---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The quality of the work when I was 16…"
description: "\"The quality of the work when I was 16... I've had my issues with it, but I've learned to forgive myself because I was 16 years old.\" — Bo Burnham"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/bo-burnham-1313_forgive_the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i_1005932.png"
---

#  The quality of the work when I was 16... I've had my…

![“The quality of the work when I was 16... I've had my issues with it, but I've learned to forgive myself because I was 16 years old.” quote by Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/bo-burnham-1313_forgive_the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i_1005932.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/bo-burnham-1313_forgive_the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i_1005932.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/bo-burnham-1313_forgive_the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i_1005932.png)

> “The quality of the work when I was 16... I've had my issues with it, but I've learned to forgive myself because I was 16 years old.”

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Reflecting on youthful mistakes, the speaker forgives past self because of immaturity and growth.

**In simple terms:** Forgive past mistakes due to youth.

Key Takeaway

Accept and move beyond youthful errors.

Themes

self‑compassion growth reflection

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

advice personal development

When to use this quote

- creative projects
- career setbacks
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

psychology personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- How does age influence self‑judgment?
- What steps help turn forgiveness into growth?

A Different Perspective

Self‑forgiveness may hinder accountability for repeated errors.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Forgive Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-myself/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [The first thing was, I learned to forgive myself. Then, I told myself, "Go ahead and do whatever you want, it's okay by me."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/the-first-thing-was-i-learned-to-forgive-myself-then-i-told-myself-go/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [“I learned long ago that in order to heal my wounds, I must have the courage to face up to them. I also learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-learned-long-ago-that-in-order-to-heal-my-wounds-i-must-have-the-2/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [I learned to forgive myself, and that enabled me to forgive my mother as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-learned-to-forgive-myself-and-that-enabled-me-to-forgive-my-mother/)

[Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/)

> [Please forgive me I'm a 16 year old girl, I make mistakes, I've done things I regret, I've done wrong to people, I've lied,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wrestling001/please-forgive-me-i-m-a-16-year-old-girl-i-make-mistakes-i-ve-done/)

Wrestling001

> [People say as a woman actor your career is over at 40. But then they told me I would never work again after I was 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/people-say-as-a-woman-actor-your-career-is-over-at-40-but-then-they/)

[Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/)

> [I usually work 16-hour days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-elliott/i-usually-work-16-hour-days/)

[Brooke Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-elliott/)

> [When I work, it can be a 16-hour day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/when-i-work-it-can-be-a-16-hour-day/)

[Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/)

> [When it is time to get to work, I go away completely and don't do anything except the work. And that can be 16…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/when-it-is-time-to-get-to-work-i-go-away-completely-and-don-t-do/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [It is true I work 16 hours a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-chandrababu-naidu/it-is-true-i-work-16-hours-a-day/)

[N. Chandrababu Naidu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-chandrababu-naidu/)

> [By the time I was, you know, 16 years old, I had done a lot of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-thought/by-the-time-i-was-you-know-16-years-old-i-had-done-a-lot-of-growing-up/)

[Black Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-thought/)

> [When you're a famous, successful person at 16 years old, the rules change for you. Everybody is doing things for you to make life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/when-you-re-a-famous-successful-person-at-16-years-old-the-rules/)

[Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/)

> [Obviously from 12-years-old to 16-years-old, your body changes and that's nothing to be embarrassed about, but boy I was!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-rocha/obviously-from-12-years-old-to-16-years-old-your-body-changes-and/)

[Coco Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-rocha/)

> [It's in my blood to be on the radio every day. I've done it since I was 16 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-seacrest/it-s-in-my-blood-to-be-on-the-radio-every-day-i-ve-done-it-since-i/)

[Ryan Seacrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-seacrest/)

> [I was a lifeguard for three years, when I was around 16-years-old. So for my first job, that was awesome, working on the beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryse-mizanin/i-was-a-lifeguard-for-three-years-when-i-was-around-16-years-old-so/)

[Maryse Mizanin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryse-mizanin/)

> [Kerri and I met at theatre camp when were 16 years old, which is pretty lame. The rest of us met when we founded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lennon/kerri-and-i-met-at-theatre-camp-when-were-16-years-old-which-is/)

