--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not I; pity the tale of me." description: "\"“I am not I; pity the tale of me.”\" — Philip Sidney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/philip-sidney-2095_pity_i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me-1084701_1084701.png" --- # I am not I; pity the tale of me. ![“I am not I; pity the tale of me.” quote by Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/philip-sidney-2095_pity_i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me-1084701_1084701.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/philip-sidney-2095_pity_i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me-1084701_1084701.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/philip-sidney-2095_pity_i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me-1084701_1084701.png) > ““I am not I; pity the tale of me.”” [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) ## 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 denies his identity and asks for pity for his story. **In simple terms:** Denial of self, seeks empathy. Key Takeaway Embrace authentic self. Themes identity self‑perception empathy Mood introspective poetic Type literary emotional When to use this quote - personal confession - literary analysis - therapy Key Concepts existentialism self‑deconstruction Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself do you hide? - How can vulnerability lead to connection? A Different Perspective Self‑denial may hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) ## Related quotes > [With a tale, forsooth, he cometh unto you; with a tale which holdeth children from play, and old men from the chimney corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/with-a-tale-forsooth-he-cometh-unto-you-with-a-tale-which-holdeth/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [“I didn’t think that fairy tale was the right term. It all seemed like a nightmare with a few blissful chapters inserted into it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keary-taylor/i-didn-t-think-that-fairy-tale-was-the-right-term-it-all-seemed-like/) [Keary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keary-taylor/) > [There are few joys to compare with the telling of a well-told tale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/there-are-few-joys-to-compare-with-the-telling-of-a-well-told-tale/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [If you stretch your imagination, I'll tell you all a tale, about a time when everything wasn't up for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/if-you-stretch-your-imagination-i-ll-tell-you-all-a-tale-about-a-time/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [“My fairy tale has ended.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-warren/my-fairy-tale-has-ended/) [Frank Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-warren/) > [The song "No Fairy Tale" tells my story. Going through the hard things leads to a richer life than just trying to make everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/the-song-no-fairy-tale-tells-my-story-going-through-the-hard-things/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [At every moment of our lives, we all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/at-every-moment-of-our-lives-we-all-have-one-foot-in-a-fairy-tale-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“You are the fairy tale told by your ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/you-are-the-fairy-tale-told-by-your-ancestors/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Each of us has a creation tale - how we came into this world. And I'll add this: each of us has an uncreation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hainey/each-of-us-has-a-creation-tale-how-we-came-into-this-world-and-i-ll/) [Michael Hainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hainey/) > [...a tale of too many cooks in the defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brown/a-tale-of-too-many-cooks-in-the-defence/) [Ian Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-brown/) > [Whether we think of Disney's blonde beauty and her pumpkin carriage or Marissa Meyer's recent recasting of 'Cinderella' as a cyborg in the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-rutkoski/whether-we-think-of-disney-s-blonde-beauty-and-her-pumpkin-carriage/) [Marie Rutkoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-rutkoski/) > [“McIntyre’s tale may have predecessors, but it is unique. I strain for literary comparisons and think: Kipling, the classical Chinese poets, early Patrick O’Brian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-bodio/mcintyre-s-tale-may-have-predecessors-but-it-is-unique-i-strain-for/) Stephen J. Bodio > [For me, movies and television are interesting because they are the dominant storytelling form of our time. My first love will always be fiction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-me-movies-and-television-are-interesting-because-they-are-the/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [I think of mythology as the homeland of the muses, the inspirers of art, the inspirers of poetry. To see life as a poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/i-think-of-mythology-as-the-homeland-of-the-muses-the-inspirers-of/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“My turn now. The story of one of my insanities. For a long time I boasted that I was master of all possible landscapes--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/my-turn-now-the-story-of-one-of-my-insanities-for-a-long-time-i/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) ## More by Philip Sidney > [Laws are not made like lime-twigs or nets, to catch everything that toucheth them; but rather like sea-marks, to guide from shipwreck the ignorant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/laws-are-not-made-like-lime-twigs-or-nets-to-catch-everything-that/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [It is no less vain to wish death than it is cowardly to fear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/it-is-no-less-vain-to-wish-death-than-it-is-cowardly-to-fear-it/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Whatever comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valor, which should be lifted up to such a height that holding all things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/whatever-comes-out-of-despair-cannot-bear-the-title-of-valor-which/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Sweet speaking oft a currish heart reclaims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/sweet-speaking-oft-a-currish-heart-reclaims/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [To be ambitious of true honor and of the real glory and perfection of our nature is the very principle and incentive of