---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How I wish I were able to say what I think."
description: "\"How I wish I were able to say what I think.\" — Gertrude Stein"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/gertrude-stein-667_able_how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-thi_1569259.jpg"
---

#  How I wish I were able to say what I think.

![“How I wish I were able to say what I think.” quote by Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/gertrude-stein-667_able_how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-thi_1569259.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/gertrude-stein-667_able_how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-thi_1569259.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/gertrude-stein-667_able_how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-thi_1569259.jpg)

> “How I wish I were able to say what I think.”

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

## 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 longs for the freedom to express thoughts openly, highlighting a desire for authenticity.

**In simple terms:** Want to speak one's mind freely.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate honest self‑expression.

Themes

authenticity communication self‑awareness

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- creative writing
- personal journaling
- therapy sessions
- public speaking

Key Concepts

self‑expression censorship psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What holds you back from speaking?
- How can you practice openness?

A Different Perspective

Fear of judgment may inhibit honesty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-say/) [Say Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-think/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wish Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish-able-4979231/)

## Related quotes

> [Not to want to say, not to know what you want to say, not to be able to say what you think you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/not-to-want-to-say-not-to-know-what-you-want-to-say-not-to-be-able-to/)

[Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/)

> [I may not be able to say all I think, but I am not going to say anything I do not think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-may-not-be-able-to-say-all-i-think-but-i-am-not-going-to-say/)

[Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/)

> [If you are going to be successful, you need to give up the phrase, "I can't" & all of its cousins, such as "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-are-going-to-be-successful-you-need-to-give-up-the-phrase-i/)

[Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/)

> [I wish I could be able to go back in time.. I swear I'd make everything right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-i-could-be-able-to-go-back-in-time-i-swear-i-d-make-everything/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Be careful what you wish for because you might not be able to handle it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tour-secrets-2-by-winkk/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-because-you-might-not-be-able-to-handle/)

[Tour Secrets 2 by Winkk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tour-secrets-2-by-winkk/)

> [“I've always been able to say what I meant! It's a writer's job to carve with language, to hew close to the bone, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-ve-always-been-able-to-say-what-i-meant-it-s-a-writer-s-job-to/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [I know it's near the end and when it's over I want to be able to say to myself - not anyone else -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kell-brook/i-know-it-s-near-the-end-and-when-it-s-over-i-want-to-be-able-to-say/)

[Kell Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kell-brook/)

> [Being able to say something lyrically, to say something that will do more than just be words, is really hard. It's easy to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/being-able-to-say-something-lyrically-to-say-something-that-will-do/)

[Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/)

> [“No is a complete sentence and so often we forget that. When we don't want to do something we can simply smile and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-gregg/no-is-a-complete-sentence-and-so-often-we-forget-that-when-we-don-t/)

[Susan Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-gregg/)

> [I'd like to one day be able to say, 'I was in more than one play on Broadway.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-lenox/i-d-like-to-one-day-be-able-to-say-i-was-in-more-than-one-play-on/)

[Adriane Lenox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-lenox/)

> [The greatest thing in the world is for a man to be able to do something well, and say nothing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-greatest-thing-in-the-world-is-for-a-man-to-be-able-to-do/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [“To be able to say "I love you", one has to be able to say "I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/to-be-able-to-say-i-love-you-one-has-to-be-able-to-say-i/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [We do not need to be able to say what "human nature" is in order to be able to say that some training is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/we-do-not-need-to-be-able-to-say-what-human-nature-is-in-order-to-be/)

[Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/)

> [“You must be able to say, with reasonable certainty, "I understand," before you can say "I agree," or "I disagree," or "I suspend judgment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/you-must-be-able-to-say-with-reasonable-certainty-i-understand-before/)

[Mortimer J. Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/)

> [“One of these days I’d really like to win a battle, rather than just stand quiet while they lose it at me. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-parker/one-of-these-days-i-d-really-like-to-win-a-battle-rather-than-just/)

[K.J. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-parker/)

## More by Gertrude Stein

> [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [“When is there some discharge when. There never is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/when-is-there-some-discharge-when-there-never-is/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [There is no such thing as repetition. Only insistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/there-is-no-such-thing-as-repetition-only-insistance/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [I am I because my little dog knows me but, creatively speaking the little dog knowing that you are you and your recognising that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-am-i-because-my-little-dog-knows-me-but-creatively-speaking-the/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [How likely are definitions to be pleasurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/how-likely-are-definitions-to-be-pleasurable/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [ “What is the answer?" \[ I \[Alice B Toklas\] was silent \] In that case, what is the question?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-answer-i-alice-b-toklas-was-silent-in-that-case-what-is/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [More and more I like to take a train. I understand why the French prefer it to automobiling it is so much more sociable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/more-and-more-i-like-to-take-a-train-i-understand-why-the-french/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Adventure is making the distant approach nearer but romance is having what is where it is which is not where you are stay where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/adventure-is-making-the-distant-approach-nearer-but-romance-is-having/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Forensics is eloquence and reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/forensics-is-eloquence-and-reduction/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Eating and sleeping are not like loving and breathing. Washing is not like eating and sleeping. Believing is like breathing and loving. Religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/eating-and-sleeping-are-not-like-loving-and-breathing-washing-is-not/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [I write for myself and strangers. The strangers, dear Readers, are an afterthought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-write-for-myself-and-strangers-the-strangers-dear-readers-are-an/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [“A bag which was left and not only taken but turned away was not found. The place was shown to be very like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/a-bag-which-was-left-and-not-only-taken-but-turned-away-was-not-found/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [I don't envisage collectivism. There is no such animal, it is always individualism, sometimes the rest vote and sometimes they do not, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-don-t-envisage-collectivism-there-is-no-such-animal-it-is-always/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

[Explore all 418 Gertrude Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

[Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/)

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

[Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "How I wish I were able to say what I think.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gertrude Stein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-think/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-think/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/gertrude-stein-667_able_how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-thi_1569259.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/gertrude-stein-667_able_how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-thi_1569259.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/gertrude-stein-667_able_how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-thi_1569259.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How I wish I were able to say what I think.” — Gertrude Stein",
                "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": "Gertrude Stein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "How I wish I were able...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-think/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/how-i-wish-i-were-able-to-say-what-i-think/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```