--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been keeping diaries for 27 years." description: "\"I've been keeping diaries for 27 years.\" — David Sedaris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/david-sedaris-333_diaries_i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years-8_884140.png" --- # I've been keeping diaries for 27 years. ![“I've been keeping diaries for 27 years.” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/david-sedaris-333_diaries_i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years-8_884140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/david-sedaris-333_diaries_i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years-8_884140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/david-sedaris-333_diaries_i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years-8_884140.png) > “I've been keeping diaries for 27 years.” [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. Keeping a diary for decades provides a private space for self‑reflection and memory. **In simple terms:** Long‑term diary writing helps self‑understanding. Key Takeaway Write regularly to track thoughts. Themes self‑reflection memory habit creativity Mood introspective contemplative Type literary personal When to use this quote - daily life - travel experiences - emotional processing Key Concepts psychology writing personal development Questions to Reflect On - What insights have you gained from your diaries? - How does regular writing affect your mood? A Different Perspective Writing can become a chore if not purposeful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [27 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/27-years-511769/) [Diaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diaries/) [Diaries 27](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diaries-27-1081890/) [Keeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping/) [Keeping Diaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-diaries-1081891/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I've always been steady on and off keeping diaries and journals. I try to document everything so I can remember it the older I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meaghan-jette-martin/i-ve-always-been-steady-on-and-off-keeping-diaries-and-journals-i-try/) [Meaghan Jette Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meaghan-jette-martin/) > [It's not easy keeping a diary. You have to be pretty committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/it-s-not-easy-keeping-a-diary-you-have-to-be-pretty-committed/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Of course, the diary helps me as well. 'That wasn't your position on July 7, 1991,' I'll remind Hugh an hour after we've had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/of-course-the-diary-helps-me-as-well-that-wasn-t-your-position-on/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I don't worry about being exposed. When I'm writing about myself I think about myself as a character. There is a ton of stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-don-t-worry-about-being-exposed-when-i-m-writing-about-myself-i/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [whenever I read a passage that moves me, I transcribe it in my diary, hoping my fingers might learn what excellence feels like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/whenever-i-read-a-passage-that-moves-me-i-transcribe-it-in-my-diary/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [There's a lot of churches that hide their dirty laundry under the rug, and I know about that from being in the church 27…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/there-s-a-lot-of-churches-that-hide-their-dirty-laundry-under-the-rug/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [After 27 years, I walked out of my first one a few months ago. Black Sheep with Chris Farley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/after-27-years-i-walked-out-of-my-first-one-a-few-months-ago-black/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [I'm 27 years clean, and when you get clean, you see things in a different way. It makes your life so much more manageable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-27-years-clean-and-when-you-get-clean-you-see-things-in-a/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Theres a lot of churches that hide their dirty laundry under the rug, and I know about that from being in the church 27…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/theres-a-lot-of-churches-that-hide-their-dirty-laundry-under-the-rug/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [I promised my wife 27 years ago when I left Florida State that I'd bring her back to Florida. I'm a little late, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-corso/i-promised-my-wife-27-years-ago-when-i-left-florida-state-that-i-d/) [Lee Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-corso/) > [I became a head football coach when I was 27 years old at Miami of Ohio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-became-a-head-football-coach-when-i-was-27-years-old-at-miami-of/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The important thing is that ever since I realized all the wrongs that I had done, I have been trying to correct them for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/the-important-thing-is-that-ever-since-i-realized-all-the-wrongs-that/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Nelson Mandela is a leader Barack Obama should try to emulate... He could start by spending 27 years in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-imus/nelson-mandela-is-a-leader-barack-obama-should-try-to-emulate-he/) [Don Imus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-imus/) > [Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, appearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming-performance-anxiety-at-the/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [I did not know it then, but Frida had already become the most important fact in my life. And would continue to be, up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-rivera/i-did-not-know-it-then-but-frida-had-already-become-the-most/) [Diego Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-rivera/) ## 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 Diaries quotes > [My life always came first. When I got nominated for Diary of a Mad Housewife, I didn't think, 'Aah, now I'll get more money.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-snodgress/my-life-always-came-first-when-i-got-nominated-for-diary-of-a-mad/) [Carrie Snodgress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-snodgress/) > ['Dirt Road Diaries,' in my mind, is a perfect country guy song. It speaks to the hard-working guy, and I'm excited for the fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/dirt-road-diaries-in-my-mind-is-a-perfect-country-guy-song-it-speaks/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [I don't want to be singing my diary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-don-t-want-to-be-singing-my-diary/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Experience is the only real teacher and if you keep a diary you get three bites at educating yourself - when it happens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/experience-is-the-only-real-teacher-and-if-you-keep-a-diary-you-get/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [ I went to NYU graduate film school and met Pam \[Romanowsky\], and after doing a few things with her I thought she had the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-went-to-nyu-graduate-film-school-and-met-pam-romanowsky-and-after/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [After Princess Diaries, I was labeled a good girl, and for the first eight years of my career I had to fight to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/after-princess-diaries-i-was-labeled-a-good-girl-and-for-the-first/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I've found myself moved by letters and diaries in archives as well as trashy, summer blockbusters. It's possible to make a connection with any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/i-ve-found-myself-moved-by-letters-and-diaries-in-archives-as-well-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [A man's diary is a record in youth of his sentiments, in middle age of his actions, in old age of his reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/a-man-s-diary-is-a-record-in-youth-of-his-sentiments-in-middle-age-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [There are two types of encryption: one that will prevent your sister from reading your diary and one that will prevent your government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/there-are-two-types-of-encryption-one-that-will-prevent-your-sister/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [I keep a diary - one for each film and foreign land I travel to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/i-keep-a-diary-one-for-each-film-and-foreign-land-i-travel-to/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [Don't read my diary when I'm gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/don-t-read-my-diary-when-i-m-gone/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Memory is the diary that chronicles things that never happened or couldn't possibly have happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/memory-is-the-diary-that-chronicles-things-that-never-happened-or/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I need a moment of time for myself every day, like a child playing with his things. When I travel, I routinely find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-need-a-moment-of-time-for-myself-every-day-like-a-child-playing/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I don't keep diaries anymore; They're quite incriminating. I just keep all the dirt road diaries in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-don-t-keep-diaries-anymore-they-re-quite-incriminating-i-just-keep/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [Though with Bridget Jones's Baby: the Diaries, I'd like to make it clear that I did not ever get pregnant by two men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/though-with-bridget-jones-s-baby-the-diaries-i-d-like-to-make-it/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) [Browse all 502 Diaries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diaries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been keeping diaries for 27 years.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Sedaris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Diaries" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/david-sedaris-333_diaries_i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years-8_884140.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/david-sedaris-333_diaries_i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years-8_884140.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/david-sedaris-333_diaries_i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years-8_884140.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've been keeping diaries for 27 years.” — David Sedaris", "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": "David Sedaris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've been keeping diaries for 27...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-ve-been-keeping-diaries-for-27-years/#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 } } ] } ```