--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really did for a few weeks think, I'm…" description: "\"I really did for a few weeks think, I'm in pain because the world needs me to save it. Which is so ridiculous and egotistical.\" — Heidi Julavits" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/heidi-julavits-8173_egotistical_i-really-did-for-a-few-weeks-think-i-m-i_577295.png" --- # I really did for a few weeks think, I'm in pain because… ![“I really did for a few weeks think, I'm in pain because the world needs me to save it. Which is so ridiculous and egotistical.” quote by Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/heidi-julavits-8173_egotistical_i-really-did-for-a-few-weeks-think-i-m-i_577295.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/heidi-julavits-8173_egotistical_i-really-did-for-a-few-weeks-think-i-m-i_577295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/heidi-julavits-8173_egotistical_i-really-did-for-a-few-weeks-think-i-m-i_577295.png) > “I really did for a few weeks think, I'm in pain because the world needs me to save it. Which is so ridiculous and egotistical.” [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author admits feeling a brief, ego‑driven belief that the world depends on them, recognizing it as absurd and self‑important. **In simple terms:** I briefly thought I was essential to the world, but it was selfish. Key Takeaway Question the validity of self‑importance. Themes ego self‑importance meaning purpose humility Mood introspective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - relationships - volunteering - leadership Key Concepts psychology existentialism self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever feel the world needs you? - How can you balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Self‑importance can blind judgment and strain relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Every couple of years - no, that's every couple of weeks - I think I'm going to give up acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidan-gillen/every-couple-of-years-no-that-s-every-couple-of-weeks-i-think-i-m/) [Aidan Gillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidan-gillen/) > [We're not saints, any of us. Maybe somebody is, but I don't know those people. But we all know people who behave very smugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/we-re-not-saints-any-of-us-maybe-somebody-is-but-i-don-t-know-those/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [“I am no theologian, and do not have the answers to these questions, and one of the reasons I enjoy the animals on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/i-am-no-theologian-and-do-not-have-the-answers-to-these-questions-and/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [“Everyone is in pain. Most people think pain in massage means something is happening, and if they can endure it, they will be improved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-howrey/everyone-is-in-pain-most-people-think-pain-in-massage-means-something/) [Meg Howrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-howrey/) > [Heart beating faster and faster as I think of the pain inside closing my eyes i see her face oh how I miss you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daneillia/heart-beating-faster-and-faster-as-i-think-of-the-pain-inside-closing/) [Daneillia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daneillia/) > [And yet I think of Christopher Reeve who said he would pay two million dollars to be able to feel pain again. What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-montalban/and-yet-i-think-of-christopher-reeve-who-said-he-would-pay-two/) [Ricardo Montalban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-montalban/) > [I think pain becomes your friend. And for me it forces me to push on to the next thing, the better thing, to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-evans/i-think-pain-becomes-your-friend-and-for-me-it-forces-me-to-push-on/) [Lee Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-evans/) > [My first fear was about the devil, when I was around fire, something I saw in a movie. I think it's about pain, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/my-first-fear-was-about-the-devil-when-i-was-around-fire-something-i/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [“I still don't see how it would make me feel any better to think of the pain in my hip and spine as anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-houston/i-still-don-t-see-how-it-would-make-me-feel-any-better-to-think-of/) [Pam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-houston/) > [“Isn’t it funny how we make rational excuses for being out of alignment? We say, “Well, this \_\_\_\_ and that \_\_\_\_ happened, so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/isn-t-it-funny-how-we-make-rational-excuses-for-being-out-of/) [Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/) > [“I've learned that if I stay busy, especially by helping others, I don't think about my pain. In an odd way, my pain is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-piper/i-ve-learned-that-if-i-stay-busy-especially-by-helping-others-i-don-t/) [Don Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-piper/) > [The day you come back to me might be the day I'm gone and finally moved on. I dont think I could be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-day-you-come-back-to-me-might-be-the-day-i-m-gone-and-finally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The hardest part was acknowledging I might never see you again. Realizing how much you mean to me and how much I'd miss your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-reed/the-hardest-part-was-acknowledging-i-might-never-see-you-again/) [J.C. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-reed/) > [“I think about everything; good and bad. I think about the pain Ive experienced, the fear, the love, the passion, the kisses, the friendships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/i-think-about-everything-good-and-bad-i-think-about-the-pain-ive/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) ## More by Heidi Julavits > [I am simply looking for a companion with whom to spend my days, a companion who will cherish as much as I the stupidity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-am-simply-looking-for-a-companion-with-whom-to-spend-my-days-a/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [There are some writers who are done when they finish a draft because they've thought it through beforehand. Whereas I'll finish a first draft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/there-are-some-writers-who-are-done-when-they-finish-a-draft-because/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I won't deny that I have a far more productive writing life without the Internet, mostly because I rekindle my ability to concentrate on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-won-t-deny-that-i-have-a-far-more-productive-writing-life-without/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [“I take you for a girl who's eager to grow unstable at the first indication that things can come back to haunt a person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-take-you-for-a-girl-who-s-eager-to-grow-unstable-at-the-first/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I'm at that age where I notice friends checking out my face and wondering, Has she been Botoxed? There's a new map there people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-m-at-that-age-where-i-notice-friends-checking-out-my-face-and/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [If, at