"You have to assert something about yourself in order to be yourself"

In this quote, Dennis Potter is recommending that in order to genuinely be yourself, you need to actively assert something about yourself. This implies that you can not simply exist and expect to totally embody your real self. Rather, you need to actively and with confidence state something about yourself, whether it be your beliefs, values, or characteristic. By doing so, you are taking ownership of your identity and defining yourself on your own terms. This quote highlights the importance of self-awareness and self-acceptance in the journey of becoming your genuine self. It encourages people to be vibrant and unapologetic in revealing who they are.