--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know how it feels when you want to…" description: "\"“I know how it feels when you want to illustrate an idea but you just don’t know how to start. And when you finally grabbed the confidence to mark that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/john-davidson-29855_confidence_i-know-how-it-feels-when-you-want-to-ill_3123993.jpg" --- # I know how it feels when you want to illustrate an idea… ![“I know how it feels when you want to illustrate an idea but you just don’t know how to start. And when you finally grabbed the confidence to mark that paper but then it turned out really terrible that you don’t want to show it to anyone.” quote by John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/john-davidson-29855_confidence_i-know-how-it-feels-when-you-want-to-ill_3123993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/john-davidson-29855_confidence_i-know-how-it-feels-when-you-want-to-ill_3123993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/john-davidson-29855_confidence_i-know-how-it-feels-when-you-want-to-ill_3123993.jpg) > ““I know how it feels when you want to illustrate an idea but you just don’t know how to start. And when you finally grabbed the confidence to mark that paper but then it turned out really terrible that you don’t want to show it to anyone.”” [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling stuck when trying to convey an idea, then fearing judgment after a poor attempt. **In simple terms:** Fear of starting and showing work. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfect drafts as learning steps. Themes creativity confidence criticism growth Mood anxious hopeful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - first drafts - creative workshops - feedback meetings Key Concepts self-doubt risk-taking iteration Questions to Reflect On - What small action can you take to begin? - How can you reframe criticism as feedback? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can paralyze progress and limit expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Illustrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illustrate/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“We all know how it says it’s going to end, Dreamer, but no one knows for sure. That’s up to you, and your friends.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chani-lynn-feener/we-all-know-how-it-says-it-s-going-to-end-dreamer-but-no-one-knows/) [Chani Lynn Feener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chani-lynn-feener/) > [“To mark the paper was the decisive act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/to-mark-the-paper-was-the-decisive-act/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We don't need to illustrate music; music illustrates itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/we-don-t-need-to-illustrate-music-music-illustrates-itself/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [January is always a good month for behavioral economics: Few things illustrate self-control as vividly as New Year's resolutions. February is even better, though,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sendhil-mullainathan/january-is-always-a-good-month-for-behavioral-economics-few-things/) [Sendhil Mullainathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sendhil-mullainathan/) > [Who doesn't want to draw Batman or Superman? Everyone would like to be able to draw them. I've been really lucky when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-bermejo/who-doesn-t-want-to-draw-batman-or-superman-everyone-would-like-to-be/) [Lee Bermejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-bermejo/) > [When I teach the formal curriculum, I have the chance to think about it ahead of time. I can rehearse it. I can illustrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/when-i-teach-the-formal-curriculum-i-have-the-chance-to-think-about/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [I tell everyone I interact with what I'm working on and let them bring me anecdotes that illustrate my themes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/i-tell-everyone-i-interact-with-what-i-m-working-on-and-let-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/i-want-to-express-my-feelings-rather-than-illustrate-them/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) > [I have been doodling since childhood. I have a passion for illustrating but cannot paint or colour for that matter. I illustrate what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/i-have-been-doodling-since-childhood-i-have-a-passion-for/) [Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/) > [I want to express my feelings, not illustrate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/i-want-to-express-my-feelings-not-illustrate-them/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) > [I used my pants to illustrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-singletary/i-used-my-pants-to-illustrate/) [Mike Singletary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-singletary/) > [Occasionally projects just take off unexpectedly, sometimes you can work away at sketches and ideas for years before they are published. There are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howe/occasionally-projects-just-take-off-unexpectedly-sometimes-you-can/) [John Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howe/) > [“analogy to illustrate this phenomenon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/analogy-to-illustrate-this-phenomenon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [French and German illustrate the misleading character of apparent grammatical simplicity just as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/french-and-german-illustrate-the-misleading-character-of-apparent/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A simile, to be perfect, must both illustrate and ennoble the subject; must show it to the understanding in a clearer view, and display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-simile-to-be-perfect-must-both-illustrate-and-ennoble-the-subject/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by John Davidson > [“...you mustn’t pun, Brumm, puns are produced only in vacant minds. Keep high thoughts and visions of delightful things before you and you won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/you-mustn-t-pun-brumm-puns-are-produced-only-in-vacant-minds-keep/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [It wasn't until I went to college that I met the theatre people and began to admire them because they were learning a trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/it-wasn-t-until-i-went-to-college-that-i-met-the-theatre-people-and/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [Physical activity can get you going when you are immobilized. Get action in your life, and don't just talk about it. Get into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/physical-activity-can-get-you-going-when-you-are-immobilized-get/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“I’ll be hanged if I can understand how it concerns Evolution to get us out of a mere scrape.” “Out of all kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/i-ll-be-hanged-if-i-can-understand-how-it-concerns-evolution-to-get/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“You will find, Brumm,” said Earl Lavender, “that one of two things must be sacrificed by every man who lives to be over sixty—the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/you-will-find-brumm-said-earl-lavender-that-one-of-two-things-must-be/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [I don't know why people are so surprised by my live performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/i-don-t-know-why-people-are-so-surprised-by-my-live-performances/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [My approach is so simple; every song I sing, every story I tell, every move I make, must move the audience to laughter, tears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/my-approach-is-so-simple-every-song-i-sing-every-story-i-tell-every/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [In White Plains I wasn't theatrical at all. I was a model and I used to take the train into New York three days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/in-white-plains-i-wasn-t-theatrical-at-all-i-was-a-model-and-i-used/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“Gentlemen,” said Earl Lavender, with perfect complacence, “it becomes you to make a charge of madness against me. I told my friend Lord Brumm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/gentlemen-said-earl-lavender-with-perfect-complacence-it-becomes-you/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“Do I believe in Heaven and Hell? I do, we have them here; the world is nothing else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/do-i-believe-in-heaven-and-hell-i-do-we-have-them-here-the-world-is/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“Mrs. Scamler,’ she said, ‘do you study French, ma'am?’ ‘I do, indeed,’ I said; ‘two hours a day.’ ‘Then, ma’am,’ she says, ‘we call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/mrs-scamler-she-said-do-you-study-french-ma-am-i-do-indeed-i-said-two/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“It is the observer of the pun that makes it, my dear Brumm. Of course, when the word is distorted, as in Evilution, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/it-is-the-observer-of-the-pun-that-makes-it-my-dear-brumm-of-course/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [Singing well has always been important to me, but the most important factor is the connection to the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/singing-well-has-always-been-important-to-me-but-the-most-important/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“Seek for no meaning in it; it has none. What meaning is there in pain and pleasure? They are twins; that is all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/seek-for-no-meaning-in-it-it-has-none-what-meaning-is-there-in-pain/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“You’re young, and like anything new. It’s change you want. I’m middle-aged, and there’s nothing staler to me than change. Constant comfort and little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/you-re-young-and-like-anything-new-it-s-change-you-want-i-m-middle/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) [Explore all 18 John Davidson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [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/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I know how it feels when you want to illustrate an idea but you just don’t know how to start. 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