--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just want to not be me. Whether it’s…" description: "\"“I just want to not be me. Whether it’s sleeping or playing video games or riding my bike or studying. Giving my brain up. That’s what’s important.”\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/ned-vizzini-1483_brain_i-just-want-to-not-be-me-whether-it-s-sl_1456175.png" --- # I just want to not be me. Whether it’s sleeping or playing… ![“I just want to not be me. Whether it’s sleeping or playing video games or riding my bike or studying. Giving my brain up. That’s what’s important.” quote by Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/ned-vizzini-1483_brain_i-just-want-to-not-be-me-whether-it-s-sl_1456175.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/ned-vizzini-1483_brain_i-just-want-to-not-be-me-whether-it-s-sl_1456175.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/ned-vizzini-1483_brain_i-just-want-to-not-be-me-whether-it-s-sl_1456175.png) > ““I just want to not be me. Whether it’s sleeping or playing video games or riding my bike or studying. Giving my brain up. That’s what’s important.”” [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses a desire to escape his identity and responsibilities, indicating burnout or a need for change. **In simple terms:** He wants to stop being himself and give up his brain. Key Takeaway Seek rest and self‑care. Themes mental health identity burnout Mood reflective somber Type advice personal When to use this quote - stress - personal growth - mental fatigue - life balance Key Concepts psychology self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What would you change to feel more authentic? - How can you recharge without abandoning responsibilities? A Different Perspective Escapism may avoid solving underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Playing video games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-video-games/) [Video games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video-games/) ## Related quotes > [Please, won't you push me for the last time Let's scream until there's nothing left So sick of playing, I don't want this anymore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/please-won-t-you-push-me-for-the-last-time-let-s-scream-until-there-s-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to keep sleeping, but the sun outside my window has other ideas: First blind her. Then jab her eyeballs with scorching-hot daggers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-friend/i-want-to-keep-sleeping-but-the-sun-outside-my-window-has-other-ideas/) [Natasha Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-friend/) > [I'm an old guy, so I started out playing 'Pong' with my brothers, and 'Mario Bros.' and whatnot. But we really got involved and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dillon/i-m-an-old-guy-so-i-started-out-playing-pong-with-my-brothers-and/) [Kevin Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dillon/) > [I'm beyond competitive. You should see me playing video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uriah-hall/i-m-beyond-competitive-you-should-see-me-playing-video-games/) [Uriah Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uriah-hall/) > [“Most boys her age spent half their free time playing video games, but Tellius spent all of his in adult pursuits like fighting, managing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-boys-her-age-spent-half-their-free-time-playing-video-games-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was 15, 16, 17 years old, I spent five hours a day juggling, and I probably spent six hours a day seriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/when-i-was-15-16-17-years-old-i-spent-five-hours-a-day-juggling-and-i/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [If I'm sitting at home playing video games, and I've got a couple of minutes to myself before bed, I'm listening to music and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-judge/if-i-m-sitting-at-home-playing-video-games-and-i-ve-got-a-couple-of/) [Aaron Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-judge/) > [I'm a huge 'Call of Duty' fan, 'Minecraft' and all those kinds of video games. I'm constantly playing video games every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-holt/i-m-a-huge-call-of-duty-fan-minecraft-and-all-those-kinds-of-video/) [Olivia Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-holt/) > [I grew up watching sci-fi and horror and dramas and playing video games. These are all things I enjoy doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-grew-up-watching-sci-fi-and-horror-and-dramas-and-playing-video/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [I've spent hours playing video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-ve-spent-hours-playing-video-games/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I stopped playing video games, I stopped playing other sports, and I just dove head first into wrestling and it's been my passion ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/i-stopped-playing-video-games-i-stopped-playing-other-sports-and-i/) [Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/) > [I rage playing video games. I think that's the only time you will ever hear me say a cuss word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-rage-playing-video-games-i-think-that-s-the-only-time-you-will-ever/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [My parents said that sitting at home playing video games all day won't bring you anywhere in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pewdiepie/my-parents-said-that-sitting-at-home-playing-video-games-all-day-won/) PewDiePie > [I grew up with my little brother, and we were raised by my grandmother. I was an insider for real. I stayed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-tiller/i-grew-up-with-my-little-brother-and-we-were-raised-by-my-grandmother/) [Bryson Tiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-tiller/) > [Playing video games is something I enjoy in my spare time. I'm a gamer, always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-garnett/playing-video-games-is-something-i-enjoy-in-my-spare-time-i-m-a-gamer/) [Kevin Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-garnett/) ## More by Ned Vizzini > [I want to live but I want to die. What do I do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-want-to-live-but-i-want-to-die-what-do-i-do/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“See, because being Cool is obviously the most important thing on earth. It’s more important than getting a job, or having a girlfriend, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/see-because-being-cool-is-obviously-the-most-important-thing-on-earth/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“She puts on her poker face; I don’t have any extra faces to put on, just the normal Craig face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/she-puts-on-her-poker-face-i-don-t-have-any-extra-faces-to-put-on/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“pro scienta atque sapienta-Latin- for science and wisdom It's a Darwinian popularity contest. at all times, the question on everyone's mind is, "who's coolest?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/pro-scienta-atque-sapienta-latin-for-science-and-wisdom-it-s-a/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [I think you run out of 'I love yous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-think-you-run-out-of-i-love-yous/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/so-now-live-for-real-craig-live-live-live-live/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“...one quarter of your life is spent as a minor; you might as well make the best of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/one-quarter-of-your-life-is-spent-as-a-minor-you-might-as-well-make/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [Once you have a kid, it's amazing how quickly people ask, 'So are you going to stop at just one?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/once-you-have-a-kid-it-s-amazing-how-quickly-people-ask-so-are-you/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“So when I ran out of the final bottle of Zoloft, I didn’t take any more. I didn’t call Dr. Barney either. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/so-when-i-ran-out-of-the-final-bottle-of-zoloft-i-didn-t-take-any/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“If Bobby can get a place to live, I think, then I can get a life worth living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/if-bobby-can-get-a-place-to-live-i-think-then-i-can-get-a-life-worth/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“Up next is Noelle. 'Hey, girl!' 'Don't you dare start calling me that. This is very nice of you to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/up-next-is-noelle-hey-girl-don-t-you-dare-start-calling-me-that-this/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [They're sort of ancillary anyway, friends. I mean, they're important -- everybody knows that; the TV tells you so -- but they come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/they-re-sort-of-ancillary-anyway-friends-i-mean-they-re-important/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“There are only things that could have turned out differently. You don't have any shoulds or woulds in your life, see? You only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/there-are-only-things-that-could-have-turned-out-differently-you-don/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [That's what gets me through the day. Knowing that I could do it. That I'm strong enough to do it and I can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/that-s-what-gets-me-through-the-day-knowing-that-i-could-do-it-that-i/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [I like how you don't hide your problems like everyone else, and I don't have to hide mine when I'm around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-like-how-you-don-t-hide-your-problems-like-everyone-else-and-i-don/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) [Explore all 237 Ned Vizzini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. 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