--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I must confess that I lead a miserable…" description: "\"I must confess that I lead a miserable life. For almost two years, I have ceased to attend any social functions, just because I find it impossible to s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/ludwig-van-beethoven-2361_deaf_i-must-confess-that-i-lead-a-miserable-l_500595.jpg" --- # I must confess that I lead a miserable life. For almost… ![“I must confess that I lead a miserable life. For almost two years, I have ceased to attend any social functions, just because I find it impossible to say to people, 'I am deaf.' If I had any other profession, I might be able to cope with my infirmity; but in my profession, it is a terrible handicap.” quote by Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/ludwig-van-beethoven-2361_deaf_i-must-confess-that-i-lead-a-miserable-l_500595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/ludwig-van-beethoven-2361_deaf_i-must-confess-that-i-lead-a-miserable-l_500595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/ludwig-van-beethoven-2361_deaf_i-must-confess-that-i-lead-a-miserable-l_500595.jpg) > “I must confess that I lead a miserable life. For almost two years, I have ceased to attend any social functions, just because I find it impossible to say to people, 'I am deaf.' If I had any other profession, I might be able to cope with my infirmity; but in my profession, it is a terrible handicap.” [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Beethoven expresses deep isolation due to his deafness, feeling his profession makes his disability a severe barrier to social participation. **In simple terms:** Deafness isolates him in his career. Key Takeaway Seek supportive environments. Themes disability isolation career mental health Mood somber determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - performance arts - academic settings - public speaking Key Concepts sociology psychology accessibility Questions to Reflect On - How can professions adapt to sensory impairments? - What support systems could reduce professional handicap? A Different Perspective It may not reflect modern accommodations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cope Infirmity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cope-infirmity-4263456/) [Deaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf/) [Deaf Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-profession-4263455/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Handicap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handicap/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Miserable life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable-life/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) ## Related quotes > [I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. I hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-like-to-say-that-the-greatest-handicap-of-deafness-does-not-lie-in/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [Yet it was impossible for me to say to people, 'Speak louder, shout, for I am deaf.' Ah, how could I possibly admit an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/yet-it-was-impossible-for-me-to-say-to-people-speak-louder-shout-for/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [This meeting was like many of the meetings that I would go to over the course of two years. The only way I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-o-neill/this-meeting-was-like-many-of-the-meetings-that-i-would-go-to-over/) [Paul O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-o-neill/) > [“People with disabilities are sometimes very humble and approachable, if you want a seasoned reputation, then behave like one of the handicaps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-with-disabilities-are-sometimes-very-humble-and-approachable/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Nothing goes down slower than a golf handicap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-nichols/nothing-goes-down-slower-than-a-golf-handicap/) [Bobby Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-nichols/) > [The truth is that we were born to have it all. And part of our handicap as adults is that we no longer understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-berg/the-truth-is-that-we-were-born-to-have-it-all-and-part-of-our/) [Yehuda Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-berg/) > [“A handicap parking permit is not a reward for a lifetime of poor eating habits...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rafael-cimino/a-handicap-parking-permit-is-not-a-reward-for-a-lifetime-of-poor/) [T. Rafael Cimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rafael-cimino/) > [But the worst handicap we had the prohibition of naming individual units who had done the fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/but-the-worst-handicap-we-had-the-prohibition-of-naming-individual/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [Handicaps are mindsets. Whatever it is that stands in the way of achieving something, that's when it's a handicap. I prefer to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cox/handicaps-are-mindsets-whatever-it-is-that-stands-in-the-way-of/) [Jessica Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cox/) > [A polo handicap is a persons ticket to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/a-polo-handicap-is-a-persons-ticket-to-the-world/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The worst handicap you can have is a lack of belief in yourself! Lani Deauville”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-lee-crosby/the-worst-handicap-you-can-have-is-a-lack-of-belief-in-yourself-lani/) [Bette Lee Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-lee-crosby/) > [I play with a lot of guys who say they're a five handicap, and they shoot 110. And then you play with guys who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehman/i-play-with-a-lot-of-guys-who-say-they-re-a-five-handicap-and-they/) [Tom Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehman/) > [“I believe that my handicap will only enhance my ability to help others. I know that without the suffering, the growth that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-believe-that-my-handicap-will-only-enhance-my-ability-to-help/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“The only handicap in life is a bad attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/the-only-handicap-in-life-is-a-bad-attitude/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [A handicap is like trying to race and you have a ten pound weight stuck to your waist. That is a handicap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/a-handicap-is-like-trying-to-race-and-you-have-a-ten-pound-weight/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) ## More by Ludwig van Beethoven > [Strange, I feel as if up to now I had written no more than a few notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/strange-i-feel-as-if-up-to-now-i-had-written-no-more-than-a-few-notes/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [After Rossini dies, who will be there to promote his music?