---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think about what you do, if you…"
description: "\"If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to write without self-aware..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/peter-morgan-3663_careful_if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-be_5410.jpg"
---

#  If you think about what you do, if you become…

![“If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to write without self-awareness of what I'm doing.” quote by Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/peter-morgan-3663_careful_if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-be_5410.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/peter-morgan-3663_careful_if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-be_5410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/peter-morgan-3663_careful_if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-be_5410.jpg)

> “If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to write without self-awareness of what I'm doing.”

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

## 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 warns that self‑monitoring can stifle authentic creation, advocating for a flow state where actions are unexamined.

**In simple terms:** Self‑consciousness hinders natural writing.

Key Takeaway

Avoid over‑analysis to preserve creativity.

Themes

creativity self‑awareness flow authenticity mental blocks

Mood

introspective cautious determined

Type

advice observation reflection

When to use this quote

- writing sessions
- brainstorming
- artistic performance
- solo practice

Key Concepts

mindfulness creative process self‑criticism

Practical Applications

- creative writing
- improvisational art

Questions to Reflect On

- How does self‑observation affect your output?
- What practices help you stay in the flow?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Self -awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness/) [Self Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness-3/) [Self conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-conscious/)

## Related quotes

> [We have self-centered minds which get us into plenty of trouble. If we do not come to understand the error in the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joko-beck/we-have-self-centered-minds-which-get-us-into-plenty-of-trouble-if-we/)

[Joko Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joko-beck/)

> [I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/i-think-self-awareness-is-probably-the-most-important-thing-towards/)

[Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/)

> [“I promise to be careful." "Really careful," she insisted. He found the hard edges of his mouth turning up. "Really really careful," he clarified.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/i-promise-to-be-careful-really-careful-she-insisted-he-found-the-hard/)

[Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/)

> [“All right, Kit. But you have to be careful. (Billy) I’ll be careful. Just you watch. I’ll be as careful as…as…as something that’s really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinley-macgregor/all-right-kit-but-you-have-to-be-careful-billy-i-ll-be-careful-just/)

[Kinley MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinley-macgregor/)

> [“To be careful really means to be wise - to choose to do now what you will be happy with later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/to-be-careful-really-means-to-be-wise-to-choose-to-do-now-what-you/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [I think most of us become self-critical as soon as we become self-conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/i-think-most-of-us-become-self-critical-as-soon-as-we-become-self/)

[Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/)

> [“ Self-Consciousness In addition to the divisions of specific and generalized social anxiety, experts also identify two types of self-consciousness: public self-consciousness and private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-moehn/self-consciousness-in-addition-to-the-divisions-of-specific-and/)

[Heather Moehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-moehn/)

> [I am a driven writer. I feel guilty if I don't write, not self-indulgent if I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/i-am-a-driven-writer-i-feel-guilty-if-i-don-t-write-not-self/)

[Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/)

> [I try to tell student writers to read as much as possible, not only literature but philosophy, theory, and to form obsessions. There's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-zambreno/i-try-to-tell-student-writers-to-read-as-much-as-possible-not-only/)

[Kate Zambreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-zambreno/)

> [I like writing, but I write for self-improvement more than I do for money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/i-like-writing-but-i-write-for-self-improvement-more-than-i-do-for/)

[Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/)

> [“better? But what would become of me if I didn’t write what I can, however inferior it may be to what I am? In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/better-but-what-would-become-of-me-if-i-didn-t-write-what-i-can/)

[Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/)

> [Woman must write her self: must write about women and bring women to writing, from which they have been driven away as violently as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-ne-cixous/woman-must-write-her-self-must-write-about-women-and-bring-women-to/)

[Helene Cixous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-ne-cixous/)

> [As publishing has become less expensive, the urge to write my own self has become the opportunity to publish my own self. Everyone now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-zaid/as-publishing-has-become-less-expensive-the-urge-to-write-my-own-self/)

[Gabriel Zaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-zaid/)

> [“Write from truth, write from self. Writing theory or conceptual writing may be A way to create new forms or styles but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-m-engelhardt/write-from-truth-write-from-self-writing-theory-or-conceptual-writing/)

[R.M. Engelhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-m-engelhardt/)

> [Even if other write up don't write your self off, but only believe in yourself emptiness is no mans island so you can decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkemjika-linus/even-if-other-write-up-don-t-write-your-self-off-but-only-believe-in/)

[Nkemjika Linus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkemjika-linus/)

## More by Peter Morgan

> [“Jim Reston: Walking through the crowds of air-kissing politicians, actors and high fliers, it was tough to tell where the politics stopped and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/jim-reston-walking-through-the-crowds-of-air-kissing-politicians/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I'm not being presumptuous, I hope, when I say that 'The Crown' is little bit like 'The Godfather.' It is essentially about a family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-being-presumptuous-i-hope-when-i-say-that-the-crown-is-little/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I can't imagine anyone thinking, 'Oh good, it's awards season!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-can-t-imagine-anyone-thinking-oh-good-it-s-awards-season/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [Having a phone call from Steven Spielberg was just a fantastic rite of passage. I loved it, and he was very focused, very likable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/having-a-phone-call-from-steven-spielberg-was-just-a-fantastic-rite/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I don't think of the crown as this glamorous thing. It's this murderous, bejeweled thing, the crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-don-t-think-of-the-crown-as-this-glamorous-thing-it-s-this/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [The stuff that I have perhaps become known for that's based on fact, and English statesmen shouting at each other all the time, doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/the-stuff-that-i-have-perhaps-become-known-for-that-s-based-on-fact/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I have no directing ambition whatsoever. And as long as I meet filmmakers like Tom Hooper, Stephen Frears, and others who allow that collaboration,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-have-no-directing-ambition-whatsoever-and-as-long-as-i-meet/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [No family is complete without an embarrassing uncle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/no-family-is-complete-without-an-embarrassing-uncle/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [In some shape or form, we do have an emotional connection to our head of state, even if, for the most part, they seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/in-some-shape-or-form-we-do-have-an-emotional-connection-to-our-head/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [My experience is, I do a table reading, and it's literally like it's written in colossal neon lights what's wrong with the screenplay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/my-experience-is-i-do-a-table-reading-and-it-s-literally-like-it-s/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I make a point of not reading reviews because of the old adage, if you read the good ones then you have to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-make-a-point-of-not-reading-reviews-because-of-the-old-adage-if-you/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I am drawn to characters so full of internal contradictions. Idi Amin was one. I loved writing him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-am-drawn-to-characters-so-full-of-internal-contradictions-idi-amin/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [As historians write more and more histories, it's a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy that other historians read their histories and then make synthesis, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/as-historians-write-more-and-more-histories-it-s-a-sort-of-self/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [The real beauty in my professional experience has been friendships and collaborations with filmmakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/the-real-beauty-in-my-professional-experience-has-been-friendships/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

[Explore all 125 Peter Morgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

## More Careful quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/)

Davan Yahya Khalil

> [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/)

[Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/)

> [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/)

[Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/)

> [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/)

[Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/)

> [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/)

W Clement Stone

> [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/)

[Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/)

[Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/)

> [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/)

[Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/)

> [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/)

[L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/)

> [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/)

[Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/)

Browse all 2,861 Careful quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to write without self-awareness of what I'm doing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Peter Morgan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Careful"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/peter-morgan-3663_careful_if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-be_5410.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/peter-morgan-3663_careful_if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-be_5410.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/peter-morgan-3663_careful_if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-be_5410.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful…” — Peter Morgan",
                "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": "Peter Morgan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you think about what you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
