--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once in a while, Jimmy would make up a…" description: "\"Once in a while, Jimmy would make up a word but he never once got caught out. ... He should have been pleased by his success with these verbal fabricat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/margaret-atwood-40_appreciate_once-in-a-while-jimmy-would-make-up-a-wo_792425.jpg" --- # Once in a while, Jimmy would make up a word but he never… ![“Once in a while, Jimmy would make up a word but he never once got caught out. ... He should have been pleased by his success with these verbal fabrications, but instead he was depressed by it. The memos telling him he'd done a good job meant nothing to him; all they proved was that no one was…” quote by Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/margaret-atwood-40_appreciate_once-in-a-while-jimmy-would-make-up-a-wo_792425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/margaret-atwood-40_appreciate_once-in-a-while-jimmy-would-make-up-a-wo_792425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/margaret-atwood-40_appreciate_once-in-a-while-jimmy-would-make-up-a-wo_792425.jpg) > “Once in a while, Jimmy would make up a word but he never once got caught out. ... He should have been pleased by his success with these verbal fabrications, but instead he was depressed by it. The memos telling him he'd done a good job meant nothing to him; all they proved was that no one was capable of appreciating how clever he had been. He came to understand why serial killers sent helpful clues to the police.” [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer feels empty despite praise, realizing that cleverness isn’t valued by others, leading to depression. **In simple terms:** Cleverness feels unappreciated, causing sadness. Key Takeaway Seek validation beyond self‑praise. Themes creativity validation loneliness mental health artistic integrity Mood melancholic reflective introspective Type literary psychological philosophical When to use this quote - publishing industry feedback - artistic collaboration - mental health support for creators - self‑reflection on achievement Key Concepts self‑esteem recognition psychology of success creative isolation Questions to Reflect On - How can creators find intrinsic satisfaction? - What role does community play in artistic worth? A Different Perspective External validation may not fulfill internal needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Caught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Clue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clue/) [Depressed Memos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed-memos-6083203/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Good job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-job/) [Helpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpful/) [Jimmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jimmy/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killers/) [Memos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memos/) [Memos Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memos-telling-6083204/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Serial killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serial-killer/) [Serial killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serial-killers/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Verbal Fabrications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbal-fabrications-6083202/) ## Related quotes > [“If sensing so badly of yourself you also sense a need to knock the sense out of me to sense that, then I sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-spellman/if-sensing-so-badly-of-yourself-you-also-sense-a-need-to-knock-the/) [Brian Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-spellman/) > [“Joe “ Hunt ” Gamsky still purports to be a devotee of Yogananda and is visited occasionally by members of Ananda Church of Self-Realization.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-sullivan/joe-hunt-gamsky-still-purports-to-be-a-devotee-of-yogananda-and-is/) [Randall Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-sullivan/) > [Think: who has vans, huh? Soccer moms and serial killers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/think-who-has-vans-huh-soccer-moms-and-serial-killers/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [I don't like things about serial killers. There's so much serial killer information out there in documentaries constantly. A lot of it's just sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-things-about-serial-killers-there-s-so-much-serial/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [I love anything to do with serial killers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-cooper/i-love-anything-to-do-with-serial-killers/) [T Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-cooper/) > [You people sometimes are like those serial killers you see in films who cut out the words 'I am going to get you' or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-strachan/you-people-sometimes-are-like-those-serial-killers-you-see-in-films/) [Gordon Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-strachan/) > [Vans are the vehicles of murderers. Serial Killers. Rapists. Thieves. Nothing good ever happens in a van. Police should be allowed to arrest van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalom-auslander/vans-are-the-vehicles-of-murderers-serial-killers-rapists-thieves/) [Shalom Auslander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalom-auslander/) > [While we are being fascinated by the tales of famous serial killers and how they were brought to justice, the real serial killer goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-brown/while-we-are-being-fascinated-by-the-tales-of-famous-serial-killers/) [Pat Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-brown/) > ["Only write what you know" is very good advice. I do my best to stick to it. I wrote about gods and dreams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/only-write-what-you-know-is-very-good-advice-i-do-my-best-to-stick-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Men who drink herbal teas are seldom serial killers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-who-drink-herbal-teas-are-seldom-serial-killers/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [ I believe the causes that create them \[serial killers\] are theological in nature, rather than societal. I believe they make a conscious choice to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lee-burke/i-believe-the-causes-that-create-them-serial-killers-are-theological/) [James Lee Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lee-burke/) > [“...do you have someone you can stay with? Hell, stay with your mother. The Pentagon doesn’t have the security system she’s got.” I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/do-you-have-someone-you-can-stay-with-hell-stay-with-your-mother-the/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“Traditionally, most murders and violent crimes were relatively easy for law enforcement officials to comprehend. They resulted from critically exaggerated manifestations of feelings we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-douglas/traditionally-most-murders-and-violent-crimes-were-relatively-easy/) [John E. