---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the past, I've been a bit diffident…"
description: "\"In the past, I've been a bit diffident about my own albums, almost excusing them for some reason, even though deep down I felt strongly about them.\" — ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jesse-harris-31674_about_in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-ab_2389717.jpg"
---

#  In the past, I've been a bit diffident about my own…

![“In the past, I've been a bit diffident about my own albums, almost excusing them for some reason, even though deep down I felt strongly about them.” quote by Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jesse-harris-31674_about_in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-ab_2389717.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jesse-harris-31674_about_in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-ab_2389717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jesse-harris-31674_about_in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-ab_2389717.jpg)

> “In the past, I've been a bit diffident about my own albums, almost excusing them for some reason, even though deep down I felt strongly about them.”

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self‑doubt can mask confidence; acknowledging it allows genuine appreciation of one’s work.

**In simple terms:** Self‑doubt hides true feeling.

Key Takeaway

Accept doubts, then own your art.

Themes

self‑esteem creativity confidence

Mood

introspective motivational

Type

creative personal

When to use this quote

- album release
- creative writing
- performance anxiety

Key Concepts

impostor syndrome artistic identity self‑acceptance

Questions to Reflect On

- What would change if you stopped excusing your work?
- How can you turn doubt into motivation?

A Different Perspective

Doubt may persist despite acceptance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Deep down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-down/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [I'd always felt very strongly in the power of vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/i-d-always-felt-very-strongly-in-the-power-of-vocation/)

[Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/)

> [I felt very strongly the whole social impact of that depression, you know, and I felt very strongly about the efforts that this Resettlement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shahn/i-felt-very-strongly-the-whole-social-impact-of-that-depression-you/)

[Ben Shahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shahn/)

> [Part of me wanted to disappear into a cave in India, and I did end up going on retreats there, but, don't ask me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-roache/part-of-me-wanted-to-disappear-into-a-cave-in-india-and-i-did-end-up/)

[Linus Roache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-roache/)

> [“The feeling was a sword thrust as deep as anything he had ever felt, piercing through his body. It seemed like he had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/the-feeling-was-a-sword-thrust-as-deep-as-anything-he-had-ever-felt/)

[Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/)

> [“deep-felt and universal. WINDSOR, Oct. 16th.—I came up to-day with VICTORIA from Balmoral. She was”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/deep-felt-and-universal-windsor-oct-16th-i-came-up-to-day-with/)

Various

> [“Rachel felt the grief grow so wide and deep it felt like a dark fathomless pool she'd never emerge from. Because there was nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/rachel-felt-the-grief-grow-so-wide-and-deep-it-felt-like-a-dark/)

[Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/)

> [I'd always been a news junkie, always read lots of newspapers and watched the Sunday morning news shows on TV and felt strongly about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/i-d-always-been-a-news-junkie-always-read-lots-of-newspapers-and/)

[Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/)

> [I think my father felt very strongly that when there was bigotry anywhere, prejudice anywhere, all of us lose out,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-bird-johnson-robb/i-think-my-father-felt-very-strongly-that-when-there-was-bigotry/)

Lynda Bird Johnson Robb

> [“…she felt, more and more strongly, outside that eddy; or as if a shade had fallen, and robbed of colour, she saw things truly…Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-felt-more-and-more-strongly-outside-that-eddy-or-as-if-a-shade/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [My mother had a premonition from the very word 'GO.' She knew there was something to be afraid of and the only thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-hart/my-mother-had-a-premonition-from-the-very-word-go-she-knew-there-was/)

[Eva Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-hart/)

> [And finally, I just felt it was crucial for some of us in the hip hop community to speak up on the issues of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murs/and-finally-i-just-felt-it-was-crucial-for-some-of-us-in-the-hip-hop/)

[MURS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murs/)

> [So nonetheless given the importance that was placed on sport in Australia, I wanted to be part of that scene, particularly since I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keneally/so-nonetheless-given-the-importance-that-was-placed-on-sport-in/)

[Thomas Keneally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keneally/)

