--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was more ashamed that I couldn't work…" description: "\"I was more ashamed that I couldn't work the washing machine than the fact that I was taking drugs.\" — Elton John" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/elton-john-849_ashamed_i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work_2924274.png" --- # I was more ashamed that I couldn't work the washing… ![“I was more ashamed that I couldn't work the washing machine than the fact that I was taking drugs.” quote by Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/elton-john-849_ashamed_i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work_2924274.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/elton-john-849_ashamed_i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work_2924274.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/elton-john-849_ashamed_i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work_2924274.png) > “I was more ashamed that I couldn't work the washing machine than the fact that I was taking drugs.” [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shame over personal failures can outweigh shame over harmful habits, revealing distorted self‑judgment. **In simple terms:** Feeling more ashamed of a mistake than a serious problem. Key Takeaway Reassess what truly matters. Themes shame self‑judgment addiction personal values Mood introspective critical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - addiction recovery - personal accountability - mental health counseling Key Concepts cognitive distortion moral hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - Why do we prioritize trivial faults? - How can we align shame with real impact? A Different Perspective Denial may mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) ## Related quotes > [I've done nothing I'm ashamed of. Nothing I couldn't face God with. I wouldn't kill a bug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/i-ve-done-nothing-i-m-ashamed-of-nothing-i-couldn-t-face-god-with-i/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [“I turned away from his grip, ashamed that I couldn’t tell him the truth. I was the one that wasn’t good enough. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-turned-away-from-his-grip-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-tell-him-the/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“He looked incredulous, throwing his hands up in disbelief. "You snuck out of my flat like I was some drunken lay you were ashamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/he-looked-incredulous-throwing-his-hands-up-in-disbelief-you-snuck/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [Normal is a cycle on a washing machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/normal-is-a-cycle-on-a-washing-machine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A salesman called on my wife the other day and tried to sell her a freezer. You'll save a fortune on your food bills,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-bishop/a-salesman-called-on-my-wife-the-other-day-and-tried-to-sell-her-a/) [Joey Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-bishop/) > [The washing machine changed the world more than the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/the-washing-machine-changed-the-world-more-than-the-internet/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [Sign at a Kentucky appliance store: Don't kill your wife. Let our washing machine do the dirty work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/sign-at-a-kentucky-appliance-store-don-t-kill-your-wife-let-our/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/normal-is-nothing-more-than-a-cycle-on-a-washing-machine/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [The freedom of women was achieved by two things: One, the Pill. Two... by labour-saving devices like the washing machine. By science, not feminism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/the-freedom-of-women-was-achieved-by-two-things-one-the-pill-two-by/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [It's not nothing when you're abroad and you don't have a washing machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/it-s-not-nothing-when-you-re-abroad-and-you-don-t-have-a-washing/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [If you or me go to the gas station to fill up our car and it costs us much more than we expected, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/if-you-or-me-go-to-the-gas-station-to-fill-up-our-car-and-it-costs-us/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [Sometimes, writing songs is like waiting in for deliveries. They give you a window, and your washing machine is going to show up, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-turner/sometimes-writing-songs-is-like-waiting-in-for-deliveries-they-give/) [Alex Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-turner/) > [“When she emerged, Keith was watching the tiny round window of the under-the-counter washing machine. "Put your clothes in for a wash," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-she-emerged-keith-was-watching-the-tiny-round-window-of-the/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [the relentless touring and endless repetition of the same songs over and over again promoted a creeping awareness that my music had begun to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/the-relentless-touring-and-endless-repetition-of-the-same-songs-over/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Being unique is what's cool. Normal? What's normal? A setting on a washing machine. No one wants to be that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-purdy/being-unique-is-what-s-cool-normal-what-s-normal-a-setting-on-a/) [Ashley Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-purdy/) ## More by Elton John > [For me music is so passionate. I have to give it my all every time I go onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/for-me-music-is-so-passionate-i-have-to-give-it-my-all-every-time-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [No tears to damn you when jealousy burns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/no-tears-to-damn-you-when-jealousy-burns/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [And we have come so far like that. I mean, the advances on the medication side have been enormous, and the advances on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/and-we-have-come-so-far-like-that-i-mean-the-advances-on-the/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids, in fact it's cold as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/mars-ain-t-the-kind-of-place-to-raise-your-kids-in-fact-it-s-cold-as/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm not bored with my life. I'm not just making the records and touring, I would find that boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-not-bored-with-my-life-i-m-not-just-making-the-records-and/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life. I love the food. I love the people. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-places-that-have-an-incredible-history-i-love-the-italian-way/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I used to get my money at the end of the week, buy my mum something, or buy a record, and that was it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-used-to-get-my-money-at-the-end-of-the-week-buy-my-mum-something-or/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [We have a society where every hit maker and TV presenter is gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/we-have-a-society-where-every-hit-maker-and-tv-presenter-is-gay/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm very relaxed. I'm very happy with my personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-m-very-relaxed-i-m-very-happy-with-my-personal-life/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [You can beat her, but don't mistreat her. Oh, don't believe that woman please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/you-can-beat-her-but-don-t-mistreat-her-oh-don-t-believe-that-woman/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [The Backstreet Boys can sing their asses off. I'm not so sure about those other boy bands. But Backstreet Boys have my ultimate respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/the-backstreet-boys-can-sing-their-asses-off-i-m-not-so-sure-about/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I grew up at my grandmother's house, and she had a beautiful garden. I used to hate mowing the lawn and weeding, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-grew-up-at-my-grandmother-s-house-and-she-had-a-beautiful-garden-i/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [ He \[Ryan White\] had a kind of angelic aura about him. And his family, too, it's like, they are going through all this suffering,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/he-ryan-white-had-a-kind-of-angelic-aura-about-him-and-his-family-too/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Welcome to the world of bullshit, my dear. You have arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/welcome-to-the-world-of-bullshit-my-dear-you-have-arrived/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) [Explore all 352 Elton John quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) ## 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 was more ashamed that I couldn't work the washing machine than the fact that I was taking drugs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elton John" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work-the-washing-machine-than-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ashamed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work-the-washing-machine-than-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/elton-john-849_ashamed_i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work_2924274.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/elton-john-849_ashamed_i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work_2924274.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66b/elton-john-849_ashamed_i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work_2924274.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was more ashamed that I couldn't work the washing machine than the fact that I was taking drugs.” — Elton John", "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": "Elton John", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was more ashamed that I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work-the-washing-machine-than-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-was-more-ashamed-that-i-couldn-t-work-the-washing-machine-than-the/#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 } } ] } ```