think-i-m-fake/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [When things seem to be slowing down, there's this little trick I like to play. I'd plow this virgin who's on her period, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-things-seem-to-be-slowing-down-there-s-this-little-trick-i-like/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I want to take piano lessons, I want to study at university, I want to travel, I want to do other parts, make another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-want-to-take-piano-lessons-i-want-to-study-at-university-i-want-to/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [If John McCain were really a war hero he would've won Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/if-john-mccain-were-really-a-war-hero-he-would-ve-won-vietnam/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [If I could change anything about Garden State, it would be to cast somebody else for the female lead. Natalie just isn't really that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/if-i-could-change-anything-about-garden-state-it-would-be-to-cast/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Well it's not that I HATE them, but honestly if I saw two homeless people begging for money, one white and one black, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/well-it-s-not-that-i-hate-them-but-honestly-if-i-saw-two-homeless/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I never looked at bread the same way again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-never-looked-at-bread-the-same-way-again/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I don't belive Oprah's sexual abuse stories, I mean who would take a black girl when there are plenty of white?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-don-t-belive-oprah-s-sexual-abuse-stories-i-mean-who-would-take-a/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) [Explore all 349 Zach Braff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Honestly, the only way Garden State could have been better was if I played every character. I'm awesome.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zach Braff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could-have-been-better-was-if-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could-have-been-better-was-if-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/zach-braff-854_character_honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could_2989742.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/zach-braff-854_character_honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could_2989742.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/zach-braff-854_character_honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could_2989742.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Honestly, the only way Garden State could have been better was if I played every character. I'm awesome.” — Zach Braff", "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": "Zach Braff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Honestly, the only way Garden State...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could-have-been-better-was-if-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/honestly-the-only-way-garden-state-could-have-been-better-was-if-i/#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 } } ] } ```