---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm constantly struggling with the…"
description: "\"I'm constantly struggling with the futility and even sinfulness, from an antinatalist point of view, of creativity. And that struggle itself seems part..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/quentin-s-crisp-4149_adversity_i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futil_2736574.jpg"
---

#  I'm constantly struggling with the futility and even…

![“I'm constantly struggling with the futility and even sinfulness, from an antinatalist point of view, of creativity. And that struggle itself seems part of the creativity, though I sometimes suspect that it's nothing but a burden and an obstacle.” quote by Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/quentin-s-crisp-4149_adversity_i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futil_2736574.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/quentin-s-crisp-4149_adversity_i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futil_2736574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/quentin-s-crisp-4149_adversity_i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futil_2736574.jpg)

> “I'm constantly struggling with the futility and even sinfulness, from an antinatalist point of view, of creativity. And that struggle itself seems part of the creativity, though I sometimes suspect that it's nothing but a burden and an obstacle.”

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

From an antinatalist view, creative effort feels futile or sinful, yet the struggle itself may be integral to creativity, though it can also seem burdensome.

**In simple terms:** Creativity feels burdensome yet essential from a nihilistic view.

Key Takeaway

Accept struggle as part of creative process.

Themes

existentialism creativity burden meaning philosophy

Mood

conflicted reflective hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- writing
- visual arts
- personal projects
- philosophical inquiry

Key Concepts

antinatalism artistic motivation psychological conflict

Questions to Reflect On

- What gives your creative work purpose?
- How can you reframe struggle as motivation?

A Different Perspective

Viewing creativity as burden may hinder productivity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Futility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/futility/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Sinfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinfulness/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/)

## Related quotes

> [“Creativity without discipline will struggle, creativity with discipline will succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/creativity-without-discipline-will-struggle-creativity-with/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [America desperately needs a moral rebirth. We need to implore God's blessings on our country and ask Him to forgive our sinfulness and restore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-wildmon/america-desperately-needs-a-moral-rebirth-we-need-to-implore-god-s/)

Donald Wildmon

> [A church that is deeply aware of it's misery and nakedness before a holy God will cling tenaciously to an all sufficient Savior, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/a-church-that-is-deeply-aware-of-it-s-misery-and-nakedness-before-a/)

[Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/)

> [“When authorities warn you of the sinfulness of sex, here is an important lesson to be learned. Do not have sex with the authorities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-goening/when-authorities-warn-you-of-the-sinfulness-of-sex-here-is-an/)

Matt Goening

> [All around me insisted that my doubts proved only my own ignorance and sinfulness; that they knew by experience they would soon give place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-monk/all-around-me-insisted-that-my-doubts-proved-only-my-own-ignorance/)

[Maria Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-monk/)

> [How often God takes away our consolations, that we may only love Him for Himself; and reveals our sinfulness, that we may better appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/how-often-god-takes-away-our-consolations-that-we-may-only-love-him/)

[F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/)

> [A Christian is nothing more than a sinner who has found out their sinfulness, and has learned the blessed secret of living by faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/a-christian-is-nothing-more-than-a-sinner-who-has-found-out-their/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [In Jesus, God wills to be true God not only in the height but also in the depth - in the depth of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/in-jesus-god-wills-to-be-true-god-not-only-in-the-height-but-also-in/)

[Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/)

> [This avoidance of the difficult things of Scripture — of sinfulness and hell and God’s notable severity — is idolatrous and cowardly. If a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/this-avoidance-of-the-difficult-things-of-scripture-of-sinfulness-and/)

[Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/)

> [“If we regularly ponder the depth of our own sinfulness, like the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, and consider the greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tautges/if-we-regularly-ponder-the-depth-of-our-own-sinfulness-like-the-woman/)

Paul Tautges

> [You know, we live in a day when we are more afraid of holiness than we are of sinfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/you-know-we-live-in-a-day-when-we-are-more-afraid-of-holiness-than-we/)

[Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/)

> [When authorities warn you of the sinfulness of sex, there is an important lesson to be learned. Do not have sex with the authorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/when-authorities-warn-you-of-the-sinfulness-of-sex-there-is-an/)

[Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/)

