--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been both overpraised and…" description: "\"I have been both overpraised and underpraised. I assume by the time I finish writing -- and I plan to go on writing until I'm 90 or gaga -- it will all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/edward-albee-1684_assuming_i-have-been-both-overpraised-and-underpr_458020.png" --- # I have been both overpraised and underpraised. I assume by… ![“I have been both overpraised and underpraised. I assume by the time I finish writing -- and I plan to go on writing until I'm 90 or gaga -- it will all equal itself out.” quote by Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/edward-albee-1684_assuming_i-have-been-both-overpraised-and-underpr_458020.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/edward-albee-1684_assuming_i-have-been-both-overpraised-and-underpr_458020.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/edward-albee-1684_assuming_i-have-been-both-overpraised-and-underpr_458020.png) > “I have been both overpraised and underpraised. I assume by the time I finish writing -- and I plan to go on writing until I'm 90 or gaga -- it will all equal itself out.” [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognition fluctuates; over time, successes and criticisms balance out. **In simple terms:** Praise and criticism even out over a long career. Key Takeaway Focus on consistent effort, not immediate validation. Themes humility career resilience Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - writing career - public reception - personal growth Key Concepts self‑assessment long‑term perspective Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain motivation amid mixed feedback? - What long‑term goals keep you writing? A Different Perspective Balancing external feedback can be emotionally taxing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Finish Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish-writing-247373/) [Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaga/) [Gaga Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaga-equal-3983377/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Overpraised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overpraised-3881958/) [Overpraised Underpraised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overpraised-underpraised-3983376/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing 90](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-90-816726/) ## Related quotes > [“Writing is 90% struggle. The other 10% is up to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-cameron-williams/writing-is-90-struggle-the-other-10-is-up-to-you/) [Iain Cameron Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-cameron-williams/) > [Writing is 90 percent procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box, watching infomercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudnick/writing-is-90-percent-procrastination-reading-magazines-eating-cereal/) [Paul Rudnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudnick/) > [Sometimes I think the experience of a play is finished for me when I finish writing it. If it weren't for the need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/sometimes-i-think-the-experience-of-a-play-is-finished-for-me-when-i/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Long books, when read, are usually overpraised, because the reader wishes to convince others and himself that he has not wasted his time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/long-books-when-read-are-usually-overpraised-because-the-reader/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Inconsistency has been overpraised by people who do not expect to suffer from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/inconsistency-has-been-overpraised-by-people-who-do-not-expect-to/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [American capitalism has been both overpraised and overindicted. It is neither the Plumed Knight nor the monstrous Robber Baron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/american-capitalism-has-been-both-overpraised-and-overindicted-it-is/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [“The overpraised are the worst deceivers." -The Saga of Grettir the Strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-brownworth/the-overpraised-are-the-worst-deceivers-the-saga-of-grettir-the-strong/) [Lars Brownworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-brownworth/) > [When I'm writing a score, I'm constantly looking for ways to improve on it, even when I think it's working well. I don't give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-zanelli/when-i-m-writing-a-score-i-m-constantly-looking-for-ways-to-improve/) [Geoff Zanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-zanelli/) > [I don't write for an audience, I don't think whether my book will sell, I don't sell it before I finish writing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-don-t-write-for-an-audience-i-don-t-think-whether-my-book-will-sell/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [I cannot find any patience for those people who believe that you start writing when you sit down at your desk and pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/i-cannot-find-any-patience-for-those-people-who-believe-that-you/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [Songs are kind of alive, I think; once you finish writing them, that doesn't mean that that's it for the song. It can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/songs-are-kind-of-alive-i-think-once-you-finish-writing-them-that/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [“You never finish writing a novel, you eventually abandon it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-winton/you-never-finish-writing-a-novel-you-eventually-abandon-it/) [Tom Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-winton/) > [After I finish writing a chapter, I'll print it out, cut it up into paragraphs, and cut away any transition sentences. Then I shuffle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/after-i-finish-writing-a-chapter-i-ll-print-it-out-cut-it-up-into/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [I've found it really hard to finish writing songs when you're writing on not just your schedule but somebody else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/i-ve-found-it-really-hard-to-finish-writing-songs-when-you-re-writing/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More by Edward Albee > [School curricula that ignore the arts produce highly educated Barbarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/school-curricula-that-ignore-the-arts-produce-highly-educated/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When people don't like the way a play ends, they're likely to blame the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-people-don-t-like-the-way-a-play-ends-they-re-likely-to-blame/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [In a democracy you cannot stop public access to that art that will most misinform the people. You cannot stop people from being misinformed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/in-a-democracy-you-cannot-stop-public-access-to-that-art-that-will/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Creativity is magic. Don't examine it too closely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/creativity-is-magic-don-t-examine-it-too-closely/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When people can't abide things as they are, when they can't abide the present, they do one of two things ... either they ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-people-can-t-abide-things-as-they-are-when-they-can-t-abide-the/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [“Lady, you can’t fuck a metaphor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/lady-you-can-t-fuck-a-metaphor/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I write to find out what I'm talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-write-to-find-out-what-i-m-talking-about/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I know playwrights who like to kid themselves into saying that their characters are so well formed that they just take over. They determine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-know-playwrights-who-like-to-kid-themselves-into-saying-that-their/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [The greatest problem with Irish Wolfhounds, though, is that they don't live very long: their great hearts give out. A good deal of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/the-greatest-problem-with-irish-wolfhounds-though-is-that-they-don-t/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Dashed hopes and good intentions. Good, better, best, bested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/dashed-hopes-and-good-intentions-good-better-best-bested/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Writing has got to be an act of discovery…I write to find out what I'm thinking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/writing-has-got-to-be-an-act-of-discovery-i-write-to-find-out-what-i/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I'm back in fashion again for a while now. But I imagine that three or four years from now I'll be out again. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-m-back-in-fashion-again-for-a-while-now-but-i-imagine-that-three-or/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [What people really want in the theater is fantasy involvement and not reality involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/what-people-really-want-in-the-theater-is-fantasy-involvement-and-not/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Art should never try to be popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/art-should-never-try-to-be-popular/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) [Explore all 216 Edward Albee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have been both overpraised and underpraised. 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