virtue;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/to-be-ambitious-of-true-honor-and-of-the-real-glory-and-perfection-of/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [He travels safe and not unpleasantly who is guarded by poverty and guided by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/he-travels-safe-and-not-unpleasantly-who-is-guarded-by-poverty-and/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [There is a certain delicacy which in yielding conquers; and with a pitiful look makes one find cause to crave help one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/there-is-a-certain-delicacy-which-in-yielding-conquers-and-with-a/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [The glory and increase of wisdom stands in exercising it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/the-glory-and-increase-of-wisdom-stands-in-exercising-it/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [O sweet woods, the delight of solitariness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/o-sweet-woods-the-delight-of-solitariness/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [“Stella, the only planet of my light, Light of my life, and life of my desire, Chief good, whereto my hope doth only aspire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/stella-the-only-planet-of-my-light-light-of-my-life-and-life-of-my/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [All is but lip-wisdom which wants experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/all-is-but-lip-wisdom-which-wants-experience/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Confidence in one's self is the chief nurse of magnanimity, which confidence, notwithstanding, doth not leave the care of necessary furniture for it; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/confidence-in-one-s-self-is-the-chief-nurse-of-magnanimity-which/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/those-lovers-scorn-whom-that-love-doth-possess-do-they-call-virtue/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [It depends on education--that holder of the keys which the Almighty hath put into our hands--to open the gates which lead to virtue or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/it-depends-on-education-that-holder-of-the-keys-which-the-almighty/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Vice is but a nurse of agonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/vice-is-but-a-nurse-of-agonies/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) [Explore all 186 Philip Sidney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) ## More Pity quotes > [It's a pity that there's such a negative connotation about paying for sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-sprinkle/it-s-a-pity-that-there-s-such-a-negative-connotation-about-paying-for/) [Annie Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-sprinkle/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [It is a pity that, commonly, more care is had--yea, and that among very wise men--to find out rather a cunning man for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ascham/it-is-a-pity-that-commonly-more-care-is-had-yea-and-that-among-very/) [Roger Ascham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ascham/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“How dare I, Mrs Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/how-dare-i-mrs-reed-how-dare-i-because-it-is-the-truth-you-think-i/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Pity is cruel. Pity destroys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/pity-is-cruel-pity-destroys/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/whoever-will-not-love-his-enemies-cannot-know-the-lord-and-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [Pity the planet, all joy gone from this sweet volcanic cone; peace to our children when they fall in small war on the heel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lowell/pity-the-planet-all-joy-gone-from-this-sweet-volcanic-cone-peace-to/) [Robert Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lowell/) > [Please dont say you dont miss him. Just to pity me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-yap/please-dont-say-you-dont-miss-him-just-to-pity-me/) [William Yap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-yap/) > [It's really a pity that there are observers who view political events like comic strips. There has to be a Zorro, there has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sankara/it-s-really-a-pity-that-there-are-observers-who-view-political-events/) [Thomas Sankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sankara/) > [Do not be proud of your inconsistency. It is a pity, it is a pity that we should be equipped like this. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [The only justice is to follow the sincere intuition of the soul, angry or gentle. Anger is just, and pity is just, but judgement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-justice-is-to-follow-the-sincere-intuition-of-the-soul-angry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not like studying German, where you mull along, in a groping, uncertain way, for thirty years; and at last, just as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-not-like-studying-german-where-you-mull-along-in-a-groping/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Wherever I am, I see the yoke on women in some form or another. On some it sits easy for they are but beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-may-alcott/wherever-i-am-i-see-the-yoke-on-women-in-some-form-or-another-on-some/) [Abby May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-may-alcott/) > [“Self-pity is the worst disability a person can have, Callie. It's crippling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-terrell/self-pity-is-the-worst-disability-a-person-can-have-callie-it-s/) Shelley Terrell [Browse all 2,046 Pity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I am not I; pity the tale of me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Sidney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/philip-sidney-2095_pity_i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me-1084701_1084701.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/philip-sidney-2095_pity_i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me-1084701_1084701.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/philip-sidney-2095_pity_i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me-1084701_1084701.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am not I; pity the tale of me.” — Philip Sidney", "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": "Philip Sidney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I am not I; pity the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/i-am-not-i-pity-the-tale-of-me/#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 } } ] } ```