Appropriate Quote by Kevin Sessums
“I get rejections from the New Yorker. When I had to give a little talk to the people graduating from the MBA program at Columbia who were going into writing and filmmaking and everything, I said, "When I tried to think of what to say, the only subject I thought was appropriate for people doing what you're going to do is rejection." That's what it's all about.”
About This Quote
Rejection is a universal experience for creators; acknowledging it openly can demystify fear and foster resilience.
In simple terms: Rejection is common; accept it.
Key Takeaway
Embracing rejection builds creative confidence.
Themes
creativity
failure
resilience
career advice
Mood
reflective
encouraging
Type
personal anecdote
advice
When to use this quote
- writers receiving editorial declines
- filmmakers pitching projects
- students facing academic setbacks
Key Concepts
growth mindset
psychology of rejection
Practical Applications
- reframe rejection as feedback
- share personal stories to normalize failure
Questions to Reflect On
- How does rejection shape artistic identity?
- What strategies turn rejection into improvement?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on rejection may discourage risk‑taking if not balanced with success stories.
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![“We didn't know each other [with Larry Kramer at Yale], but we had a lot of mutual friends.” quote by Kevin Sessums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/efb/kevin-sessums-9486_friendship_we-didn-t-know-each-other-with-larry-kra_608949.jpg)
![“David Remnick [the New Yorker's editor in chief]is about as interested in anything gay as I am interested in anything to do with baseball. It drives me nuts.” quote by Kevin Sessums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eae/kevin-sessums-9486_baseball_david-remnick-the-new-yorker-s-editor-in_636097.jpg)
![“I believe we really became friends [with Larry Kramer] when we bonded at our fifteenth class reunion in 1972.” quote by Kevin Sessums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68c/kevin-sessums-9486_believe_i-believe-we-really-became-friends-with_642749.jpg)
![“One of the few nice things about [time in Yale] was you got to know people before there were labels on them, so you got to know them as people, not as either gay or straight. Because as far as we knew, we thought everyone was straight.” quote by Kevin Sessums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ca/kevin-sessums-9486_gay_one-of-the-few-nice-things-about-time-in_687609.jpg)
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
