--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I express things through characters…" description: "\"I express things through characters because I have a fear that my own voice is irritating because that's been said to me.\" — Maria Bamford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/maria-bamford-10548_because_i-express-things-through-characters-beca_679994.jpg" --- # I express things through characters because I have a fear… ![“I express things through characters because I have a fear that my own voice is irritating because that's been said to me.” quote by Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/maria-bamford-10548_because_i-express-things-through-characters-beca_679994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/maria-bamford-10548_because_i-express-things-through-characters-beca_679994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/maria-bamford-10548_because_i-express-things-through-characters-beca_679994.jpg) > “I express things through characters because I have a fear that my own voice is irritating because that's been said to me.” [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker hides behind characters because they fear their own voice is irritating, reflecting insecurity about self-expression. **In simple terms:** Fear of being annoying leads to using fictional voices. Key Takeaway Embrace your authentic voice despite doubts. Themes self‑expression insecurity creativity Mood vulnerable introspective Type reflective advice When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - writing - therapy sessions - public speaking Key Concepts psychology performance art Questions to Reflect On - How does using characters protect you? - What would happen if you spoke directly? A Different Perspective Relying on characters can limit personal growth and authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [“Do you know how irritating you are?” she said. “Because if you don’t, I’ve got time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/do-you-know-how-irritating-you-are-she-said-because-if-you-don-t-i-ve/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [In every cry of every man, In every infant's cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forg'd manacles I hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/in-every-cry-of-every-man-in-every-infant-s-cry-of-fear-in-every/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Fear can have a voice, but it doesn't get a vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/fear-can-have-a-voice-but-it-doesn-t-get-a-vote/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Those characters wherein fear predominates over hope may apprehend too much from...instances of irregularity. They may conclude too hastily that nature has formed man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/those-characters-wherein-fear-predominates-over-hope-may-apprehend/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think the characters Nick and Solomon, the characters on Fear Street,' were definitely further from myself. But I think ultimately I do try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-think-the-characters-nick-and-solomon-the-characters-on-fear-street/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [Some of my friends and family have tried to challenge me to do jokes that aren't as self-deprecating, where I genuinely express my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/some-of-my-friends-and-family-have-tried-to-challenge-me-to-do-jokes/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/anything-which-is-troubling-you-anything-which-is-irritating-you-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I wanted to do action, and it was a bit irritating when people called me a chocolate boy. I can do other films, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/i-wanted-to-do-action-and-it-was-a-bit-irritating-when-people-called/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [I've never been the kind of guy who finds attention irritating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/i-ve-never-been-the-kind-of-guy-who-finds-attention-irritating/) [Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/) > [I know how irritating it is when a producer puts his hand in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/i-know-how-irritating-it-is-when-a-producer-puts-his-hand-in/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [“When two humans have lived together for many years it usually happens that each has tones of voice and expressions of face which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/when-two-humans-have-lived-together-for-many-years-it-usually-happens/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I know what you are known as . . . but to me, you will always be Tom Riddle. It is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-what-you-are-known-as-but-to-me-you-will-always-be-tom-riddle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most irritating people are those without a sense of humor, amirite?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-irritating-people-are-those-without-a-sense-of-humor-amirite/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Maria Bamford > [I feel bad about that, that I worship celebrities... but their moods create weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-feel-bad-about-that-that-i-worship-celebrities-but-their-moods/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [In L.A., a lot of comics live here, but we don't get to spend that much time together because we've got to drive 45…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/in-l-a-a-lot-of-comics-live-here-but-we-don-t-get-to-spend-that-much/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [Sometimes I worry I don't want to get married as much as I'd like to be dipped in a vat of warm, rising bread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/sometimes-i-worry-i-don-t-want-to-get-married-as-much-as-i-d-like-to/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [I'm not an extroverted person, nor am I hyper-confident in my point of view. I just don't have that personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-m-not-an-extroverted-person-nor-am-i-hyper-confident-in-my-point-of/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [I like all kinds of comedy. I like comedy that doesn't talk about real beliefs or serious thoughts, but then I also like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-like-all-kinds-of-comedy-i-like-comedy-that-doesn-t-talk-about-real/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [I think I, like a lot of people, have that type of brain where I find it interesting or fulfilling to worry about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-think-i-like-a-lot-of-people-have-that-type-of-brain-where-i-find/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [I have trouble watching singers because they are so sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-have-trouble-watching-singers-because-they-are-so-sincere/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [Even if you're disgusting, and everyone is creeped out by you and thinks you're gross, you know, keep doing what you love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/even-if-you-re-disgusting-and-everyone-is-creeped-out-by-you-and/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [Some of my friends and family have tried to challenge me to do jokes that aren't as self-deprecating, where I genuinely express my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/some-of-my-friends-and-family-have-tried-to-challenge-me-to-do-jokes/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [I can't stand makeup commercials. 'Do you need a lipstick that keeps your lips kissable?' No, I need a lipstick that gets me equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-can-t-stand-makeup-commercials-do-you-need-a-lipstick-that-keeps/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [I have a comic character - my sister said that I'm the victim of every joke I tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-have-a-comic-character-my-sister-said-that-i-m-the-victim-of-every/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [Schizophrenia is hearing voices, not doing voices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/schizophrenia-is-hearing-voices-not-doing-voices/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [It's always the compliments from people you love that mean so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/it-s-always-the-compliments-from-people-you-love-that-mean-so-much/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [In my stand up, I think I try to be less energetic because I feel embarrassed about how much enthusiasm I have. There's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/in-my-stand-up-i-think-i-try-to-be-less-energetic-because-i-feel/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [I'm not technically rich, but I do have a lot of s\*\*t that I don't need, that I refuse to share with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-m-not-technically-rich-but-i-do-have-a-lot-of-s-t-that-i-don-t-need/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) [Explore all 65 Maria Bamford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. 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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/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. 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