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Ashamed Quote by Baron de Montesquieu

“I suffer from the disease of writing books and being ashamed of them when they are finished.” quote by Baron de Montesquieu
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“I suffer from the disease of writing books and being ashamed of them when they are finished.”

Baron de Montesquieu

About This Quote

Source Essay: The Spirit of the Laws, 1748

The author feels conflicted, proud of creating books yet embarrassed by their completion, highlighting creative self‑criticism.

In simple terms: Writers can both love and doubt their work.

Key Takeaway

Embrace finished work, learn from it.

Themes

creativity self‑criticism pride

Mood

reflective conflicted

Type

literary personal

When to use this quote

  • publishing
  • personal writing
  • artistic process

Key Concepts

authorial anxiety perfectionism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does finishing a book teach you?
  • How can you reframe embarrassment as growth?
A Different Perspective

Self‑criticism can stifle future creation.

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