--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing I'm good at is the sort of thing…" description: "\"“Nothing I'm good at is the sort of thing that matters there.Being smart doesn't matter-and being good with words.And when those things do matter,it's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/rainbow-rowell-135_fangirl_nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing_2207682.jpg" --- # Nothing I'm good at is the sort of thing that matters… ![“Nothing I'm good at is the sort of thing that matters there.Being smart doesn't matter-and being good with words.And when those things do matter,it's only because people want something from me.Not because they want me.” quote by Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/rainbow-rowell-135_fangirl_nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing_2207682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/rainbow-rowell-135_fangirl_nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing_2207682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/rainbow-rowell-135_fangirl_nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing_2207682.jpg) > ““Nothing I'm good at is the sort of thing that matters there.Being smart doesn't matter-and being good with words.And when those things do matter,it's only because people want something from me.Not because they want me.”” [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## 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 feels their skills (intelligence, eloquence) are undervalued, implying personal worth is judged by others’ needs rather than intrinsic ability. **In simple terms:** Skills are ignored unless useful to others. Key Takeaway Seek validation from within, not others. Themes self-worth skill undervaluation perception identity relationships Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal reflection - character development - dialogue Key Concepts personal value social expectations communication self-esteem Questions to Reflect On - Do you value yourself beyond others’ expectations? - How can you assert your worth? A Different Perspective The view may ignore contexts where skills are genuinely relevant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doesn Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-matter-233607/) [Fangirl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fangirl/) [Good words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-words/) [Matter Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-good-307044/) [Rainbow-rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rainbow-rowell/) [Thing Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-matters-302542/) [Things Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-matter-459123/) ## Related quotes > [It’s just … everything. There are too many people. And I don’t fit in. I don’t know how to be. Nothing that I’m good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/it-s-just-everything-there-are-too-many-people-and-i-don-t-fit-in-i-2/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Your face is flushed, did you know that?" "Well," she said. "I'm frustrated." 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"I mean, I spent four months trying to kiss you and the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-mean-levi-leaned-forward-hands-still-fisted-in-his-pockets-i-mean-i/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“What’s wrong with Starbucks?" “It's a big, faceless corporation.” He raised a good-natured brow. “So far, they've let me keep my face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/what-s-wrong-with-starbucks-it-s-a-big-faceless-corporation-he-raised/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“You're beautiful," she said. "That's you." "Don't argue with me. You're beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-re-beautiful-she-said-that-s-you-don-t-argue-with-me-you-re/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“So this is what you look like when you're keeping a giant secret from me - exactly the same as usual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/so-this-is-what-you-look-like-when-you-re-keeping-a-giant-secret-from/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Here we are," he said, pointing down an unshoveled path. "The Gardens." Cath tried to look appreciative. You wouldn't know there was a path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/here-we-are-he-said-pointing-down-an-unshoveled-path-the-gardens-cath/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“What's wrong with Starbucks?" - Levi Stewart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/what-s-wrong-with-starbucks-levi-stewart/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“The problem with playing hide-and-seek with your sister is that sometimes she gets bored and stops looking for you. And there you are -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/the-problem-with-playing-hide-and-seek-with-your-sister-is-that-2/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Are you okay?" she heard someone - Levi? - ask "Hey... are you crying?" Cath ran her fingers along the cover, over the raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-okay-she-heard-someone-levi-ask-hey-are-you-crying-cath-ran/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“I don't live to amuse you, you know." "One, are you sure? Because you do. And two, we don't make fun of you. Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-don-t-live-to-amuse-you-you-know-one-are-you-sure-because-you-do/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“If Levi were a dog, he'd be a golden retriever. If he were a game, he'd be a Ping-Pong, incessant and bouncing and light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/if-levi-were-a-dog-he-d-be-a-golden-retriever-if-he-were-a-game-he-d/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“He reached his fingers back and hooked them inside the cuff of her sweater. "But you still want to give me a chance, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-reached-his-fingers-back-and-hooked-them-inside-the-cuff-of-her/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“It's just... everything. There are too many people. And I don't fit in. I don't know how to be. Nothing that I'm good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/it-s-just-everything-there-are-too-many-people-and-i-don-t-fit-in-i-3/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## More by Rainbow Rowell > [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/reagan-was-sitting-up-at-cath-s-desk-when-cath-woke-up-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Are you awake?” “Have you been watching me sleep?” “Yes, Bella. Are you awake?” “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-awake-have-you-been-watching-me-sleep-yes-bella-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Someone was knocking on her windshield. Georgie lifted her head off the steering wheel. It was Kendrick. She couldn’t really hear what he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/someone-was-knocking-on-her-windshield-georgie-lifted-her-head-off/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Maybe Park had paralyzed her with his ninja magic, his Vulcan handhold, and now he was going to eat her. That would be awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/maybe-park-had-paralyzed-her-with-his-ninja-magic-his-vulcan-handhold/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“She wouldn't pick up a fight him just because she was bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-wouldn-t-pick-up-a-fight-him-just-because-she-was-bored/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“That person thought that wearing an ugly dress on the happiest day of someone else's life was just the beginning-the line you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/that-person-thought-that-wearing-an-ugly-dress-on-the-happiest-day-of/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Is this where you tell me that I'm a scoundrel, and I say that I think you like me because I'm a scoundrel? Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/is-this-where-you-tell-me-that-i-m-a-scoundrel-and-i-say-that-i-think/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Te informo de que mi respuesta a tus próximas doce afirmaciones va a ser: «¿Cómo dices?»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/te-informo-de-que-mi-respuesta-a-tus-pr-ximas-doce-afirmaciones-va-a/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Dude. Let it go. Good riddance to bad rubbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/dude-let-it-go-good-riddance-to-bad-rubbers/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [He looked exactly like a rat. Like the human being version of a rat. Like the villain in a Don Bluth movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-looked-exactly-like-a-rat-like-the-human-being-version-of-a-rat/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Tell me more about the mountains, Georgie said, because she wasn't really sure what to ask. Because ' tell me where I went wrong'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/tell-me-more-about-the-mountains-georgie-said-because-she-wasn-t/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/god-his-chin-she-wanted-to-make-an-honest-woman-of-his-chin-she/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Wait, I really do need your help with this." He turned his computer monitor toward her and pointed. "Is this funny? It's a Snoopy/Snoop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/wait-i-really-do-need-your-help-with-this-he-turned-his-computer/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“You need to cool down first.” “I’m cool.” “Simon. You’re never cool.” “That hurts, Penny.” “It shouldn’t. It’s one of the reasons I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-need-to-cool-down-first-i-m-cool-simon-you-re-never-cool-that/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“She'd get out of the shower the next morning, and it would be written in the steam on the mirror. Dance. Dress. Try a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-d-get-out-of-the-shower-the-next-morning-and-it-would-be-written/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) [Explore all 1,108 Rainbow Rowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## More Fangirl quotes > [“Sylvia Plath is there for me when actual living people upon who I have depended upon my whole life, are not. What I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlaina-tibensky/sylvia-plath-is-there-for-me-when-actual-living-people-upon-who-i/) [Arlaina Tibensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlaina-tibensky/) > [“In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones nobody bothers to explain to you. (And the ones you can’t google.) Like, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/in-new-situations-all-the-trickiest-rules-are-the-ones-nobody-bothers/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [How boring I am ? Searching up ur profile like the hell u gonna know me ! Oh sh\*\* ! U, jerk won't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saodevvi/how-boring-i-am-searching-up-ur-profile-like-the-hell-u-gonna-know-me/) [Saodevvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saodevvi/) > [Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/happily-ever-after-or-even-just-together-ever-after-is-not-cheesy/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [My favorite thing is to re-watch ur profile.. OPPA ? How could it feel if someone care about me as much as I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saodevi/my-favorite-thing-is-to-re-watch-ur-profile-oppa-how-could-it-feel-if/) [Saodevi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saodevi/) > [“Nothing can break me unless I let it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nothing-can-break-me-unless-i-let-it/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“I'm going to get him to sign my boobs. With his tongue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-coleman/i-m-going-to-get-him-to-sign-my-boobs-with-his-tongue/) [Rowan Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-coleman/) > [“Your face is flushed, did you know that?" "Well," she said. "I'm frustrated." "Don't make me angry-kiss you." "Give me the laundry." "Tempers rising,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/your-face-is-flushed-did-you-know-that-well-she-said-i-m-frustrated/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“When she opened her door, Levi was sitting in the hallway, his legs bent in front of him, hunched forward on his knees. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/when-she-opened-her-door-levi-was-sitting-in-the-hallway-his-legs/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Why were people always going on and on about the heart? Almost everything Levi happened in Cath's stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/why-were-people-always-going-on-and-on-about-the-heart-almost/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“You know that I'm falling in love with you, right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-rainbow-rowell/you-know-that-i-m-falling-in-love-with-you-right/) [Levi Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-rainbow-rowell/) > [“Don't waste my time with sorries, Simon. If we stop to apologize and forgive each other every time we step on each other's toes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/don-t-waste-my-time-with-sorries-simon-if-we-stop-to-apologize-and/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“It was a good weekend. Five thousand words of Carry On. Fish tacos with radish and shredded cabbage. Only two more conversations about Wren.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/it-was-a-good-weekend-five-thousand-words-of-carry-on-fish-tacos-with/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I will admit, I once launched myself at Julie Garwood for a hug, hoping some of her magic would rub off on me... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-will-admit-i-once-launched-myself-at-julie-garwood-for-a-hug-hoping/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“If Levi were a dog, he'd be a golden retriever. If he were a game, he'd be a Ping-Pong, incessant and bouncing and light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/if-levi-were-a-dog-he-d-be-a-golden-retriever-if-he-were-a-game-he-d/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) [Browse all 72 Fangirl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fangirl/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nothing I'm good at is the sort of thing that matters there.Being smart doesn't matter-and being good with words.And when those things do matter,it's only because people want something from me.Not because they want me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rainbow Rowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing-that-matters-there-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fangirl" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing-that-matters-there-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/rainbow-rowell-135_fangirl_nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing_2207682.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/rainbow-rowell-135_fangirl_nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing_2207682.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/rainbow-rowell-135_fangirl_nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing_2207682.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing I'm good at is the sort of thing that matters there.Being smart doesn't matter-and being good with…” — Rainbow Rowell", "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": "Rainbow Rowell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Nothing I'm good at is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing-that-matters-there-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nothing-i-m-good-at-is-the-sort-of-thing-that-matters-there-being/#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 } } ] } ```