--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: EPITAPH Now I'm not the brightest knife…" description: "\"EPITAPH Now I'm not the brightest knife in the drawer, but I know a couple things about this life: poverty silence, impermanence discipline and mystery..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/franz-wright-14400_couple_epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife_971038.png" --- # EPITAPH Now I'm not the brightest knife in the drawer, but… ![“EPITAPH Now I'm not the brightest knife in the drawer, but I know a couple things about this life: poverty silence, impermanence discipline and mystery The world is not illusory, we are From crimson thread to toe tag If you are not disturbed there is something seriously wrong with you, I'm sorry…” quote by Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/franz-wright-14400_couple_epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife_971038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/franz-wright-14400_couple_epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife_971038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/franz-wright-14400_couple_epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife_971038.png) > “EPITAPH Now I'm not the brightest knife in the drawer, but I know a couple things about this life: poverty silence, impermanence discipline and mystery The world is not illusory, we are From crimson thread to toe tag If you are not disturbed there is something seriously wrong with you, I'm sorry And I know who I am I'll be a voice coming from nowhere, inside-- be glad for me.” [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges personal flaws yet finds meaning in life's impermanence, discipline, and mystery, urging self-awareness. **In simple terms:** Accept flaws, seek purpose despite life's fleeting nature. Key Takeaway Embrace impermanence and self‑knowledge. Themes self‑awareness impermanence discipline Mood contemplative introspective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - daily routine - personal crises - creative work Key Concepts existentialism poetry Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be truly aware of oneself? - How can discipline shape our perception of impermanence? A Different Perspective Focus on flaws may overlook positive aspects of life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Couple things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple-things/) [Crimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimson/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Disturbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbed/) [Drawers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawers/) [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) [Epitaph Brightest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph-brightest-1863984/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [I m sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-m-sorry/) [Impermanence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impermanence/) [Knives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knives/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silence Impermanence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence-impermanence-1863983/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Tag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tag/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) [Thread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thread/) [Toes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toes/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Obviously, I did a couple of things right on the old casting couch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bateman/obviously-i-did-a-couple-of-things-right-on-the-old-casting-couch/) [Jason Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bateman/) > [“We’re going to get a couple things straight here, Roarke.’ ‘Your color’s back.’ Pleased with himself, he rose and nipped a kiss onto the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/we-re-going-to-get-a-couple-things-straight-here-roarke-your-color-s/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [I'm still young; I've had a couple things under my belt. I don't even think I've begun where I'm gonna be eventually. I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-london/i-m-still-young-i-ve-had-a-couple-things-under-my-belt-i-don-t-even/) [Lauren London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-london/) > [At a young age I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. So I'm trying to develop things on my own, too, and there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/at-a-young-age-i-always-had-an-entrepreneurial-spirit-so-i-m-trying/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [There have been a couple of things I've been involved in launching that have been a bit more public, but I've always had other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-o-driscoll/there-have-been-a-couple-of-things-i-ve-been-involved-in-launching/) [Brian O'Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-o-driscoll/) > [There's only just so much you can do; I prefer to do only a couple of things and go to some depth in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meale/there-s-only-just-so-much-you-can-do-i-prefer-to-do-only-a-couple-of/) [Richard Meale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meale/) > [I always say there's a couple things that I look at when I'm playing basketball. Do I enjoy going to the gym? Do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taurasi/i-always-say-there-s-a-couple-things-that-i-look-at-when-i-m-playing/) [Diana Taurasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taurasi/) > [You need to have that killer instinct. It can't be taught. Where does it come from? A couple slaps. A couple things you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/you-need-to-have-that-killer-instinct-it-can-t-be-taught-where-does/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [Medicine is often conservative and slow to incorporate something that wasn't there before and that we're afraid people are going to laugh at us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-barnard/medicine-is-often-conservative-and-slow-to-incorporate-something-that/) [Neal Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-barnard/) > [“She was prepared for him to shut her down, when Behr shrugged a shoulder and said, “Yeah, sounds good. I think it’s a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-salazar/she-was-prepared-for-him-to-shut-her-down-when-behr-shrugged-a/) [Brandi Salazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-salazar/) > [I try to do things positive on my throat, but a couple things are negative like smoking and drinking heavily. I really don't know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-lucker/i-try-to-do-things-positive-on-my-throat-but-a-couple-things-are/) [Mitch Lucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-lucker/) > [So every time I rap about being a big girl in a small world it's doing a couple things: it's empowering my self-awareness, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzo/so-every-time-i-rap-about-being-a-big-girl-in-a-small-world-it-s/) [Lizzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzo/) > [I think a couple things, I mean, you know, the tragic death of Matthew Shepard occurred in Wyoming. Colorado and Wyoming are very similar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/i-think-a-couple-things-i-mean-you-know-the-tragic-death-of-matthew/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [I just wanted to make more of a lifestyle record instead of anything else. I wasn't trying to do anything mainstream or nothing like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-de/i-just-wanted-to-make-more-of-a-lifestyle-record-instead-of-anything/) [Young De](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-de/) > [My wife says to me, 'You have achieved a lot'... yeah, I do know. But... there are a couple of things I haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alun-wyn-jones/my-wife-says-to-me-you-have-achieved-a-lot-yeah-i-do-know-but-there/) [Alun Wyn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alun-wyn-jones/) ## More by Franz Wright > [“What I would say is this: writing poems doesn't make you a poet. … It is only with poetry, for some reason, that everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/what-i-would-say-is-this-writing-poems-doesn-t-make-you-a-poet-it-is/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [I write and have done so primarily for personal pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/i-write-and-have-done-so-primarily-for-personal-pleasure/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [The poetic prose that most interests me is that of Henri Michaux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/the-poetic-prose-that-most-interests-me-is-that-of-henri-michaux/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [Beckett's 'Stories and Texts for Nothing' is probably my favorite book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/beckett-s-stories-and-texts-for-nothing-is-probably-my-favorite-book/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [We know there are poets who are chosen: by what or whom, we no more know than what lies beyond our final breath, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/we-know-there-are-poets-who-are-chosen-by-what-or-whom-we-no-more/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [“If only I could tell someone. The humiliation I go through when I think of my past can only be described as grace. