--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would feel pretty embarrassed if I was…" description: "\"I would feel pretty embarrassed if I was doing what I do and I wasn't at least attempting the eloquent translation of the human experience in some way...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/el-p-2359_attempting_i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was_1559872.png" --- # I would feel pretty embarrassed if I was doing what I do… ![“I would feel pretty embarrassed if I was doing what I do and I wasn't at least attempting the eloquent translation of the human experience in some way.” quote by El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/el-p-2359_attempting_i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was_1559872.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/el-p-2359_attempting_i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was_1559872.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/el-p-2359_attempting_i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was_1559872.png) > “I would feel pretty embarrassed if I was doing what I do and I wasn't at least attempting the eloquent translation of the human experience in some way.” [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I feel embarrassed if my work doesn't attempt to eloquently translate human experience. **In simple terms:** Embarrassment when work lacks depth. Key Takeaway Strive for meaningful expression. Themes authenticity creativity humility Mood introspective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - poetry - visual art Key Concepts artistic integrity human experience Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance ambition and self-critique? - What defines eloquent translation for you? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can hinder productivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Attempting Eloquent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting-eloquent-5849553/) [Doing Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-wasn-452727/) [Eloquent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquent/) [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Embarrassed Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed-doing-2270610/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Human experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-experience/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Pretty Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-embarrassed-5806615/) [Translations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/translations/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I'm pretty immature and get pretty embarrassed easily. I would check out once in a while certain shots to make sure that I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-m-pretty-immature-and-get-pretty-embarrassed-easily-i-would-check/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [I really like singing, although I'm embarrassed about doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-murray/i-really-like-singing-although-i-m-embarrassed-about-doing-it/) [Hannah Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-murray/) > [The only thing I would be embarrassed about doing...and luckily I don't think it will happen in Harry Potter...is full nudity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/the-only-thing-i-would-be-embarrassed-about-doing-and-luckily-i-don-t/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [To me, it's important to prove that this isn't just teenage kids' s\*\*t and you should feel embarrassed when you're over forty and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/to-me-it-s-important-to-prove-that-this-isn-t-just-teenage-kids-s-t/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“I can tell you what I wasn’t doing when I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to: I was doing what I was supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-can-tell-you-what-i-wasn-t-doing-when-i-wasn-t-doing-what-i-was/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Honestly, I can't tell you what I what I would be doing if I wasn't chairman of GM, because this is all I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wagoner/honestly-i-can-t-tell-you-what-i-what-i-would-be-doing-if-i-wasn-t/) [Rick Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wagoner/) > [I was working a corporate job for years and it always felt restrictive, it felt like I was doing something I wasn't supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-foster/i-was-working-a-corporate-job-for-years-and-it-always-felt/) [Fred Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-foster/) > [“I had stuff that needed doing. It wasn’t my fault that none of it mattered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aric-davis/i-had-stuff-that-needed-doing-it-wasn-t-my-fault-that-none-of-it/) [Aric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aric-davis/) > [I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't fun. It's just a whole different thing these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kreutzmann/i-wouldn-t-be-doing-this-if-it-wasn-t-fun-it-s-just-a-whole-different/) [Bill Kreutzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kreutzmann/) > [By now he had learned enough to know that when he was getting annoyed at somebody else, it was usually because there was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/by-now-he-had-learned-enough-to-know-that-when-he-was-getting-annoyed/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [I think for a couple of years I was believing that I was doing it all on my own and I wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-jones/i-think-for-a-couple-of-years-i-was-believing-that-i-was-doing-it-all/) [Star Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-jones/) > [I believed that we had to answer the question: Why are we doing this? And it wasn’t until we started to articulate, internally as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/i-believed-that-we-had-to-answer-the-question-why-are-we-doing-this/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [When I left I knew I was gonna go back to WWE. But I needed to go because whatever I was doing wasn't working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/when-i-left-i-knew-i-was-gonna-go-back-to-wwe-but-i-needed-to-go/) [Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/) > [“And if it wasn’t as good as before, what was the point of doing it? There wasn’t a point, as far as I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/and-if-it-wasn-t-as-good-as-before-what-was-the-point-of-doing-it/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [ \[Early on,\] the attitude was that what I was doing wasn't music. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/early-on-the-attitude-was-that-what-i-was-doing-wasn-t-music/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) ## More by El-P > [I'm not mad at digital media at all; I just see the importance and beauty of physical media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-m-not-mad-at-digital-media-at-all-i-just-see-the-importance-and/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [Standing up for what you believe is right, as well as standing up for what you believe is funny, standing up for what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/standing-up-for-what-you-believe-is-right-as-well-as-standing-up-for/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [For me, growing up in hip-hop culture, it's all about having the next style, the new fashion, the new way to express yourself, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/for-me-growing-up-in-hip-hop-culture-it-s-all-about-having-the-next/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I definitely grew up on Garfield. I just loved his pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-definitely-grew-up-on-garfield-i-just-loved-his-pessimism/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [Most people aren't happy about being consistent and staying at the same place for years. People want forward progress and motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/most-people-aren-t-happy-about-being-consistent-and-staying-at-the/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [Any issue and any problem, no matter what height you look at it from, no matter how much you extend past the first fractal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/any-issue-and-any-problem-no-matter-what-height-you-look-at-it-from/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I really don't believe in going too far out of your way to hunt down somebody to do a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-really-don-t-believe-in-going-too-far-out-of-your-way-to-hunt-down/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [The last Company Flow reunion show in New York City was pretty insane. Everybody knew all the words to every song; everybody had smiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/the-last-company-flow-reunion-show-in-new-york-city-was-pretty-insane/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [At a young age, I really wanted to make music and make my own sort of thing. I'm sure if it wasn't music, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/at-a-young-age-i-really-wanted-to-make-music-and-make-my-own-sort-of/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [One of the reasons why I thought it was a good decision to put Def Jux on hold is that it's a hell of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/one-of-the-reasons-why-i-thought-it-was-a-good-decision-to-put-def/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I am trying to change hip-hop music because I do feel there are places people can go with production and the structure of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-am-trying-to-change-hip-hop-music-because-i-do-feel-there-are/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I'm not really one of these people who's been known for particularly hopeful sentiments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-m-not-really-one-of-these-people-who-s-been-known-for-particularly/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I think it's impossible for hip-hop to be a dying art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-think-it-s-impossible-for-hip-hop-to-be-a-dying-art-form/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I like Das Racist, and so should you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-like-das-racist-and-so-should-you/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I had a boom box with a dual cassette deck and a mic, so I used to make pause tapes. I think a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-had-a-boom-box-with-a-dual-cassette-deck-and-a-mic-so-i-used-to/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) [Explore all 170 El-P quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) [Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would feel pretty embarrassed if I was doing what I do and I wasn't at least attempting the eloquent translation of the human experience in some way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "El-P" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was-doing-what-i-do-and-i-wasn-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attempting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was-doing-what-i-do-and-i-wasn-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/el-p-2359_attempting_i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was_1559872.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/el-p-2359_attempting_i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was_1559872.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/el-p-2359_attempting_i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was_1559872.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would feel pretty embarrassed if I was doing what I do and I wasn't at least attempting the eloquent…” — El-P", "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": "El-P", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would feel pretty embarrassed if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was-doing-what-i-do-and-i-wasn-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-would-feel-pretty-embarrassed-if-i-was-doing-what-i-do-and-i-wasn-t/#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 } } ] } ```