--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People say you make your best work when…" description: "\"People say you make your best work when in despair, but I think happiness is a good place to write from\" — Paul Weller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/paul-weller-2405_best-work_people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when_1125709.png" --- # People say you make your best work when in despair, but I… ![“People say you make your best work when in despair, but I think happiness is a good place to write from” quote by Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/paul-weller-2405_best-work_people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when_1125709.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/paul-weller-2405_best-work_people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when_1125709.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/paul-weller-2405_best-work_people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when_1125709.png) > “People say you make your best work when in despair, but I think happiness is a good place to write from” [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes happiness, not despair, fuels better creative work. **In simple terms:** Write from happiness for better work. Key Takeaway Cultivate joy before creating. Themes creativity emotion productivity mindset Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - painting - writing sessions Key Concepts psychology of creativity well‑being Questions to Reflect On - Can joy sustain long‑term output? - How to balance melancholy and happiness? A Different Perspective Despair can also inspire depth for some artists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [People say you make your best work when you're in despair and all that, and at your lowest - but for me, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when-you-re-in-despair-and-all/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/never-despair-but-if-you-do-work-on-in-despair/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Never despair, but if you do, work in despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/never-despair-but-if-you-do-work-in-despair/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Nothing earthly will make me give up my work in despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livingstone/nothing-earthly-will-make-me-give-up-my-work-in-despair/) [David Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livingstone/) > [“in the way of happiness – but we were all in a good place”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-payne/in-the-way-of-happiness-but-we-were-all-in-a-good-place/) Jenna Payne > [Many people on our planet right now despair; they think we've reached a point where we've discovered most of the things. I'm going tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/many-people-on-our-planet-right-now-despair-they-think-we-ve-reached/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [In life when we feel we have reached a limit, that is when the true battle begins. Just when you despair and think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/in-life-when-we-feel-we-have-reached-a-limit-that-is-when-the-true/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [ It's one thing to be discouraged. It's another thing to have despair. Despair is when you think there's just no end to this \[suffering\].… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/it-s-one-thing-to-be-discouraged-it-s-another-thing-to-have-despair/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I think a good novel can be a doorstop to despair. I also think the real bravery comes with those who prepared to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/i-think-a-good-novel-can-be-a-doorstop-to-despair-i-also-think-the/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [You try as a parent. You love beyond reason. You fight beyond endurance. You hope beyond despair. You never think, until the very last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gardner/you-try-as-a-parent-you-love-beyond-reason-you-fight-beyond-endurance/) [Lisa Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gardner/) > [Depression Sadness grips my body, Wrapped in a blanket of despair, Can't see to think clearly and frankly I don't care, Why people do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/depression-sadness-grips-my-body-wrapped-in-a-blanket-of-despair-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you think of what you are, and despair; think also of what He is, and take heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/when-you-think-of-what-you-are-and-despair-think-also-of-what-he-is/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [My creed is that: Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/my-creed-is-that-happiness-is-the-only-good-the-place-to-be-happy-is/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [There can be no happiness without good health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/there-can-be-no-happiness-without-good-health/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Please don't settle for happiness. It's not good enough. Of course you deserve it, but if that's all you have in mind - happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/please-don-t-settle-for-happiness-it-s-not-good-enough-of-course-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More by Paul Weller > [When I discovered blues - I was 12-years-old - I didn't discover it in America where it was from; I discovered it from Fleetwood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/when-i-discovered-blues-i-was-12-years-old-i-didn-t-discover-it-in/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I'd like to think that what I've written over the years and what I'm doing now means something to people. People in the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-d-like-to-think-that-what-i-ve-written-over-the-years-and-what-i-m/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [People say that if you're still angry at 52, you're not an angry young man, just a grumpy old git.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/people-say-that-if-you-re-still-angry-at-52-you-re-not-an-angry-young/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [Music's totally eclectic now. I saw a DJ the other day, he was on Virgin radio over here, and he said he played "Going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/music-s-totally-eclectic-now-i-saw-a-dj-the-other-day-he-was-on/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [There are so many artists who get to my age that get comfortable and just stick in a groove, and I really don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/there-are-so-many-artists-who-get-to-my-age-that-get-comfortable-and/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [Young people can listen to music at any moment in the day or night. Which is great, but I think it kind of devalues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/young-people-can-listen-to-music-at-any-moment-in-the-day-or-night/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I get labelled as just being about one thing, but there's lots of layers to what I do. It's just lazy journalism, but people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-get-labelled-as-just-being-about-one-thing-but-there-s-lots-of/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [No man should have cowboys boots in his wardrobe. That's fair enough, isn't it? Unless you're a cowboy, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/no-man-should-have-cowboys-boots-in-his-wardrobe-that-s-fair-enough/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [In all honesty, I don't know what one song can change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/in-all-honesty-i-don-t-know-what-one-song-can-change/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I wear jeans and a T-shirt sometimes. I just like clothes - since the first time I can remember, like age ten or eleven;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-wear-jeans-and-a-t-shirt-sometimes-i-just-like-clothes-since-the/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I come from a time when every kid dressed up. Everybody. If you didn't, you wouldn't be able to hang out. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-come-from-a-time-when-every-kid-dressed-up-everybody-if-you-didn-t/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I don't like to get pigeonholed. I don't like it when people think they have you sewn up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-don-t-like-to-get-pigeonholed-i-don-t-like-it-when-people-think/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I don't like the royal family, I don't like the establishment, I don't like the civil service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-don-t-like-the-royal-family-i-don-t-like-the-establishment-i-don-t/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [There have been records I've been really, really pleased with that haven't connected with people. But I felt good about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/there-have-been-records-i-ve-been-really-really-pleased-with-that/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I'm still a mod, I'll always be a mod, you can bury me a mod.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-m-still-a-mod-i-ll-always-be-a-mod-you-can-bury-me-a-mod/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) [Explore all 168 Paul Weller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) ## More Best work quotes > [I do my best work when I am in pain and turmoil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-do-my-best-work-when-i-am-in-pain-and-turmoil/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [The only features I've done have been on the lower-budget end, for what they were. It's really all about getting the best people aboard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-garris/the-only-features-i-ve-done-have-been-on-the-lower-budget-end-for/) [Mick Garris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-garris/) > [The books we enjoy as children stay with us forever -- they have a special impact. Paragraph after paragraph and page after page, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-fleischman/the-books-we-enjoy-as-children-stay-with-us-forever-they-have-a/) [Sid Fleischman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-fleischman/) > [“One's best work comes when we are fully alive, happy, and inspired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schiffer/one-s-best-work-comes-when-we-are-fully-alive-happy-and-inspired/) Eric Schiffer > [To not be modest about it, you'll find that with only a couple of exceptions, most of the musicians that I've worked with have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/to-not-be-modest-about-it-you-ll-find-that-with-only-a-couple-of/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I know some people say it's not the best to work with your family, but I have never understood that because it's always worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/i-know-some-people-say-it-s-not-the-best-to-work-with-your-family-but/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [We enjoy what we do and, for me, playing football is the best work in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-moutinho/we-enjoy-what-we-do-and-for-me-playing-football-is-the-best-work-in/) [Joao Moutinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-moutinho/) > [You and I are stymied in our own creativity. We can only create as sub-creators, and even then our best work is only sub-creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/you-and-i-are-stymied-in-our-own-creativity-we-can-only-create-as-sub/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [There's no way a director can communicate with every single person on the set and yet they need to motivate and instill an ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-kennedy/there-s-no-way-a-director-can-communicate-with-every-single-person-on/) [Kathleen Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-kennedy/) > [Hope for the best and work for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deval-patrick/hope-for-the-best-and-work-for-it/) [Deval Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deval-patrick/) > [All I can do is focus on doing my best work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ryder/all-i-can-do-is-focus-on-doing-my-best-work/) [Sam Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ryder/) > [I was wondering if the best was behind me, had the high point of my career already happened. Then I saw what Manolo had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cox/i-was-wondering-if-the-best-was-behind-me-had-the-high-point-of-my/) [Patrick Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cox/) > [The only thing I can do is wipe my arse, brush my teeth, turn up and do the best work I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/the-only-thing-i-can-do-is-wipe-my-arse-brush-my-teeth-turn-up-and-do/) [Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/) > [The best work for creative folks on the team is when the problem is big and the solution escapes everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sinofsky/the-best-work-for-creative-folks-on-the-team-is-when-the-problem-is/) [Steven Sinofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sinofsky/) > [There should always be that leeway because if you think of your character as sort of absolutely fixed, then you just try and find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-abrahamson/there-should-always-be-that-leeway-because-if-you-think-of-your/) Lenny Abrahamson Browse all 403 Best work quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People say you make your best work when in despair, but I think happiness is a good place to write from", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Weller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when-in-despair-but-i-think/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best work" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when-in-despair-but-i-think/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/paul-weller-2405_best-work_people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when_1125709.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/paul-weller-2405_best-work_people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when_1125709.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/paul-weller-2405_best-work_people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when_1125709.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People say you make your best work when in despair, but I think happiness is a good place to write from” — Paul Weller", "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": "Paul Weller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People say you make your best...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when-in-despair-but-i-think/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/people-say-you-make-your-best-work-when-in-despair-but-i-think/#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 } } ] } ```