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/if-only-i-could-tell-someone-the-humiliation-i-go-through-when-i/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [I wish you all the aloneness you hunger for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/i-wish-you-all-the-aloneness-you-hunger-for/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [“Think of it: a writer actually possesses the power to alter his past, to change what was once experienced as defeat into victory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/think-of-it-a-writer-actually-possesses-the-power-to-alter-his-past/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [“The road to Emmaus is this world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/the-road-to-emmaus-is-this-world/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [Should each individual snowflake be held accountable for the avalanche?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/should-each-individual-snowflake-be-held-accountable-for-the-avalanche/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [There is only one heart in my body, have mercy on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/there-is-only-one-heart-in-my-body-have-mercy-on-me/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [Its hard for me to grasp that I might somehow be my fathers equal in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/its-hard-for-me-to-grasp-that-i-might-somehow-be-my-fathers-equal-in/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [I used to comfort myself with the idea of a book with serrated, detachable pages, so that you could read the thing the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/i-used-to-comfort-myself-with-the-idea-of-a-book-with-serrated/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [“You gave me in secret one thing to perceive, the tall blue starry strangeness of being here at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/you-gave-me-in-secret-one-thing-to-perceive-the-tall-blue-starry/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) > [“The all-night convenience store's empty and no one is behind the counter. You open and shut the glass door a few times causing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/the-all-night-convenience-store-s-empty-and-no-one-is-behind-the/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) [Explore all 46 Franz Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) ## More Couple quotes > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [Sometimes they were together so often that it felt as though they really were a couple; sometimes weeks and months would go by before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-they-were-together-so-often-that-it-felt-as-though-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a couple of decades you have half of the wells that are drilled right now, and you're talking about numbers in the millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-fox/in-a-couple-of-decades-you-have-half-of-the-wells-that-are-drilled/) [Josh Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-fox/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've had a couple knockouts, but I feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanderlei-silva/i-ve-had-a-couple-knockouts-but-i-feel-good/) [Wanderlei Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanderlei-silva/) > [There are bands that I am friends with, who will invite me up on stage. Like Les Savy Fav, who have had me on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/there-are-bands-that-i-am-friends-with-who-will-invite-me-up-on-stage/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [I can get along great with the Hispanics. In fact, I sure would like to meet them, even the politicians, maybe in the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-arpaio/i-can-get-along-great-with-the-hispanics-in-fact-i-sure-would-like-to/) [Joe Arpaio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-arpaio/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [I took guitar lessons and recorded the song in New York. It was kind of a dream. I got to pretend I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-took-guitar-lessons-and-recorded-the-song-in-new-york-it-was-kind/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [“Natalie was bored in her marriage. At first she could hardly admit it to herself. After all, they were a perfect match: similar backgrounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-becker-holstein/natalie-was-bored-in-her-marriage-at-first-she-could-hardly-admit-it/) [Barbara Becker Holstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-becker-holstein/) > [On Valentine's Day, couples in Calgary can celebrate their love for each other with couples' nude yoga - great way to get in shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sagal/on-valentine-s-day-couples-in-calgary-can-celebrate-their-love-for/) [Peter Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sagal/) > [Sometimes, when you've got a couple of females on the cast, you'll have a diva, or you'll have arguments. I've been on shows where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-whittle/sometimes-when-you-ve-got-a-couple-of-females-on-the-cast-you-ll-have/) [Ricky Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-whittle/) > [In the 1998 Oscars, I found myself in the bathroom in a stall, next to Tom Selleck. So I leaned over and I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/in-the-1998-oscars-i-found-myself-in-the-bathroom-in-a-stall-next-to/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) [Browse all 5,003 Couple quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "EPITAPH Now I'm not the brightest knife in the drawer, but I know a couple things about this life: poverty silence, impermanence discipline and mystery The world is not illusory, we are From crimson thread to toe tag If you are not disturbed there is something seriously wrong with you, I'm sorry And I know who I am I'll be a voice coming from nowhere, inside-- be glad for me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franz Wright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife-in-the-drawer-but-i-know-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Couple" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife-in-the-drawer-but-i-know-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/franz-wright-14400_couple_epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife_971038.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/franz-wright-14400_couple_epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife_971038.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/franz-wright-14400_couple_epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife_971038.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“EPITAPH Now I'm not the brightest knife in the drawer, but I know a couple things about this life: poverty…” — Franz Wright", "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": "Franz Wright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "EPITAPH Now I'm not the brightest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife-in-the-drawer-but-i-know-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/epitaph-now-i-m-not-the-brightest-knife-in-the-drawer-but-i-know-a/#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 } } ] } ```