When you’re asked to fly a 747 you better at least be able to fly a Piper cub.

Meaning of the quote

The quote means that if you are given a big and difficult task, you should first be able to do the smaller, easier tasks. It's like if you're asked to fly a huge jumbo jet, you need to at least know how to fly a small, simple plane first. You can't just jump right into the big thing without being able to handle the smaller things. It's important to start small and work your way up before trying to take on the biggest challenges.

About Edward James Olmos

Edward James Olmos is an acclaimed American actor known for his roles in iconic films and TV shows like Miami Vice, Blade Runner, and Battlestar Galactica. He has been a pioneer for more diverse and authentic Latino representation in media, earning numerous accolades including an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Academy Award nomination.

More about the author

More quotes from Edward James Olmos

I believe that Gandhi was correct. Non-violent civil disobedience is the only way to bring about change that allows people to enjoy the change and not get killed in the process.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Our inability to relate to one another is very, very, very important. When we don’t have it, we get situations like Bosnia.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

And, granted, for a long time, the European has been dominant in certain parts of this Western Hemisphere, but by the end of the 21st century, it’s over.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

I’m not prepared for holding office any more than I think Arnold is.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

There are nuclear weapons in China, Iran, Korea and Pakistan. It wouldn’t take much to send a couple of warheads off on this planet somewhere that would cause a lot of environmental damage, then if you have got someone who wants to retaliate you have real problems.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

I think in Vice and American Me I played very silent, rigid characters and people remember them.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

A saint is a person who gives of themself without asking for anything in return. That’s how simple it is to be a saint. Try it! Try being a saint.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Basically, I think that there are some characters that you can just allow the truth of your character as a human being in your real life to come through.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

I’m here to make sense.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

I’m always pleased when people respond to the work.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Chiapas is probably the main concern I have right now for the planet.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Education is a vacine for violence.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

I learned to discipline myself to do things I didn’t want to do.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Now I also discipline myself to do things I love to do when I don’t want to do them.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

And I’ve been acting for 39 years, so I define characters differently than I did in say Miami Vice.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

At the rate we’re going, the 21st century looks pretty clear. It’s going to be pretty violent.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Education is the key. But it’s the kind of education that we teach that is the key. We don’t have it.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

I don’t support violence, period.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

You know, Hillary Clinton gives of herself. Princess Diana gave of herself. But they are not saints.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

When you’re asked to fly a 747 you better at least be able to fly a Piper cub.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

There is no way that we know what is going on between the African American and the Asian American. We don’t understand what an Indigenous American is. We don’t understand what a Latino American is.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

You get more churches burned down in the United States in the last two years than in the last hundred, because of the lack of understanding of culture and diversity and the beauty of it.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Education is the vaccine for violence.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

I support the indigenous people anywhere in the planet.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Because people of color will definitely, definitely become the power base in the Western Hemisphere.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

I want to show how strong I am from my roots.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Right now, the Anglo people are desperately trying to hold on to the United States, like they tried to hold on to Africa.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

Yeah, the New York Times is very intellectual and very, very prestigious, but it doesn’t reach the market that People magazine does.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

The older you get the more you understand what you’re doing.

Edward James Olmos

American actor

We don’t have as much prejudice as we did 40 years ago, but today it is more educated.

Edward James Olmos

American actor