--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I couldn't bear it if anyone knew I had…" description: "\"I couldn't bear it if anyone knew I had hardly any self-confidence at all.\" — Loretta Young" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/loretta-young-10267_confidence_i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had_1881129.png" --- # I couldn't bear it if anyone knew I had hardly any… ![“I couldn't bear it if anyone knew I had hardly any self-confidence at all.” quote by Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/loretta-young-10267_confidence_i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had_1881129.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/loretta-young-10267_confidence_i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had_1881129.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/loretta-young-10267_confidence_i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had_1881129.png) > “I couldn't bear it if anyone knew I had hardly any self-confidence at all.” [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She fears judgment because of low self‑esteem, keeping her hidden. **In simple terms:** Fear of judgment hides confidence. Key Takeaway Build self‑confidence despite fear. Themes self‑esteem fear judgment vulnerability Mood anxious hopeful Type advice reflective When to use this quote - job interviews - public speaking - dating - team collaboration Key Concepts Psychology social anxiety Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to boost confidence? - How does vulnerability affect relationships? A Different Perspective Confidence can be fragile under scrutiny. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Couldn Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-bear-836835/) [Hardly Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardly-self-2656650/) [Knew Hardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-hardly-2656649/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) ## Related quotes > [On the day-long follows that I used to do with mothers and their offspring - these chimp families that I knew so well -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/on-the-day-long-follows-that-i-used-to-do-with-mothers-and-their/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [I couldn't ever stand up in front of an audience on my own and talk to them. It would be awful; I couldn't bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-reeves/i-couldn-t-ever-stand-up-in-front-of-an-audience-on-my-own-and-talk/) [Vic Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-reeves/) > [I could never have a mistress, because I couldn't bear to tell the story of my life all over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/i-could-never-have-a-mistress-because-i-couldn-t-bear-to-tell-the/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [“She knew she oughtn't to scold but she couldn't bear such a hyperbole. People couldn't live without food and air or shelter and money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-livesey/she-knew-she-oughtn-t-to-scold-but-she-couldn-t-bear-such-a-hyperbole/) [Margot Livesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-livesey/) > [He longed to be lost but he couldn't bear not to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/he-longed-to-be-lost-but-he-couldn-t-bear-not-to-be-found/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [If it weren't for painting, I wouldn't live; I couldn't bear the extra strain of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-it-weren-t-for-painting-i-wouldn-t-live-i-couldn-t-bear-the-extra/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [People couldn't bear to go on living if they faced every cold truth about themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/people-couldn-t-bear-to-go-on-living-if-they-faced-every-cold-truth/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [So even though I couldn't bear writing about cancer, I faced it every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/so-even-though-i-couldn-t-bear-writing-about-cancer-i-faced-it-every/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I couldn't bear to think about it; and yet, somehow, I couldn't think about nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-couldn-t-bear-to-think-about-it-and-yet-somehow-i-couldn-t-think/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [He couldn't bear to live, but he couldn't bear to die. He couldn't bear the thought of he making love to someone else, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-couldn-t-bear-to-live-but-he-couldn-t-bear-to-die-he-couldn-t-bear/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Park was never going to love her more than he did on the day they said goodbye. And she couldn’t bear to think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/park-was-never-going-to-love-her-more-than-he-did-on-the-day-they/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“She wanted to tell him to go but she couldn’t bear it if he did”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/she-wanted-to-tell-him-to-go-but-she-couldn-t-bear-it-if-he-did/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“I couldn’t bear to be talked about. Some girls are shiny-sharp enough to not be damaged, but I didn’t think I would be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/i-couldn-t-bear-to-be-talked-about-some-girls-are-shiny-sharp-enough/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [They couldn't bear the idea of death being a big black nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/they-couldn-t-bear-the-idea-of-death-being-a-big-black-nothing/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Right through to the end of the last World Cup game, I still couldn't bear the thought of not being perfect or letting people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-wilkinson/right-through-to-the-end-of-the-last-world-cup-game-i-still-couldn-t/) [Jonny Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-wilkinson/) ## More by Loretta Young > [In 1949 there was a new thing called Television, to which my agency and advisers opposed as a performance medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/in-1949-there-was-a-new-thing-called-television-to-which-my-agency/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [Certainly tears are given to us to use. Like all good gifts, they should be used properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/certainly-tears-are-given-to-us-to-use-like-all-good-gifts-they/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [I learned you have to fight for yourself in the picture business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-learned-you-have-to-fight-for-yourself-in-the-picture-business/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [I believe that if we have lived our lives fully and well, and have accomplished, at least in part, the things we were put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-believe-that-if-we-have-lived-our-lives-fully-and-well-and-have/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [A charming woman is a busy woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/a-charming-woman-is-a-busy-woman/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [If you want a place in the sun, you have to expect a few blisters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/if-you-want-a-place-in-the-sun-you-have-to-expect-a-few-blisters/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [What you don't know intrigues you more than what you do know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/what-you-don-t-know-intrigues-you-more-than-what-you-do-know/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [I was deaf and dumb and blind to all but me, myself and I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-was-deaf-and-dumb-and-blind-to-all-but-me-myself-and-i/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [I think making mistakes is as inevitable as receiving disappointments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-think-making-mistakes-is-as-inevitable-as-receiving-disappointments/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [A face that is really lovely in repose can fall apart if, when its owner stars to talk, she distorts every feature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/a-face-that-is-really-lovely-in-repose-can-fall-apart-if-when-its/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [Selfishness and self-absorption are deadly charm-exterminators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/selfishness-and-self-absorption-are-deadly-charm-exterminators/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [I've learned that getting what you want gives you a pretty high batting average, and leaves you plenty to struggle for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-ve-learned-that-getting-what-you-want-gives-you-a-pretty-high/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [The split second she ceases to care is the only time a woman ceases to be attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/the-split-second-she-ceases-to-care-is-the-only-time-a-woman-ceases/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [When I left 20th Century-Fox to freelance, my agent believed that getting big money was the way to establish real importance in our industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/when-i-left-20th-century-fox-to-freelance-my-agent-believed-that/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [As an actress, I have to be objective about myself. If I don't criticize myself, there are plenty who will do a find job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/as-an-actress-i-have-to-be-objective-about-myself-if-i-don-t/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) [Explore all 67 Loretta Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 couldn't bear it if anyone knew I had hardly any self-confidence at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Loretta Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had-hardly-any-self-confidence-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had-hardly-any-self-confidence-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/loretta-young-10267_confidence_i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had_1881129.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/loretta-young-10267_confidence_i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had_1881129.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89d/loretta-young-10267_confidence_i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had_1881129.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I couldn't bear it if anyone knew I had hardly any self-confidence at all.” — Loretta Young", "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": "Loretta Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I couldn't bear it if anyone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had-hardly-any-self-confidence-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-couldn-t-bear-it-if-anyone-knew-i-had-hardly-any-self-confidence-at/#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 } } ] } ```