Working hard is great, being lazy sometimes is great, but failed potential is the worst.

Meaning of the quote

Working hard and being lazy both have their benefits, but not using your full abilities and not reaching your goals is the worst thing you can do. This quote is saying that it's good to work really hard, but it's also okay to take a break and relax sometimes. However, not trying your best and not achieving what you're capable of is the worst thing you can do.

About Campbell Scott

Campbell Scott is an American actor, producer, and director who has played a variety of memorable roles, including Steve Dunne in Singles, Mark Usher in House of Cards, and Richard Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man films. He has also lent his voice to narrate The Men Who Built America.

More about the author

More quotes from Campbell Scott

I make little movies, you know, they need all the help that they can get.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

In the editing room, 20 percent of the time you’re using stuff from before the actor knew the camera was rolling or you’re taking a line from somewhere else and putting it in his mouth.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

The fact is, it’s hard to release movies.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn’t care about acting. I got into it in college, but I had no interest really in that, in getting up in front of anybody.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

I only made two studio movies, that was a long time ago and obviously I removed myself. I think some of that is geographical. I live in New York and I want to work there, it’s as simple as that.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

What we do at its very, very best, at its very, very most, will shift us slightly in our seat. If only for two hours, great. If for the rest of our lives, even better.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

I know it’s good when I see a smaller film get recognized because it means more publicity for them. When you start producing and directing the movies become a little more like your children.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

Most of us… are simply just trying to get through the day. And wait for those times in their life that are markers, that put things into relief. That’s why we like movies and books so much.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

I’m not a big one for lots of genitals flapping in the films.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

Directing is: you’re overwhelmed the whole time. Your mind never stops. If you care about it. You wake up in the morning and you begin thinking about it and then you go to sleep at night and you’re still thinking about it.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

The fact is that you’re never gonna believe any of the reviews, because the movie is to you what it is to you. No one’s ever gonna sway you from what you feel about it.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

There’s no doubt in the world that directing makes you a better actor. Me, anyway. There’s no doubt in the world that it makes me a more collaborative actor.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It’s so advantageous to go to a place that you already have a feel for, a literal and spiritual familiarity.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

Working hard is great, being lazy sometimes is great, but failed potential is the worst.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

I think people tend to live, whether they like it or not, influenced by what’s next door to them.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

I tend to turn down roles that are too much like me, what I think is most like me anyhow, because I’m me all the time and I’m sick of it.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

I’m known as a kind of dramatic, serious, almost humorless actor and the fact is, I’m a funny guy, and I spend most of my life trying to find a lighter side of things, and on stage was given plenty of opportunity to do that.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

I just wanna get to the end of the day without it raining.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director

I had been to New Mexico many times. I loved it. It’s a very exotic, interesting, severely crazy environment. I don’t know if I could live there all year. It’s such an intense place.

Campbell Scott

Canadian American actor and film director