--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a great editor and I enjoy, in a…" description: "\"I have a great editor and I enjoy, in a masochistic way, being ruthless about my own performance. How do I know, but I think I'm quite good at saying,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/379/ralph-fiennes-7066_cases_i-have-a-great-editor-and-i-enjoy-in-a-m_1668059.jpg" --- # I have a great editor and I enjoy, in a masochistic way… ![“I have a great editor and I enjoy, in a masochistic way, being ruthless about my own performance. How do I know, but I think I'm quite good at saying, "That's no good. That's no good. That's it. That's it. That's good." And I'm with the editor who goes, "No, I think you're wrong. That's not your…” quote by Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/379/ralph-fiennes-7066_cases_i-have-a-great-editor-and-i-enjoy-in-a-m_1668059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/379/ralph-fiennes-7066_cases_i-have-a-great-editor-and-i-enjoy-in-a-m_1668059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/379/ralph-fiennes-7066_cases_i-have-a-great-editor-and-i-enjoy-in-a-m_1668059.jpg) > “I have a great editor and I enjoy, in a masochistic way, being ruthless about my own performance. How do I know, but I think I'm quite good at saying, "That's no good. That's no good. That's it. That's it. That's good." And I'm with the editor who goes, "No, I think you're wrong. That's not your best." There's an initial point in the editing, if you're directing yourself, especially in my case, where you go, "Ouch, ouch, ouch, I can't watch this." And then, there's a point where you become hard-nosed and just take your neurosis away and go, "What's working? That's okay. That's okay. We can lose that, and lose that." You get objective about it.” [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑editing demands harsh honesty; balancing critique with self‑compassion leads to growth. **In simple terms:** Be brutally honest with yourself, then be kind. Key Takeaway Practice tough self‑review, then nurture improvement. Themes self‑improvement creativity critique mental health Mood determined introspective motivational Type creative psychological When to use this quote - writing drafts - performance reviews - therapy - coaching - creative workshops Key Concepts Psychology artistic process self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate constructive criticism from self‑sabotage? - When is it time to stop editing and act? A Different Perspective Excessive self‑criticism can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Neurosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurosis/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [ Sometimes, I repeat myself, and that was a second elimination \[of Barack Obama\]. 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Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Praise or damn as you please, but do so rather flatly, pragmatically, with cunning attention to annoying or gratifying details. Be yourself. Be unique.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/praise-or-damn-as-you-please-but-do-so-rather-flatly-pragmatically/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [It was trying to make my tennis game look mildly respectable, which I found you don't even really need to practice if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/it-was-trying-to-make-my-tennis-game-look-mildly-respectable-which-i/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [Truth is, every writer has to be a good editor, and you have to edit yourself. 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That's not your best.\" There's an initial point in the editing, if you're directing yourself, especially in my case, where you go, \"Ouch, ouch, ouch, I can't watch this.\" And then, there's a point where you become hard-nosed and just take your neurosis away and go, \"What's working? That's okay. That's okay. 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