> [But why had he always felt so strongly the magnetic pull of home, why had he thought so much about it and remembered it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wolfe/but-why-had-he-always-felt-so-strongly-the-magnetic-pull-of-home-why/)

[Thomas Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wolfe/)

> [There was something, which was the turning point: I felt very strongly that women were sexualized, and perceived like they are sexual in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deniz-gamze-erguven/there-was-something-which-was-the-turning-point-i-felt-very-strongly/)

[Deniz Gamze Erguven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deniz-gamze-erguven/)

> [I felt strongly that the government didn't care about schools and communities like mine and I wanted to do something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/i-felt-strongly-that-the-government-didn-t-care-about-schools-and/)

[Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/)

## More by Jesse Harris

> [When I started to write a tune, I just wrote the nearest at hand, which was what was happening in my own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/when-i-started-to-write-a-tune-i-just-wrote-the-nearest-at-hand-which/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [To be honest, making albums is really never easy. It's always a bit excruciating because there's always this fight to make it great, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/to-be-honest-making-albums-is-really-never-easy-it-s-always-a-bit/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [I love having other people sing my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/i-love-having-other-people-sing-my-songs/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [I like playing in other projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/i-like-playing-in-other-projects/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [Have I learned something from making records? Yeah, I've learned a lot, because I've not only made eleven of my own records, I've also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/have-i-learned-something-from-making-records-yeah-i-ve-learned-a-lot/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [Most of the famous love affairs of literature or film were quite short. What was 'Romeo & Juliet'? How long were they together? A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/most-of-the-famous-love-affairs-of-literature-or-film-were-quite/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [If you write a song, and you go into a restaurant, and there's a guy with a piano singing and he's playing piano, singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/if-you-write-a-song-and-you-go-into-a-restaurant-and-there-s-a-guy/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [Richard Julian was the one who told me to check out Cartola. Telling someone to check out Cartola is like telling someone to check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/richard-julian-was-the-one-who-told-me-to-check-out-cartola-telling/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [Cartola is an artist from Brazil who didn't record until much later in his life, but had a big influence on a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/cartola-is-an-artist-from-brazil-who-didn-t-record-until-much-later/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [Sometimes a song indicates that it wants to be about a certain thing. And then if you write it, you find that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/sometimes-a-song-indicates-that-it-wants-to-be-about-a-certain-thing/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [If somebody sings a song that I wrote, I feel like its a nice point of validation for the song, because it shows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/if-somebody-sings-a-song-that-i-wrote-i-feel-like-its-a-nice-point-of/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [Neil Young does throw in a major seven chord here and there, so if you're a new guitar player learning Neil Young songs, you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/neil-young-does-throw-in-a-major-seven-chord-here-and-there-so-if-you/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [I love Neil Young. His songs were the first songs I learned to play, and I recommend anyone who is starting guitar to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/i-love-neil-young-his-songs-were-the-first-songs-i-learned-to-play/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [When you first start singing something after you've written it, it has this sort of sparkle to it. And if you capture that, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/when-you-first-start-singing-something-after-you-ve-written-it-it-has/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

> [I usually make records very quickly. I usually go in and record them and mix them, and I'm done within a couple of weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/i-usually-make-records-very-quickly-i-usually-go-in-and-record-them/)

[Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

[Explore all 16 Jesse Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [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/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In the past, I've been a bit diffident about my own albums, almost excusing them for some reason, even though deep down I felt strongly about them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jesse Harris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-about-my-own-albums-almost/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-about-my-own-albums-almost/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jesse-harris-31674_about_in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-ab_2389717.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jesse-harris-31674_about_in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-ab_2389717.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/jesse-harris-31674_about_in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-ab_2389717.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In the past, I've been a bit diffident about my own albums, almost excusing them for some reason, even…” — Jesse Harris",
                "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": "Jesse Harris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In the past, I've been a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-about-my-own-albums-almost/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/in-the-past-i-ve-been-a-bit-diffident-about-my-own-albums-almost/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```