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/after-rossini-dies-who-will-be-there-to-promote-his-music/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [But what a humiliation for me when someone standing next to me heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/but-what-a-humiliation-for-me-when-someone-standing-next-to-me-heard/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [In the world of art, as in the whole of creation, freedom and progress are the main objectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/in-the-world-of-art-as-in-the-whole-of-creation-freedom-and-progress/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [I despise a world which does not feel that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/i-despise-a-world-which-does-not-feel-that-music-is-a-higher/) [Ludwig Van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [Good Morning, on July 7 My thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved I can only live wholly with you or not at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/good-morning-on-july-7-my-thoughts-go-out-to-you-my-immortal-beloved/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [Off with you! You're a happy fellow, for you'll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/off-with-you-you-re-a-happy-fellow-for-you-ll-give-happiness-and-joy/) [Ludwig Van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [“You will not find a treatise that is too learned for me; without laying claim to any genuine learning, I yet accustomed myself from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/you-will-not-find-a-treatise-that-is-too-learned-for-me-without/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [Art! Who comprehends her? With whom can one consult concerning this great goddess?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/art-who-comprehends-her-with-whom-can-one-consult-concerning-this/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [Don't only practise your art, but force your way into its secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/don-t-only-practise-your-art-but-force-your-way-into-its-secrets/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [There are and always will be thousands of princes, but there is only one Beethoven!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/there-are-and-always-will-be-thousands-of-princes-but-there-is-only/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [To me the highest thing, after God, is my honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/to-me-the-highest-thing-after-god-is-my-honor/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [The amount of money one needs is terrifying...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/the-amount-of-money-one-needs-is-terrifying/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/music-should-strike-fire-from-the-heart-of-man-and-bring-tears-from/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [Artists who have won fame are often embarrassed by it; thus their first works are often their best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/artists-who-have-won-fame-are-often-embarrassed-by-it-thus-their/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) [Explore all 168 Ludwig van Beethoven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) ## More Deaf quotes > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [“The rich eat life, the poor eat death; so what is the problem they ask?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-rich-eat-life-the-poor-eat-death-so-what-is-the-problem-they-ask/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [My girlfriend and I went to a dinner party the other night and we ended up playing charades. There was another couple there that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/my-girlfriend-and-i-went-to-a-dinner-party-the-other-night-and-we/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [In other restaurants you'll see employees signing to each other, since we also hire many deaf men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-karcher/in-other-restaurants-you-ll-see-employees-signing-to-each-other-since/) [Carl Karcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-karcher/) > [Must whales and dolphins be subjected to deafening noise that will cause more than 3.5 million instances of temporary and/or permanent hearing loss? For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/must-whales-and-dolphins-be-subjected-to-deafening-noise-that-will/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I will love you till a mute women tells his deaf friend about a blind women that saw a girl with no legs walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-love-you-till-a-mute-women-tells-his-deaf-friend-about-a-blind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And the blind man said to the deaf man, "Do you see what I hear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/and-the-blind-man-said-to-the-deaf-man-do-you-see-what-i-hear/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) > [So the blind will lead the blind, and the deaf shout warnings to one another until their voices are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/so-the-blind-will-lead-the-blind-and-the-deaf-shout-warnings-to-one/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Most profoundly deaf people have speech that is very difficult to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/most-profoundly-deaf-people-have-speech-that-is-very-difficult-to/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [But people who think they can project themselves into deafness are mistaken because you can't. And I'm not talking about imagining what a deaf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/but-people-who-think-they-can-project-themselves-into-deafness-are/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [There's none as deaf as those who won't listen. I get letters. 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