Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

The line urges authenticity over imitation: personal excellence comes from developing one’s own gifts rather than copying another person’s style, values, or life path. Its contrast—“first-rate” versus “second-rate”—frames selfhood as the only arena where one can truly excel, since mimicry is inherently derivative. Often attributed to Judy Garland, the sentiment resonates with her public story: a performer shaped by studio demands and public expectations, yet celebrated for a singular voice and emotional candor. In quotation culture, the aphorism functions as a compact piece of self-help wisdom about identity, confidence, and creative integrity.