--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I rejected the word humorist for a long…" description: "\"I rejected the word humorist for a long time because I thought that it meant you had, like, a cardigan sweater with patches on the elbows, but now I'm ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/david-sedaris-333_ashamed_i-rejected-the-word-humorist-for-a-long_1630631.png" --- # I rejected the word humorist for a long time because I… ![“I rejected the word humorist for a long time because I thought that it meant you had, like, a cardigan sweater with patches on the elbows, but now I'm old and I do. I grew into that word. I think at heart, all this time, I've been a diarist. I'm not ashamed of it.” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/david-sedaris-333_ashamed_i-rejected-the-word-humorist-for-a-long_1630631.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/david-sedaris-333_ashamed_i-rejected-the-word-humorist-for-a-long_1630631.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/david-sedaris-333_ashamed_i-rejected-the-word-humorist-for-a-long_1630631.png) > “I rejected the word humorist for a long time because I thought that it meant you had, like, a cardigan sweater with patches on the elbows, but now I'm old and I do. I grew into that word. I think at heart, all this time, I've been a diarist. I'm not ashamed of it.” [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized that the label “humorist” felt too formal, but eventually embraced it, seeing himself as a diarist unashamed of his personal voice. **In simple terms:** He accepted the humorist label and sees himself as a diarist. Key Takeaway Embrace your true voice. Themes self‑acceptance identity writing Mood reflective confident Type personal literary When to use this quote - journaling - public speaking - teaching - creative writing Key Concepts self‑reflection humor personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How do labels shape your self‑image? - Can embracing a label empower your work? A Different Perspective Labels can limit perception and may be resisted before acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Humorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorist/) [Humorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorists/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If there's anything I hate it's the word humorist-I feel like countering with the word seriousist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/if-there-s-anything-i-hate-it-s-the-word-humorist-i-feel-like/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [To say that a humorist exaggerates to get big laughs, I don't see how that's big news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/to-say-that-a-humorist-exaggerates-to-get-big-laughs-i-don-t-see-how/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [But I'm a humorist. I'm not a reporter, I never pretended to be a reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/but-i-m-a-humorist-i-m-not-a-reporter-i-never-pretended-to-be-a/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I've never made up events, but I've always been a big exaggerator. It's written on my humorist license that I'm allowed to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-ve-never-made-up-events-but-i-ve-always-been-a-big-exaggerator-it-s/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I am a comedian but it's usually not a compliment to be called a prop comedian but I guess I sometimes use props. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-am-a-comedian-but-it-s-usually-not-a-compliment-to-be-called-a-prop/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I don't want to be classed as a humorist. It makes me feel guilty. I've never read a good tough quotable female humorist, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/i-don-t-want-to-be-classed-as-a-humorist-it-makes-me-feel-guilty-i-ve/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [Humor is, I think, the subtlest and chanciest of literary forms. It is surely not accidental that there are a thousand novelists, essayists, poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/humor-is-i-think-the-subtlest-and-chanciest-of-literary-forms-it-is/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [A humorist doesn't really do that much note-taking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/a-humorist-doesn-t-really-do-that-much-note-taking/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [HUMORIST, n. A plague that would have softened down the hoar austerity of Pharaoh's heart and persuaded him to dismiss Israel with his best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/humorist-n-a-plague-that-would-have-softened-down-the-hoar-austerity/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [When the public starts classifying you as thoughtful, someone given to serious issues, you find yourself declassified as a humorist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/when-the-public-starts-classifying-you-as-thoughtful-someone-given-to/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [I am billed as a humorist, but of course I am a tragedian at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cuppy/i-am-billed-as-a-humorist-but-of-course-i-am-a-tragedian-at-heart/) [Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cuppy/) > [Humor is an escape, because you cannot think about your problems when you are trying to be funny; so, in essence, "being a humorist"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/humor-is-an-escape-because-you-cannot-think-about-your-problems-when/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The humorist has a good eye for the humbug; he does not always recognize the saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-humorist-has-a-good-eye-for-the-humbug-he-does-not-always/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I've always been leery of comical artists because I think oftentimes they're hiding the fact that they're not that talented. For example, with Martin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-cortez/i-ve-always-been-leery-of-comical-artists-because-i-think-oftentimes/) [Diego Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-cortez/) > [I learned as a young man that I don't write jokes, but that I can deliver more mundane material and get a laugh. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-learned-as-a-young-man-that-i-don-t-write-jokes-but-that-i-can/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) ## More by David Sedaris > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“never fall asleep in a Dumpster, never underestimate a bee, never drive a convertible behind a flatbed truck, never get old, never get drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/never-fall-asleep-in-a-dumpster-never-underestimate-a-bee-never-drive/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“It was a father, one hand resting teapot-style on his hip, and the other - what would be the spout - formed into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/it-was-a-father-one-hand-resting-teapot-style-on-his-hip-and-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. The microwave, the water kettle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/a-japanese-woman-we-d-met-in-paris-came-to-the-apartment-yesterday/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [When you read comic material and people aren't laughing how do you know they're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-you-read-comic-material-and-people-aren-t-laughing-how-do-you/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You have how many children in your family?" the teacher would ask. "I'm guessing you must be Catholic, am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-have-how-many-children-in-your-family-the-teacher-would-ask-i-m/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“Like most seasoned phonies, I roundly suspect that everyone is as disingenuous as I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/like-most-seasoned-phonies-i-roundly-suspect-that-everyone-is-as/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [As a child I assumed that when I reached adulthood, I would have grown-up thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/as-a-child-i-assumed-that-when-i-reached-adulthood-i-would-have-grown/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You just take and take don´t you? Out there with your thumb in the air—not a care in the world, just grabbing whatever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-just-take-and-take-don-t-you-out-there-with-your-thumb-in-the-air/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-other-parts-of-the-country-people-tried-to-stay-together-for-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I spent months searching for some secret code before I realized that common sense has nothing to do with it. Hysteria, psychosis, torture, depression:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-spent-months-searching-for-some-secret-code-before-i-realized-that/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I hated leaving a hole in the smoking world, and so I recruited someone to take my place. People have given me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hated-leaving-a-hole-in-the-smoking-world-and-so-i-recruited/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Write relentlessly, until you find your voice. Then, use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/write-relentlessly-until-you-find-your-voice-then-use-it/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) [Explore all 667 David Sedaris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) Stacy Green > [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 > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I rejected the word humorist for a long time because I thought that it meant you had, like, a cardigan sweater with patches on the elbows, but now I'm old and I do. I grew into that word. I think at heart, all this time, I've been a diarist. 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