---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's very difficult to be objective about…"
description: "\"It's very difficult to be objective about yourself and your own circumstances, but one thing I do know about is that I grew up surrounded by storytelle..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/irvine-welsh-843_circumstances_it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-abou_963842.png"
---

#  It's very difficult to be objective about yourself and…

![“It's very difficult to be objective about yourself and your own circumstances, but one thing I do know about is that I grew up surrounded by storytellers.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/irvine-welsh-843_circumstances_it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-abou_963842.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/irvine-welsh-843_circumstances_it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-abou_963842.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/irvine-welsh-843_circumstances_it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-abou_963842.png)

> “It's very difficult to be objective about yourself and your own circumstances, but one thing I do know about is that I grew up surrounded by storytellers.”

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

## 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 the difficulty of self‑objectivity but notes that growing up among storytellers shaped his perspective.

**In simple terms:** Hard to be objective about yourself; storytellers influenced him.

Key Takeaway

Embrace storytelling to gain insight into yourself.

Themes

self‑awareness storytelling subjectivity upbringing

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

personal philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- writing workshops
- family discussions
- media analysis

Key Concepts

narrative identity psychology creative influence

Questions to Reflect On

- In what ways have the stories you heard shaped your self‑image?
- Can you use storytelling to achieve a more objective self‑view?

A Different Perspective

Storytelling can bias perception, making true self‑assessment challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Objective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-objective-930976/) [Grew Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-surrounded-559698/) [Objective Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objective-circumstances-1275249/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Storytellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytellers/) [Surrounded Storytellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded-storytellers-1802348/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/)

## Related quotes

> [“One does not wait for the "ripe" objective circumstances to make a revolution, circumstances become "ripe" through the political struggle itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/one-does-not-wait-for-the-ripe-objective-circumstances-to-make-a/)

[Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/)

> [The first time you see the film it takes you right back to those times and those moments. It's very difficult to be objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djimon-hounsou/the-first-time-you-see-the-film-it-takes-you-right-back-to-those/)

[Djimon Hounsou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djimon-hounsou/)

> [“However difficult the objective, there is always a way of overcoming obstacles. He seeks out alternative paths, he sharpens his sword, he tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/however-difficult-the-objective-there-is-always-a-way-of-overcoming/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [The tradition and style of the 'New York Times' make it very difficult to have objective coverage of China. If we could purchase it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/the-tradition-and-style-of-the-new-york-times-make-it-very-difficult/)

[Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/)

> [It's very difficult when you're in something to be objective enough about the material to just see it for what it is. You either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-stephens/it-s-very-difficult-when-you-re-in-something-to-be-objective-enough/)

[Toby Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-stephens/)

> [“Good art shows us how difficult it is to be objective by showing us how differently the world looks to an objective vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/good-art-shows-us-how-difficult-it-is-to-be-objective-by-showing-us/)

[Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/)

> [I was raised in a very activist household so that I grew up surrounded by people who were activists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-cleage/i-was-raised-in-a-very-activist-household-so-that-i-grew-up/)

[Pearl Cleage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-cleage/)

> [I grew up surrounded by sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-sketch-comedy/)

[Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/)

> [I grew up surrounded by both Haitian and Japanese culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-osaka/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-both-haitian-and-japanese-culture/)

[Naomi Osaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-osaka/)

> [I grew up surrounded by these tough, ballsy, strong women. They were also adoring women, but they were the kind of women who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-these-tough-ballsy-strong-women-they-were/)

[Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/)

> [I grew up surrounded by these strong, brilliant women who showed me what it meant to show up in the world with purpose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-these-strong-brilliant-women-who-showed-me/)

[Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/)

> [I grew up surrounded by strong women, and that was a very strong influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-lelio/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-strong-women-and-that-was-a-very-strong/)

[Sebastian Lelio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-lelio/)

> [I grew up surrounded by two farms and their fields. My earliest memories are of our mongrel dog running around and cows looking in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suranne-jones/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-two-farms-and-their-fields-my-earliest/)

[Suranne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suranne-jones/)

> [I grew up surrounded by generously yielding plum trees, and as a family we were constantly on the hunt for inspired ways to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-khoo/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-generously-yielding-plum-trees-and-as-a/)

[Rachel Khoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-khoo/)

> [Everybody in my family were great storytellers. My dad and his brothers would just go on and on; they could tell amazing stories. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/everybody-in-my-family-were-great-storytellers-my-dad-and-his/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

## More by Irvine Welsh

> [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [“Without this kickstart to my day, I'd be lost. A day without a morning run is a day you fumble through, rather than one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/without-this-kickstart-to-my-day-i-d-be-lost-a-day-without-a-morning/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [If it's something that I feel uncomfortable with, that's a reason for me to write it. I kind of like to make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-it-s-something-that-i-feel-uncomfortable-with-that-s-a-reason-for/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [If I stop working and publishing, and TV, and film and all that, I would be dead within a couple of weeks. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-i-stop-working-and-publishing-and-tv-and-film-and-all-that-i-would/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [I can see why the Russians love Robert Burns, I think that Russians and Koreans have a very similar outlook to Scots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-why-the-russians-love-robert-burns-i-think-that-russians/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [If you continue to transfer the wealth of the population of the planet to a very small amount of people, it becomes untenable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-you-continue-to-transfer-the-wealth-of-the-population-of-the/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [Most middle-class people I know don't really live like me. Middle-class people worry a lot about money. They worry a lot about job security,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/most-middle-class-people-i-know-don-t-really-live-like-me-middle/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [As soon as you've written it, you're thinking about how it can move into different mediums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/as-soon-as-you-ve-written-it-you-re-thinking-about-how-it-can-move/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [“Begbie doesnae even notice; he's in his element, particularly good at funerals in the way a lot ay psychopaths tend tae be. Ah suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/begbie-doesnae-even-notice-he-s-in-his-element-particularly-good-at/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [I'm more of a warrior than you'll ever be. I believe in the class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-m-more-of-a-warrior-than-you-ll-ever-be-i-believe-in-the-class-war/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

[Explore all 348 Irvine Welsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

## More Circumstances quotes

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/)

[Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/)

> [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/)

[Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/)

> [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/)

[Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/)

> [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/)

[Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/)

> [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/)

[Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/)

> [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/)

[Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/)

> [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/)

[Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/)

> [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/)

[Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/)

> [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/)

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

[Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's very difficult to be objective about yourself and your own circumstances, but one thing I do know about is that I grew up surrounded by storytellers.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Irvine Welsh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-about-yourself-and-your-own/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Circumstances"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-about-yourself-and-your-own/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/irvine-welsh-843_circumstances_it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-abou_963842.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/irvine-welsh-843_circumstances_it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-abou_963842.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/irvine-welsh-843_circumstances_it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-abou_963842.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's very difficult to be objective about yourself and your own circumstances, but one thing I do know about…” — Irvine Welsh",
                "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": "Irvine Welsh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's very difficult to be objective...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-about-yourself-and-your-own/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-very-difficult-to-be-objective-about-yourself-and-your-own/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
