--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to present something that is true…" description: "\"I try to present something that is true so I don't further destroy the world with my contribution to it.\" — Charlie Kaufman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/charlie-kaufman-2409_contribution_i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true_2060515.jpg" --- # I try to present something that is true so I don't further… ![“I try to present something that is true so I don't further destroy the world with my contribution to it.” quote by Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/charlie-kaufman-2409_contribution_i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true_2060515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/charlie-kaufman-2409_contribution_i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true_2060515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/charlie-kaufman-2409_contribution_i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true_2060515.jpg) > “I try to present something that is true so I don't further destroy the world with my contribution to it.” [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker aims to create truthful work to avoid causing further harm. **In simple terms:** Truthful creation prevents added damage. Key Takeaway Create responsibly. Themes responsibility truth art ethics Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - scientific writing - personal blogging - public speaking Key Concepts integrity creative honesty impact awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify truth in your work? - What responsibilities do creators have to society? A Different Perspective Truth can be subjective, making “true” hard to define. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [China, with her five thousand years of history, her vast territory and her enormous population stands like a mountain peak among the nations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiang-kai-shek/china-with-her-five-thousand-years-of-history-her-vast-territory-and/) [Chiang Kai-shek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiang-kai-shek/) > [By being present and being true, I believe that, in my own way, I am promoting diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/by-being-present-and-being-true-i-believe-that-in-my-own-way-i-am/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [“The past would always be part of the present, but at least that was true for both sides: the good and the bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-voinov/the-past-would-always-be-part-of-the-present-but-at-least-that-was/) [Aleksandr Voinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-voinov/) > [I want to help further the spread of MMA around the world and give my contribution to the emergence and development of young talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-rodrigo-nogueira/i-want-to-help-further-the-spread-of-mma-around-the-world-and-give-my/) [Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-rodrigo-nogueira/) > [Don't cheat the world of your contribution. Give it what you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/don-t-cheat-the-world-of-your-contribution-give-it-what-you-ve-got/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [If you had the power to destroy the world, would you do so?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-you-had-the-power-to-destroy-the-world-would-you-do-so/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I want to burn the world because Alan is gone," he said. "I want to destroy everything I see. But you mean something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-want-to-burn-the-world-because-alan-is-gone-he-said-i-want-to/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever will be born must destroy a world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-bird-fights-its-way-out-of-the-egg-the-egg-is-the-world-whoever/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“There is not enough religion in the world to destroy the world’s religions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/there-is-not-enough-religion-in-the-world-to-destroy-the-world-s/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Ideas that don't even exist have the power to destroy the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/ideas-that-don-t-even-exist-have-the-power-to-destroy-the-world/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [Today, our air, food, water-all are polluted. If we do not stop exploiting nature for our temporary selfish gains, we will destroy the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/today-our-air-food-water-all-are-polluted-if-we-do-not-stop/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [If we nurture the dreams of children, the world will be blessed. If we destroy them, the world is doomed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wess-stafford/if-we-nurture-the-dreams-of-children-the-world-will-be-blessed-if-we/) [Wess Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wess-stafford/) > [In the next 30 years we can destroy our world. With the very same powers - spiritual, social, scientific - we can evolve our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-marx-hubbard/in-the-next-30-years-we-can-destroy-our-world-with-the-very-same/) [Barbara Marx Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-marx-hubbard/) > [Rain slips through your fingers as easily as words blow away in the wind, and yet it has the power to destroy your whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maitland/rain-slips-through-your-fingers-as-easily-as-words-blow-away-in-the/) [Karen Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maitland/) > [“That would be just like me-ruin everything, destroy the world, in a moment of klutziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/that-would-be-just-like-me-ruin-everything-destroy-the-world-in-a/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) ## More by Charlie Kaufman > [I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's because it is relatable and I think that that's a core issue for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-it-s-surreal-it-s-because-it/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [And then to see the whole movie, you're pretty much waiting until the end of production. And the major lifting in terms of editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/and-then-to-see-the-whole-movie-you-re-pretty-much-waiting-until-the/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Seriously, I don't consider myself a writer. I don't think I have writing talent. But I will continue to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/seriously-i-don-t-consider-myself-a-writer-i-don-t-think-i-have/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I spend a lot of time in preproduction working with authors, and a lot of time in postproduction.: editing, music, all that sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-preproduction-working-with-authors-and-a-lot/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [There's a point I can get to where I start writing character and then through the dialogue, after all of this preparation, the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/there-s-a-point-i-can-get-to-where-i-start-writing-character-and-then/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Sand is