some future point, my face collapses around my eyes, I'd probably do something about it. My eyes are where I live, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/if-at-some-future-point-my-face-collapses-around-my-eyes-i-d-probably/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I obviously read and adore traditional fiction. I teach traditional fiction; I also teach all kinds of not-so-traditional fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-obviously-read-and-adore-traditional-fiction-i-teach-traditional/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I obviously read and adore traditional fiction. I teach traditional fiction, I also teach all kind of not-so-traditional fiction. And since I'm such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-obviously-read-and-adore-traditional-fiction-i-teach-traditional-2/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I wouldn't be myself if I weren't always trying to be someone else. I only have so much time on this earth and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-wouldn-t-be-myself-if-i-weren-t-always-trying-to-be-someone-else-i/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [If you agree with an outside person's interpretation of you, that's a happy bit of affirmation. It means you're communicating externally what you believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/if-you-agree-with-an-outside-person-s-interpretation-of-you-that-s-a/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I have a daughter who, when younger, possessed no barrier between her emotional self and the outside world. Her emotional insides spilled out all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-have-a-daughter-who-when-younger-possessed-no-barrier-between-her/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I can't even tell you what else I imagined. I can only humiliate myself to such a degree; at a certain point it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-can-t-even-tell-you-what-else-i-imagined-i-can-only-humiliate/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [It's fascinating to imagine two successful writers in one house. But when you think about it, it isn't very unusual. In fact, so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/it-s-fascinating-to-imagine-two-successful-writers-in-one-house-but/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [When my husband first read a draft, he said, "You spend too much time describing the characters' outfits." He was right. I removed much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/when-my-husband-first-read-a-draft-he-said-you-spend-too-much-time/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I go through life now reminding myself to remember something, and I do this while that something is happening. I'll be experiencing a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/i-go-through-life-now-reminding-myself-to-remember-something-and-i-do/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) [Explore all 83 Heidi Julavits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) ## More Egotistical quotes > [A lot of the things I did - it's not going to sound anything but egotistical - if I'm lucky and I did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/a-lot-of-the-things-i-did-it-s-not-going-to-sound-anything-but/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [If a man wants to get it right, he's looked up to and respected. If a woman wants to get it right, she's difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/if-a-man-wants-to-get-it-right-he-s-looked-up-to-and-respected-if-a/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [“Nobility is often no more than the inner aspect which our egotistical feelings assume when we have not yet named and classified them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/nobility-is-often-no-more-than-the-inner-aspect-which-our-egotistical/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“Of course you're not egotistical. I checked, and you look very humble in all 900 of the selfies you posted on facebook.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-mcquillen/of-course-you-re-not-egotistical-i-checked-and-you-look-very-humble/) [Sienna McQuillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-mcquillen/) > [“Mostly, we think that a self-expressive person is egotistical. That may be true but what about someone who refrains from expressing himself to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/mostly-we-think-that-a-self-expressive-person-is-egotistical-that-may/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) > [You are happiest when you are most humble. You are most miserable when you are egotistical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-are-happiest-when-you-are-most-humble-you-are-most-miserable-when/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [My story was that I was egotistical, arrogant, and an absolute jerk to everyone who brags about everything - and I will - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/my-story-was-that-i-was-egotistical-arrogant-and-an-absolute-jerk-to/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [I'm much too egotistical to move outside the acting realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/i-m-much-too-egotistical-to-move-outside-the-acting-realm/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [“I can chart my own path.  However, I’ve yet to figure out why so many of my paths always seem to lead to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-can-chart-my-own-path-however-i-ve-yet-to-figure-out-why-so-many-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I'm a big old egotistical baby and that's okay. I can accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-m-a-big-old-egotistical-baby-and-that-s-okay-i-can-accept-it/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [Politics in Slovakia had long been a battle between egotistical men. Caputova sought to be the anti-ego alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/politics-in-slovakia-had-long-been-a-battle-between-egotistical-men/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [“She was not a person who froze someone’s character in her mind, calling this one egotistical and that one not nearly confident enough and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-winter/she-was-not-a-person-who-froze-someone-s-character-in-her-mind/) [Kathleen Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-winter/) > [Someone else would come, another self that was a little more refined, that had a little more purity, a little more humility, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/someone-else-would-come-another-self-that-was-a-little-more-refined/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Every time I'm a good guy in a movie, which is the 'Marine,' people are like, 'Wow, you can play endearing. You can play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/every-time-i-m-a-good-guy-in-a-movie-which-is-the-marine-people-are/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [William: You're just gonna have to take who I give you and deal Paris: Like anyone would pick you over me. William: You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/william-you-re-just-gonna-have-to-take-who-i-give-you-and-deal-paris/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) Browse all 228 Egotistical quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really did for a few weeks think, I'm in pain because the world needs me to save it. 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