--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never reread what I've written. I'm far…" description: "\"I never reread what I've written. I'm far too afraid to feel ashamed of what I've done.\" — Jorge Luis Borges" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/jorge-luis-borges-275_afraid_i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far_182258.jpg" --- # I never reread what I've written. I'm far too afraid to… ![“I never reread what I've written. I'm far too afraid to feel ashamed of what I've done.” quote by Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/jorge-luis-borges-275_afraid_i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far_182258.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/jorge-luis-borges-275_afraid_i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far_182258.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/jorge-luis-borges-275_afraid_i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far_182258.jpg) > “I never reread what I've written. I'm far too afraid to feel ashamed of what I've done.” [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## 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 avoids rereading work out of fear of shame for past actions. **In simple terms:** Fear of shame stops revisiting one's writing. Key Takeaway Face past work to grow. Themes fear self‑criticism creativity growth reflection Mood anxious introspective Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal journaling - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology of shame creative process self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What would you learn by rereading? - How can you transform shame into constructive feedback? A Different Perspective May hinder learning from mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“ When you die, do you want to feel ashamed of what you've done with your life? Feel ashamed of what your life meant?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/when-you-die-do-you-want-to-feel-ashamed-of-what-you-ve-done-with/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [I'm not ashamed of anything I've done, because if I feel ashamed, I'm not going to do it in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tionne-watkins/i-m-not-ashamed-of-anything-i-ve-done-because-if-i-feel-ashamed-i-m/) [Tionne Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tionne-watkins/) > [I'm not ashamed of anything that I've done because when I did it, I was passionate about it and I was doing it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yelawolf/i-m-not-ashamed-of-anything-that-i-ve-done-because-when-i-did-it-i/) [Yelawolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yelawolf/) > [“Never be ashamed of where you've been, only the moment you stop trying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-fields/never-be-ashamed-of-where-you-ve-been-only-the-moment-you-stop-trying/) [L.M. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-fields/) > [I'm not ashamed of anything I've done. Shame is a useless emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-m-not-ashamed-of-anything-i-ve-done-shame-is-a-useless-emotion/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“…she was afraid of how he made her feel, because he made her feel way too much”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-dell/she-was-afraid-of-how-he-made-her-feel-because-he-made-her-feel-way/) [Justine Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-dell/) > [Made me feel ashamed of belonging to these overpowering, technical superior countries fighting against what seemed to me quite defenseless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blake/made-me-feel-ashamed-of-belonging-to-these-overpowering-technical/) [George Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blake/) > [I don't feel ashamed of my wife's political background, and I don't think she should either. I feel that the people who administered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/i-don-t-feel-ashamed-of-my-wife-s-political-background-and-i-don-t/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [“All worries and troubles have gone from my breast and I play joyfully far from the world For a person of Zen no limits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mus-soseki/all-worries-and-troubles-have-gone-from-my-breast-and-i-play-joyfully/) [Musō Soseki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mus-soseki/) > [“I cannot say for sure when my reliable ideas about God began to slip away, but the big chest I used to keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/i-cannot-say-for-sure-when-my-reliable-ideas-about-god-began-to-slip/) [Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/) > [I am one of the many Scots who has had to leave Scotland in order to find employment so I in no way feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-macfadyen/i-am-one-of-the-many-scots-who-has-had-to-leave-scotland-in-order-to/) [Angus Macfadyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-macfadyen/) > [Don't feel ashamed for having those feelings and those memories. What happened in the past can't be changed, but they can be a guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/don-t-feel-ashamed-for-having-those-feelings-and-those-memories-what/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“You see, this happened a few months ago, but it's still going on right now, and it ought to make us feel ashamed when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/you-see-this-happened-a-few-months-ago-but-it-s-still-going-on-right/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [“When somebody, no matter who, gives everything, it makes people feel ashamed for him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/when-somebody-no-matter-who-gives-everything-it-makes-people-feel/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [Experience is the only real teacher and if you keep a diary you get three bites at educating yourself - when it happens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/experience-is-the-only-real-teacher-and-if-you-keep-a-diary-you-get/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) ## More by Jorge Luis Borges > [“No hables a menos que puedas mejorar el silencio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/no-hables-a-menos-que-puedas-mejorar-el-silencio/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [How can we manage to illuminate the pathos of our lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/how-can-we-manage-to-illuminate-the-pathos-of-our-lives/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Loneliness does not worry me; life is difficult enough, putting up with yourself and with your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/loneliness-does-not-worry-me-life-is-difficult-enough-putting-up-with/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-fact-is-that-all-writers-create-their-precursors-their-work/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge-but-i-like-to-keep-an-open/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The web of time - the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect, or ignore each other through the centuries - embraces "every"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-web-of-time-the-strands-of-which-approach-one-another-bifurcate/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“My memory, sir, is like a garbage disposal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/my-memory-sir-is-like-a-garbage-disposal/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [When I write, I do it urged by an intimate necessity. I don't have in mind an exclusive public, or a public of multitudes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-write-i-do-it-urged-by-an-intimate-necessity-i-don-t-have-in/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The mind was dreaming. The world was its dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-mind-was-dreaming-the-world-was-its-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-i-could-live-again-i-will-travel-light-if-i-could-live-again-i-ll/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Every man should be capable of all ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/every-man-should-be-capable-of-all-ideas/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Writing is only a guided dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/writing-is-only-a-guided-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) [Explore all 558 Jorge Luis Borges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never reread what I've written. I'm far too afraid to feel ashamed of what I've done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jorge Luis Borges" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far-too-afraid-to-feel-ashamed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far-too-afraid-to-feel-ashamed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/jorge-luis-borges-275_afraid_i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far_182258.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/jorge-luis-borges-275_afraid_i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far_182258.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/jorge-luis-borges-275_afraid_i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far_182258.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never reread what I've written. I'm far too afraid to feel ashamed of what I've done.” — Jorge Luis Borges", "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": "Jorge Luis Borges", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never reread what I've written....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far-too-afraid-to-feel-ashamed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-never-reread-what-i-ve-written-i-m-far-too-afraid-to-feel-ashamed/#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 } } ] } ```