"I worked hard and made my own way, just as my father had. And just, I'm sure, as he hoped I would. I learned, from observing him, the satisfaction that comes from striving and seeing a dream fulfilled"
About this Quote
The phrasing does a neat double move. “Made my own way” signals independence, the American-script self-reliance celebrities are expected to perform. But she immediately stitches that independence back to lineage: “just as my father had.” It’s a reminder that even “self-made” lives run on borrowed infrastructure - values, examples, permission. The clause “I’m sure” adds a soft vulnerability, hinting at a parent’s approval that can never be fully confirmed once you’re grown. It’s not just pride; it’s the lingering need to believe your choices would still be endorsed by the person who set the standard.
Coming from an actress, the subtext also brushes against the nepotism-versus-merit debate that hovers over Hollywood. Weaver doesn’t name privilege, but she shifts the conversation away from who opens doors to what you do once you’re inside them: “striving” as the real inheritance. The final image - “seeing a dream fulfilled” - isn’t glamour; it’s craft. It’s the satisfaction of effort paying off, and the deeper satisfaction of realizing you’ve become, in temperament at least, your parent’s continuation rather than their escape.
Quote Details
| Topic | Work Ethic |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Weaver, Sigourney. (2026, January 16). I worked hard and made my own way, just as my father had. And just, I'm sure, as he hoped I would. I learned, from observing him, the satisfaction that comes from striving and seeing a dream fulfilled. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-worked-hard-and-made-my-own-way-just-as-my-110391/
Chicago Style
Weaver, Sigourney. "I worked hard and made my own way, just as my father had. And just, I'm sure, as he hoped I would. I learned, from observing him, the satisfaction that comes from striving and seeing a dream fulfilled." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-worked-hard-and-made-my-own-way-just-as-my-110391/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I worked hard and made my own way, just as my father had. And just, I'm sure, as he hoped I would. I learned, from observing him, the satisfaction that comes from striving and seeing a dream fulfilled." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-worked-hard-and-made-my-own-way-just-as-my-110391/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.