> [“Rules are not proof of our spirituality. If anything, they are proof of our sinfulness, a reminder that we have a tendency toward wrongdoing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-smith/rules-are-not-proof-of-our-spirituality-if-anything-they-are-proof-of/)

[Judah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judah-smith/)

> [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

## More by Quentin S. Crisp

> [I have a sense of them being Easter religions, for some reason. Christianity, of course, is a mystery religion, too, and I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-have-a-sense-of-them-being-easter-religions-for-some-reason/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [ If we do want to do that \[ colonise space to survive, \], then vacuous materialism is not going to be enough for us. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/if-we-do-want-to-do-that-colonise-space-to-survive-then-vacuous/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [I seemed to recall some words from an old Zen master, something like, "My Zen cuts down mountains." My rejection of Buddhism was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-seemed-to-recall-some-words-from-an-old-zen-master-something-like/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [ This is the strange thing about existing in time. As \[Philip\] Larkin puts it, "truly, though our element is time, we are not used… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-is-the-strange-thing-about-existing-in-time-as-philip-larkin/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [I've never been baptised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-ve-never-been-baptised/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [It would be hard to say that exactly, but antinatalism is a reality in my life, not just an interesting idea. I can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/it-would-be-hard-to-say-that-exactly-but-antinatalism-is-a-reality-in/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [ \[william\] Burroughs, incidentally, took up the slogan that we are "Here to go", which contradicts the tendency in Eastern mysticism to advocate staying where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/william-burroughs-incidentally-took-up-the-slogan-that-we-are-here-to/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [As children in the seventies we were told about nebulous 'strangers'. By definition, we didn't know who these strangers were, and we didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/as-children-in-the-seventies-we-were-told-about-nebulous-strangers-by/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [This is part of the fundamental character of Buddhism that I find problematic - that it is not interested in anything. Hence the 'Fascination'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-is-part-of-the-fundamental-character-of-buddhism-that-i-find/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [ I also remember a line from a song by Smog \[Bill Callahan\], which seems to describe the experience of a town-dweller moving to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-also-remember-a-line-from-a-song-by-smog-bill-callahan-which-seems/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [This strong sense of who I am that I've always had, since I was very young, is what makes me write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-strong-sense-of-who-i-am-that-i-ve-always-had-since-i-was-very/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [I like the concept of an anti-muse, though I'm not quite sure what that is. If there is such a thing in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-like-the-concept-of-an-anti-muse-though-i-m-not-quite-sure-what/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [ I really think \[William\] Burroughs was onto something here, when he said, "Dreams are a biologic necessity and your lifeline into space." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-really-think-william-burroughs-was-onto-something-here-when-he-said/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [ \[My muse\] is, in fact, a woman of the world, and precisely because of this, hopes that a diversity of cultures will endure, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/my-muse-is-in-fact-a-woman-of-the-world-and-precisely-because-of-this/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

> [I do have a muse. I am not sure how to describe her. She can be very elusive. She was born in England but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-do-have-a-muse-i-am-not-sure-how-to-describe-her-she-can-be-very/)

[Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

[Explore all 115 Quentin S. Crisp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/)

## More Adversity quotes

> [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/)

[Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/)

> [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/)

[Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/)

> [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/)

[George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/)

> [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/)

[Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/)

> [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/)

[Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/)

> [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/)

James Buckham Kennedy

> [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/)

[Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/)

> [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/)

S.E. SEVER

> [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/)

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

[Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm constantly struggling with the futility and even sinfulness, from an antinatalist point of view, of creativity. And that struggle itself seems part of the creativity, though I sometimes suspect that it's nothing but a burden and an obstacle.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Quentin S. Crisp"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futility-and-even-sinfulness-from/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adversity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futility-and-even-sinfulness-from/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/quentin-s-crisp-4149_adversity_i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futil_2736574.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/quentin-s-crisp-4149_adversity_i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futil_2736574.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce4/quentin-s-crisp-4149_adversity_i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futil_2736574.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm constantly struggling with the futility and even sinfulness, from an antinatalist point of view, of…” — Quentin S. Crisp",
                "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 S. Crisp",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm constantly struggling with the futility...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futility-and-even-sinfulness-from/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-m-constantly-struggling-with-the-futility-and-even-sinfulness-from/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
