--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never quite worked out how to do…" description: "\"I've never quite worked out how to do holidays. I've got a house in France which I suppose is a kind of holiday house. But it's really only so I can go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/quentin-blake-19327_artist_i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-ho_2485353.jpg" --- # I've never quite worked out how to do holidays. I've got a… ![“I've never quite worked out how to do holidays. I've got a house in France which I suppose is a kind of holiday house. But it's really only so I can go on drawing when I get there. I'm never far away from the feeling that I want to be getting on with something.” quote by Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/quentin-blake-19327_artist_i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-ho_2485353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/quentin-blake-19327_artist_i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-ho_2485353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/quentin-blake-19327_artist_i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-ho_2485353.jpg) > “I've never quite worked out how to do holidays. I've got a house in France which I suppose is a kind of holiday house. But it's really only so I can go on drawing when I get there. I'm never far away from the feeling that I want to be getting on with something.” [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) ## 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 struggles to define holidays, treating a French house as a work‑in‑progress space rather than leisure. **In simple terms:** Holidays feel like work when you can’t fully relax. Key Takeaway Create clear boundaries between work and leisure. Themes leisure creativity restlessness Mood thoughtful conflicted Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - vacation planning - artist retreats - mindful breaks - time management Key Concepts work‑life balance creative block Questions to Reflect On - What prevents you from fully relaxing? - How can you separate work from leisure? A Different Perspective The inability to “switch off” can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiday/) [Holidays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holidays/) ## Related quotes > [I always worked on holidays when I had to wait tables and stuff like that, so I'm used to it, but now I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-redd/i-always-worked-on-holidays-when-i-had-to-wait-tables-and-stuff-like/) [Chris Redd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-redd/) > [I was a heart surgeon before I came to Congress, and I've worked many holidays on behalf of my patients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bucshon/i-was-a-heart-surgeon-before-i-came-to-congress-and-i-ve-worked-many/) Larry Bucshon > [I'd done a drawing of the model using only peripheral vision, looking at a spot on the wall to the right of where she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blegvad/i-d-done-a-drawing-of-the-model-using-only-peripheral-vision-looking/) [Peter Blegvad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blegvad/) > [I am not a big technology person. I don't go on the Internet really much at all. Drawing is like a zen thing; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/i-am-not-a-big-technology-person-i-don-t-go-on-the-internet-really/) [Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/) > [I've always saved. I believe in keeping money back for a rainy day and living within my means. I don't buy expensive clothes; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeev-bhaskar/i-ve-always-saved-i-believe-in-keeping-money-back-for-a-rainy-day-and/) [Sanjeev Bhaskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeev-bhaskar/) > [I suppose illustration tends to live in the streets, rather than in the hermetically sealed atmosphere of the museum, and consequently it has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-suppose-illustration-tends-to-live-in-the-streets-rather-than-in/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [“There are moments when I wish I could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but I have the feeling that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-are-moments-when-i-wish-i-could-roll-back-the-clock-and-take/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Everything you say your taking my soul away. I'm feeling down again. All I want is for you to love that even means my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/everything-you-say-your-taking-my-soul-away-i-m-feeling-down-again/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [At the end of the day, walk away feeling proud of what you have achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maneet-chauhan/at-the-end-of-the-day-walk-away-feeling-proud-of-what-you-have/) [Maneet Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maneet-chauhan/) > [Look into my eyes I want to tell you Ill never let you down And Ill never go away And if your ever feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rayy/look-into-my-eyes-i-want-to-tell-you-ill-never-let-you-down-and-ill/) Rayy > [Good theater should always send people away feeling changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/good-theater-should-always-send-people-away-feeling-changed/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [ “The best kind of friend is the one you could sit with,hardly saying a word, and then walk away feeling like that was\[the\]best time… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-detweiler/the-best-kind-of-friend-is-the-one-you-could-sit-with-hardly-saying-a/) Molly Detweiler > [“I walked away, feeling his eyes on me and I felt… connected somehow. As if I just met the missing piece of the puzzle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morris/i-walked-away-feeling-his-eyes-on-me-and-i-felt-connected-somehow-as/) [James Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morris/) > [Young people are moving away from feeling guilty about sleeping with somebody to feeling guilty if they are \*not\* sleeping with someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/young-people-are-moving-away-from-feeling-guilty-about-sleeping-with/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [There are moments when i wish i could roll back the clock and take all the sadness away, but i have a feeling that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-are-moments-when-i-wish-i-could-roll-back-the-clock-and-take-2/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## More by Quentin Blake > [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [Sometimes I think people get into trouble because they can't say what they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/sometimes-i-think-people-get-into-trouble-because-they-can-t-say-what/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [“I thought that if I couldn’t make a living as an artist, at least I shouldn’t starve. By the time I had finished these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-thought-that-if-i-couldn-t-make-a-living-as-an-artist-at-least-i/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [I draw every day - unless I'm being interviewed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-draw-every-day-unless-i-m-being-interviewed/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [I think it is important for children to read different things to find out about their emotions and other people's emotions. It is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-think-it-is-important-for-children-to-read-different-things-to-find/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [Sometimes people think drawing and painting is mucking about when actually it is a highly skilled activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/sometimes-people-think-drawing-and-painting-is-mucking-about-when/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [You see, I don't draw from life at all, but I do look out of my window a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/you-see-i-don-t-draw-from-life-at-all-but-i-do-look-out-of-my-window/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [I suppose illustration tends to live in the streets, rather than in the hermetically sealed atmosphere of the museum, and consequently it has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-suppose-illustration-tends-to-live-in-the-streets-rather-than-in/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [I have an assistant who's very good at email, so I don't struggle with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-have-an-assistant-who-s-very-good-at-email-so-i-don-t-struggle-with/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [I don't wait for inspiration. I'm not, in fact, quite sure what inspiration is, but I'm sure that if it is going to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-don-t-wait-for-inspiration-i-m-not-in-fact-quite-sure-what/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [Inspiration is some mysterious blessing which happens when the wheels are turning smoothly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/inspiration-is-some-mysterious-blessing-which-happens-when-the-wheels/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [Being positive may be a character defect of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/being-positive-may-be-a-character-defect-of-mine/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [It was an accident of circumstance that I never married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/it-was-an-accident-of-circumstance-that-i-never-married/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [Going to hospital is rather like going to an alien planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/going-to-hospital-is-rather-like-going-to-an-alien-planet/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [Guinea pigs are quite difficult to draw, I think, because they're so furry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/guinea-pigs-are-quite-difficult-to-draw-i-think-because-they-re-so/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) [Explore all 33 Quentin Blake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) ## More Artist 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/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never quite worked out how to do holidays. I've got a house in France which I suppose is a kind of holiday house. But it's really only so I can go on drawing when I get there. I'm never far away from the feeling that I want to be getting on with something.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Quentin Blake" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-holidays-i-ve-got-a-house-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-holidays-i-ve-got-a-house-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/quentin-blake-19327_artist_i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-ho_2485353.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/quentin-blake-19327_artist_i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-ho_2485353.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/quentin-blake-19327_artist_i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-ho_2485353.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've never quite worked out how to do holidays. I've got a house in France which I suppose is a kind of…” — Quentin Blake", "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": "Quentin Blake", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've never quite worked out how...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-holidays-i-ve-got-a-house-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-ve-never-quite-worked-out-how-to-do-holidays-i-ve-got-a-house-in/#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 } } ] } ```