--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am dissatisfied with everything I have…" description: "\"I am dissatisfied with everything I have ever written and regard it all only as a preparation for that one work which probably I don't have it in me to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_dissatisfied_i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have_1339156.jpg" --- # I am dissatisfied with everything I have ever written and… ![“I am dissatisfied with everything I have ever written and regard it all only as a preparation for that one work which probably I don't have it in me to write but which I hope I can go on trying for.” quote by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_dissatisfied_i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have_1339156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_dissatisfied_i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have_1339156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_dissatisfied_i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have_1339156.jpg) > “I am dissatisfied with everything I have ever written and regard it all only as a preparation for that one work which probably I don't have it in me to write but which I hope I can go on trying for.” [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She feels all her past writing is merely preparation for a possibly unattainable masterpiece she hopes to keep pursuing. **In simple terms:** Past work is preparation for a hoped‑for masterpiece. Key Takeaway Keep striving for the ultimate work. Themes creativity self‑critique perseverance Mood thoughtful determined Type reflection motivation When to use this quote - writing process - creative blocks - long‑term goals Key Concepts literary ambition artistic growth Questions to Reflect On - What is your ultimate creative goal? - How do you handle self‑doubt? A Different Perspective Perfectionism may stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dissatisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissatisfied/) [Dissatisfied Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissatisfied-written-4517966/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-hope-1260926/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Written Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-regard-4517967/) ## Related quotes > [When you write about hope, don't make it sappy; make it cool, make it adaptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/when-you-write-about-hope-don-t-make-it-sappy-make-it-cool-make-it/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [“And so instead, when you write, I hope you fall in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-ys-perez/and-so-instead-when-you-write-i-hope-you-fall-in-love/) [R. YS Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-ys-perez/) > [“I write to express myself, I write to be a voice for those who can not speak I write to inspire change in positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-tareyton/i-write-to-express-myself-i-write-to-be-a-voice-for-those-who-can-not/) [Criss Tareyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-tareyton/) > [“I can’t and won’t write without hope. I’d rather never write again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-can-t-and-won-t-write-without-hope-i-d-rather-never-write-again/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I took William Zinsser's advice that you write to yourself and you hope that there are people out there who are like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-took-william-zinsser-s-advice-that-you-write-to-yourself-and-you/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I know the world is filled with troubles and many injustices. But reality is as beautiful as it is ugly. I think it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/i-know-the-world-is-filled-with-troubles-and-many-injustices-but/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [“At night you write out of guilt, but in the morning you write out of hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakin/at-night-you-write-out-of-guilt-but-in-the-morning-you-write-out-of/) [Roger Deakin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakin/) > [“I write because I hope.I write because I have faith. Hope.Hope alike a fresh flower grows in the sand of my heart . Faith.Faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katerina-kostaki/i-write-because-i-hope-i-write-because-i-have-faith-hope-hope-alike-a/) [Katerina Kostaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katerina-kostaki/) > [Write me of hope and love, and hearts that endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/write-me-of-hope-and-love-and-hearts-that-endured/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [You must write for yourself, above all. That is your only hope of creating something beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/you-must-write-for-yourself-above-all-that-is-your-only-hope-of/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“ I do write. I hope I do, to do and to always do. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-an-elo/i-do-write-i-hope-i-do-to-do-and-to-always-do/) [Bela Anĝelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-an-elo/) > [I do want to write again. I hope to. But it's also important for me to realize, as I get older, that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/i-do-want-to-write-again-i-hope-to-but-it-s-also-important-for-me-to/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [Nothing you write, if you hope to be good, will ever come out as you first hoped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good-will-ever-come-out-as-you/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As a reformer the liberal is dissatisfied with things as they are because they violate his exceptionally tender conscience… Liberalism does not advocate change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-barton-perry/as-a-reformer-the-liberal-is-dissatisfied-with-things-as-they-are/) [Ralph Barton Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-barton-perry/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) ## More by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala > [I only really woke up in India. It was my first experience of plenty, strangely enough, because everything in England was rationed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-only-really-woke-up-in-india-it-was-my-first-experience-of-plenty/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [Film is not like a book; it's not a writer's baby at all. So many people have put in their talent, by that time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/film-is-not-like-a-book-it-s-not-a-writer-s-baby-at-all-so-many/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [It's technically extremely difficult to get down what you really mean, not what you think you mean, or what you think sounds good, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/it-s-technically-extremely-difficult-to-get-down-what-you-really-mean/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [The misfortune to be born when I was, where I was. That was a piece of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/the-misfortune-to-be-born-when-i-was-where-i-was-that-was-a-piece-of/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I always find the first thing that really bothers me when I start a screenplay is, I have to find a different form. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-always-find-the-first-thing-that-really-bothers-me-when-i-start-a/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I never really had any close friends in India, and I felt a terrible loneliness and isolation for many years. Westernized Indians don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-never-really-had-any-close-friends-in-india-and-i-felt-a-terrible/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [First, I was so dazzled and besotted by India. People said the poverty was biblical, and I'm afraid that was my attitude, too. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/first-i-was-so-dazzled-and-besotted-by-india-people-said-the-poverty/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [Perhaps I'm just fickle by nature and get tired of countries the way other women do of husbands or lovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/perhaps-i-m-just-fickle-by-nature-and-get-tired-of-countries-the-way/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [All my early books are written as if I were Indian. In England, I had started writing as if I were English; now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/all-my-early-books-are-written-as-if-i-were-indian-in-england-i-had/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I'm not interested in who am I. I'm interested in what's gone, the disinheritance, what I've been able to become or learn or fuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-m-not-interested-in-who-am-i-i-m-interested-in-what-s-gone-the/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [Westernized Indians don't like my books and I tend not to like westernized Indians - so we're quits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/westernized-indians-don-t-like-my-books-and-i-tend-not-to-like/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [I like characters who are larger-than-life, whether life-loving women or the artist or guru who grabs everything. But I don't live among people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-like-characters-who-are-larger-than-life-whether-life-loving-women/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [The older books were quite light-hearted. But I think most of my novels do end on a deep note of pessimism. Shadows seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/the-older-books-were-quite-light-hearted-but-i-think-most-of-my/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [India was a sensation. It was remarkable to see all those parrots flying about, the brilliant foliage and the brilliant sky. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/india-was-a-sensation-it-was-remarkable-to-see-all-those-parrots/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [Everyone is so estranged; no one is rooted. That's what I like to write about more than anything else. Everything being so mixed up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/everyone-is-so-estranged-no-one-is-rooted-that-s-what-i-like-to-write/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) [Explore all 25 Ruth Prawer Jhabvala quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) ## More Dissatisfied quotes > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [Research is an organized method of trying to find out what you are going to do after you cannot do what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/research-is-an-organized-method-of-trying-to-find-out-what-you-are/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [It is no easy task to walk this earth and find peace. Inside of us, it would seem, something is at odds with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-rolheiser/it-is-no-easy-task-to-walk-this-earth-and-find-peace-inside-of-us-it/) [Ronald Rolheiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-rolheiser/) > [Many of the factors that we think will cause motivation, such as fair pay and a good manager, won't make you love your job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/many-of-the-factors-that-we-think-will-cause-motivation-such-as-fair/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [God will cleanse your sins if you yourself are dissatisfied with yourself and will keep on changing until you are perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/god-will-cleanse-your-sins-if-you-yourself-are-dissatisfied-with/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The inspiration to write? Perhaps it's not so much inspiration, as a NEED to write. I get itchy and guilty and dissatisfied when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-brown/the-inspiration-to-write-perhaps-it-s-not-so-much-inspiration-as-a/) [Eric Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-brown/) > [I feel like I'm moving from a world where I was creating fantasies that weren't real inside - and very often feeling really dissatisfied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-moving-from-a-world-where-i-was-creating-fantasies/) [Damien Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-rice/) > [As a reformer the liberal is dissatisfied with things as they are because they violate his exceptionally tender conscience… Liberalism does not advocate change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-barton-perry/as-a-reformer-the-liberal-is-dissatisfied-with-things-as-they-are/) [Ralph Barton Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-barton-perry/) > [Jacob wrote that the true poet 'is like a man who is happy anywhere, in endless measure, if he is allowed to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jacob-wrote-that-the-true-poet-is-like-a-man-who-is-happy-anywhere-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're dissatisfied anywhere, New York is the place to be. If you're unhappy at college in Topeka, I don't know what there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-mckay/if-you-re-dissatisfied-anywhere-new-york-is-the-place-to-be-if-you-re/) [Nellie McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-mckay/) > [Well I DO want to go up into space, but more than that, I'm dissatisfied with the fact that humans have only gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takafumi-horie/well-i-do-want-to-go-up-into-space-but-more-than-that-i-m/) [Takafumi Horie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takafumi-horie/) > [A willing, cheerful worker, with his heart in his job, will turn out more work and more satisfactory work in 44 hours than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/a-willing-cheerful-worker-with-his-heart-in-his-job-will-turn-out/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [A regular council was held with the Indians, who had come in on their ponies, and speeches were made on both sides through an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-regular-council-was-held-with-the-indians-who-had-come-in-on-their/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am a strong believer in the ability of human beings to change for the better. I am a strong believer in trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/i-am-a-strong-believer-in-the-ability-of-human-beings-to-change-for/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) [Browse all 217 Dissatisfied quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissatisfied/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am dissatisfied with everything I have ever written and regard it all only as a preparation for that one work which probably I don't have it in me to write but which I hope I can go on trying for.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ruth Prawer Jhabvala" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have-ever-written-and-regard-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dissatisfied" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have-ever-written-and-regard-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_dissatisfied_i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have_1339156.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_dissatisfied_i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have_1339156.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9d/ruth-prawer-jhabvala-23900_dissatisfied_i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have_1339156.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am dissatisfied with everything I have ever written and regard it all only as a preparation for that one…” — Ruth Prawer Jhabvala", "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": "Ruth Prawer Jhabvala", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am dissatisfied with everything I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have-ever-written-and-regard-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have-ever-written-and-regard-it/#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 } } ] } ```