--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've said it before, and I'll say it…" description: "\"I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I've written 29 damn plays. Isn't that enough?\" — Harold Pinter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/harold-pinter-3125_actor_i-ve-said-it-before-and-i-ll-say-it-agai_736244.png" --- # I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I've written… ![“I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I've written 29 damn plays. Isn't that enough?” quote by Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/harold-pinter-3125_actor_i-ve-said-it-before-and-i-ll-say-it-agai_736244.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/harold-pinter-3125_actor_i-ve-said-it-before-and-i-ll-say-it-agai_736244.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/harold-pinter-3125_actor_i-ve-said-it-before-and-i-ll-say-it-agai_736244.png) > “I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I've written 29 damn plays. Isn't that enough?” [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The playwright laments having written many plays, implying it may be excessive. **In simple terms:** He questions the value of prolific output. Key Takeaway Focus on quality over quantity. Themes creativity productivity artistic burnout self-critique Mood reflective critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - career retrospectives - publishing decisions Key Concepts legacy saturation artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - When does prolific work become counterproductive? - How to measure artistic success? A Different Perspective Quantity does not guarantee impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [29 Damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/29-damn-5756437/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/again/) [Damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn/) [Damn Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn-plays-5756435/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Plays Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays-isn-2910214/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Written 29](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-29-5756436/) ## Related quotes > [“Going to see plays isn't what you people should do. Try looking at yourselves a little more often and see what gray lives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/going-to-see-plays-isn-t-what-you-people-should-do-try-looking-at/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [I don't think there's been any writer like Samuel Beckett. He's unique. 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But I'm kind of stuck. I keep revisiting it so maybe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/i-did-plays-in-college-and-i-have-half-of-a-play-but-i-m-kind-of/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [There are certain early plays of mine that I really don't like, but I can't imagine going back and fixing them. I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-baker/there-are-certain-early-plays-of-mine-that-i-really-don-t-like-but-i/) [Annie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-baker/) > [Humour plays a vital part in any 'Bhavai' performance and is seen in plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/humour-plays-a-vital-part-in-any-bhavai-performance-and-is-seen-in/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [Robert Duvall taught me years ago. He said, "You know theatre is not real. I don't like plays." 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I have listened to her practice for so many hours that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-cleary/i-particularly-enjoy-cello-music-because-our-daughter-plays-the-cello/) [Beverly Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-cleary/) > [“O, thou art fairer than the evening air Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars; Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter When he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/o-thou-art-fairer-than-the-evening-air-clad-in-the-beauty-of-a/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Big plays come when they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minkah-fitzpatrick/big-plays-come-when-they-come/) [Minkah Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minkah-fitzpatrick/) > [I don't mind watching plays once in a while, but as long as I don't have to be in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-mind-watching-plays-once-in-a-while-but-as-long-as-i-don-t/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) ## More by Harold Pinter > [I also found being called Sir rather silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-also-found-being-called-sir-rather-silly/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I saw Len Hutton in his prime, Another time, another time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-saw-len-hutton-in-his-prime-another-time-another-time/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Nothing is more sterile or lamentable than the man content to live within himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/nothing-is-more-sterile-or-lamentable-than-the-man-content-to-live/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [“ I know the place I know the place. It is true. Everything we do Corrects the space Between death and me And you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-know-the-place-i-know-the-place-it-is-true-everything-we-do/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [“DEELEY: Myself I was a student then, juggling with my future, wondering should I bejasus saddle myself with a slip of a girl not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/deeley-myself-i-was-a-student-then-juggling-with-my-future-wondering/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I've never been able to understand what they mean by 'Pinteresque,'. 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He won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/be-careful-how-you-talk-about-god-he-s-the-only-god-we-have-if-you/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I hate brandy...it stinks of modern literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-hate-brandy-it-stinks-of-modern-literature/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [“What sound was that? I turn away, into the shaking room. What was that sound that came in on the dark? What is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/what-sound-was-that-i-turn-away-into-the-shaking-room-what-was-that/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [There are no hard distinctions between what is real and what is unreal, nor between what is true and what is false. 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The search is clearly what drives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/truth-in-drama-is-forever-elusive-you-never-quite-find-it-but-the/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Most of the press is in league with government, or with the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/most-of-the-press-is-in-league-with-government-or-with-the-status-quo/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Iraq is just a symbol of the attitude of western democracies to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/iraq-is-just-a-symbol-of-the-attitude-of-western-democracies-to-the/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) [Explore all 138 Harold Pinter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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