overrated. It's just tiny little rocks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/sand-is-overrated-it-s-just-tiny-little-rocks/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Directing is a more pragmatic experience, where you have to deal with the restrictions of time and money that force you to make certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/directing-is-a-more-pragmatic-experience-where-you-have-to-deal-with/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I feel like I want to keep moving toward idiosyncracy. Personal, personal, personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-feel-like-i-want-to-keep-moving-toward-idiosyncracy-personal/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I actually think I'm probably more interested in structure than most people who write screenplays, because I think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-actually-think-i-m-probably-more-interested-in-structure-than-most/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Yeah, once we decided to use that replacement animation, and the seams are a function of that animation, and other movies paint those out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/yeah-once-we-decided-to-use-that-replacement-animation-and-the-seams/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I just try to be honest, because I think that's part of my job description as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-just-try-to-be-honest-because-i-think-that-s-part-of-my-job/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I love working with actors. I love visual things. I always intended to be a writer who directs and a director who writes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-love-working-with-actors-i-love-visual-things-i-always-intended-to/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [“Why didn't I go in? I'm such a chicken. I'm such an idiot. I should have kissed her. I've blown it. I should just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/why-didn-t-i-go-in-i-m-such-a-chicken-i-m-such-an-idiot-i-should-have/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I try when I'm writing to leave enough "space" for people to have their own interpretation, and not to direct it toward one conclusion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-try-when-i-m-writing-to-leave-enough-space-for-people-to-have-their/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I don't have a style. I wouldn't say I have a style as a writer, either. I know people have said "This is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-don-t-have-a-style-i-wouldn-t-say-i-have-a-style-as-a-writer-either/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) [Explore all 168 Charlie Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) ## More Contribution quotes > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) Vernon Johns > [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I love Black Sabbath. They made an amazing contribution to music today. 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His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The way a culture treats women in birth is a good indicator of how well women and their contributions to society are valued and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-may-gaskin/the-way-a-culture-treats-women-in-birth-is-a-good-indicator-of-how/) [Ina May Gaskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-may-gaskin/) > [The excellence of this important contribution to genre literature CANNOT be overstated A masterwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-nolan/the-excellence-of-this-important-contribution-to-genre-literature/) William F. Nolan > [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. But they don't have the ethical right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/of-course-corporations-and-governments-have-a-right-to-something-for/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [Fundamentally transforming the foundations of the economy is the biggest contribution we can make towards building a sustainable future. The current economic crisis may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-porritt/fundamentally-transforming-the-foundations-of-the-economy-is-the/) [Jonathon Porritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-porritt/) > [I think self-deprecation is such a disease, and I want to cure everybody of it and so that's my contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-self-deprecation-is-such-a-disease-and-i-want-to-cure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [It is in the measure that special methods acknowledge their common core in transcendental method, that norms common to all the sciences will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/it-is-in-the-measure-that-special-methods-acknowledge-their-common/) [Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/) > [Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/chaperons-even-in-their-days-of-glory-were-almost-never-able-to/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Replace your pursuit of success with the pursuit of contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/replace-your-pursuit-of-success-with-the-pursuit-of-contribution/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [There is no art or science that is too difficult for industry to attain to; it is the gift of tongues, and makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/there-is-no-art-or-science-that-is-too-difficult-for-industry-to/) [Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/) > [What 'eminent domain' laws mean in practice is that politicians have a right to seize your property and turn it over to someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/what-eminent-domain-laws-mean-in-practice-is-that-politicians-have-a/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) [Browse all 1,297 Contribution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to present something that is true so I don't further destroy the world with my contribution to it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlie Kaufman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true-so-i-don-t-further-destroy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contribution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true-so-i-don-t-further-destroy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/charlie-kaufman-2409_contribution_i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true_2060515.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/charlie-kaufman-2409_contribution_i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true_2060515.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f45/charlie-kaufman-2409_contribution_i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true_2060515.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I try to present something that is true so I don't further destroy the world with my contribution to it.” — Charlie Kaufman", "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": "Charlie Kaufman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I try to present something that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true-so-i-don-t-further-destroy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-try-to-present-something-that-is-true-so-i-don-t-further-destroy/#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 } } ] } ```