"You've just got to do the best that you can"
About this Quote
The intent is practical, almost parental. "You've just got to" isn't airy encouragement; it's a gentle command, the kind you say when the outcome is uncertain and the pressure is nonnegotiable. The subtext is about agency in a world that constantly grades you: if the scoreboard is rigged, define your own metric. "Best" here doesn't mean exceptional; it means honest effort calibrated to your actual circumstances, not an Instagram version of them.
It also fits Barrymore's broader public persona: approachable, emotionally candid, allergic to pretense. In an era where wellness language can turn into a competitive performance, this line refuses optimization culture. It makes space for messy progress, for doing well enough when "crushing it" is impossible. That's why it works: it lowers the moral stakes without lowering the human ones.
Quote Details
| Topic | Motivational |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Barrymore, Drew. (2026, January 17). You've just got to do the best that you can. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/youve-just-got-to-do-the-best-that-you-can-46143/
Chicago Style
Barrymore, Drew. "You've just got to do the best that you can." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/youve-just-got-to-do-the-best-that-you-can-46143/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"You've just got to do the best that you can." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/youve-just-got-to-do-the-best-that-you-can-46143/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.