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-douglas/) > [People are disturbed enough by serial killers, but the whole notion of female violence, particularly maternal violence - the idea of mothers who kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-carr/people-are-disturbed-enough-by-serial-killers-but-the-whole-notion-of/) [Caleb Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-carr/) > [“Mother Nature is a serial killer.No ones better. More creative. Like all serial killers, she can't help but the urge to get caught. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/character-from-world-war-z-andrew-fassbauch/mother-nature-is-a-serial-killer-no-ones-better-more-creative-like/) [Character from World War Z Andrew Fassbauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/character-from-world-war-z-andrew-fassbauch/) ## More by Margaret Atwood > [“I'm fine," said Pilar, "for the moment. And the moment is the only time we can be fine in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-m-fine-said-pilar-for-the-moment-and-the-moment-is-the-only-time-we/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [And yet it disturbs me to learn I have hurt someone unintentionally. I want all my hurts to be intentional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/and-yet-it-disturbs-me-to-learn-i-have-hurt-someone-unintentionally-i/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“The birds were singing around me, but I reflected that the very birds were strangers to me, for I did not even know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-birds-were-singing-around-me-but-i-reflected-that-the-very-birds/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Strange how we decorate pain. These ribbons, for instance, and the small hard teardrops of blood. Who are they for? Do we think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/strange-how-we-decorate-pain-these-ribbons-for-instance-and-the-small/) [margaret atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I wanted to forget the past, but it refused to forget me; it waited for sleep, then cornered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-wanted-to-forget-the-past-but-it-refused-to-forget-me-it-waited-for/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Back at home they drew the curtains and read, with disapproval, with relish, with avidity and glee - even the ones who'd never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/back-at-home-they-drew-the-curtains-and-read-with-disapproval-with/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“It's my fault. I am forgetting too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-my-fault-i-am-forgetting-too-much/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [All fiction is about people, unless it's about rabbits pretending to be people. It's all essentially characters in action, which means characters moving through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/all-fiction-is-about-people-unless-it-s-about-rabbits-pretending-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Simon walks back to the house alone. The night is clear and warm, with a moon, almost full, enclosed in a nimbus of mist;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/simon-walks-back-to-the-house-alone-the-night-is-clear-and-warm-with/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“There is indeed something delightful about being able to combine obedience and disobedience in the same act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-is-indeed-something-delightful-about-being-able-to-combine/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Every time the women appear, Snowman is astonished all over again. They're every known colour from the deepest black to whitest white, they're various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/every-time-the-women-appear-snowman-is-astonished-all-over-again-they/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Once you publish a book, it is out of your control. You cannot dictate how people read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/once-you-publish-a-book-it-is-out-of-your-control-you-cannot-dictate/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“The more difficult it was to love the particular man beside us, the more we believed in Love, abstract and total. We were waiting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-more-difficult-it-was-to-love-the-particular-man-beside-us-the/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“She knows she's deceiving herself about that, but she prefers to deceive herself. She desperately needs to believe such pure joy is still possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-knows-she-s-deceiving-herself-about-that-but-she-prefers-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) [Explore all 2,072 Margaret Atwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Time is really gold,spent it wisely with the people around you.Spread love,appreciate the beauty around you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jglargosta/time-is-really-gold-spent-it-wisely-with-the-people-around-you-spread/) [Jglargosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jglargosta/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/) [Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/) [Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) [Browse all 3,873 Appreciate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once in a while, Jimmy would make up a word but he never once got caught out. ... He should have been pleased by his success with these verbal fabrications, but instead he was depressed by it. The memos telling him he'd done a good job meant nothing to him; all they proved was that no one was capable of appreciating how clever he had been. 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