[Thomas Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lennon/)

## More by Bo Burnham

> [The strange thing with Wikipedia is that the first article that ever gets written about you will define your Wikipedia page forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-strange-thing-with-wikipedia-is-that-the-first-article-that-ever/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [“Well, man, you know what they say." No, I don't. I don't know what they say. I don't even know who they are. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/well-man-you-know-what-they-say-no-i-don-t-i-don-t-know-what-they-say/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [And there's a metal train that's a mile long and at the very back end a lightning bolt struck her, How long til it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/and-there-s-a-metal-train-that-s-a-mile-long-and-at-the-very-back-end/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [Women are like fingers and toes because they're easy to count on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/women-are-like-fingers-and-toes-because-they-re-easy-to-count-on/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [I do think that stand-up comedy in general heavily favors masculinity and so I like to act a little feminine onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-do-think-that-stand-up-comedy-in-general-heavily-favors-masculinity/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [Most of my songs make fun of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/most-of-my-songs-make-fun-of-myself/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [I write about what I know: teenage dating, overly charged sexuality, all the things that make you uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-write-about-what-i-know-teenage-dating-overly-charged-sexuality-all/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [People give me money and I don't know why, my real collection plate is an empty cup held by a homeless guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/people-give-me-money-and-i-don-t-know-why-my-real-collection-plate-is/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [Comedy doesn't really matter that much; I know that. I treat it like an adult - I don't treat it like a child or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/comedy-doesn-t-really-matter-that-much-i-know-that-i-treat-it-like-an/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [I've always liked the format of YouTube, sharing things for free, which is a nice exchange between people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-ve-always-liked-the-format-of-youtube-sharing-things-for-free-which/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [Comedy is very strange to me and I don't fully understand it's purpose or function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/comedy-is-very-strange-to-me-and-i-don-t-fully-understand-it-s/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [I don't really care about capitalizing on momentum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-don-t-really-care-about-capitalizing-on-momentum/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [If your belief is hateful towards people, I couldn't respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/if-your-belief-is-hateful-towards-people-i-couldn-t-respect-that/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [When life gets you down, make a comforter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/when-life-gets-you-down-make-a-comforter/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

[Explore all 258 Bo Burnham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

## More Forgive quotes

> [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/)

Serge Kahili King

> [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/)

[Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/)

> [Im so sorry,i screwed up again.i didnt meant hurting you.please,forgive me,again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redeyeen/im-so-sorry-i-screwed-up-again-i-didnt-meant-hurting-you-please/)

Redeyeen

> [“He fell back. He had cried out so loud that even if there had been no breach in the wall, I should have heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-barbusse/he-fell-back-he-had-cried-out-so-loud-that-even-if-there-had-been-no/)

[Henri Barbusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-barbusse/)

> [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/)

[Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/)

> [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/)

[Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/)

> [Ive learned¦ that no matter how good a friend is, theyre going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-learned-that-no-matter-how-good-a-friend-is-theyre-going-to-hurt/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/)

[Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/)

> [I feel people relate with your entire journey and forgive your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-feel-people-relate-with-your-entire-journey-and-forgive-your/)

[Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [“By choosing to forgive, you are choosing to love. By choosing to operate in love, you are choosing to operate in an unconditional state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-watterson/by-choosing-to-forgive-you-are-choosing-to-love-by-choosing-to/)

Eric Watterson

> [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

Browse all 3,381 Forgive quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The quality of the work when I was 16... I've had my issues with it, but I've learned to forgive myself because I was 16 years old.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bo Burnham"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i-ve-had-my-issues-with-it-but/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Forgive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i-ve-had-my-issues-with-it-but/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/bo-burnham-1313_forgive_the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i_1005932.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/bo-burnham-1313_forgive_the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i_1005932.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/bo-burnham-1313_forgive_the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i_1005932.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The quality of the work when I was 16... I've had my issues with it, but I've learned to forgive myself…” — Bo Burnham",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Bo Burnham",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The quality of the work when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i-ve-had-my-issues-with-it-but/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-quality-of-the-work-when-i-was-16-i-ve-had-my-issues-with-it-but/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
