--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never even tried. Because I let the…" description: "\"“I never even tried. Because I let the world teach me to hate myself. I was a coward who needed someone else to tell me I was worth something before I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/tahereh-mafi-229_coward_i-never-even-tried-because-i-let-the-wor_1661127.png" --- # I never even tried. Because I let the world teach me to… ![“I never even tried. Because I let the world teach me to hate myself. I was a coward who needed someone else to tell me I was worth something before I took any steps to save myself.” quote by Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/tahereh-mafi-229_coward_i-never-even-tried-because-i-let-the-wor_1661127.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/tahereh-mafi-229_coward_i-never-even-tried-because-i-let-the-wor_1661127.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/tahereh-mafi-229_coward_i-never-even-tried-because-i-let-the-wor_1661127.png) > ““I never even tried. Because I let the world teach me to hate myself. I was a coward who needed someone else to tell me I was worth something before I took any steps to save myself.”” [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑worth is often sought externally; without inner confidence, one may remain stagnant. **In simple terms:** Self‑worth needs inner confidence. Key Takeaway Build internal belief before seeking validation. Themes self‑esteem growth inner conflict Mood introspective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Therapy - personal development - career advancement - relationships Key Concepts Self‑acceptance external validation Questions to Reflect On - What internal steps can foster self‑worth? - How does external praise affect personal growth? A Different Perspective External validation can become a crutch. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ignite-me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignite-me/) [Juliette-ferrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juliette-ferrars/) [Tahereh-mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tahereh-mafi/) ## Related quotes > [“For so many years I thought my life was difficult; I thought I understood what it meant to suffer. But this. This is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/for-so-many-years-i-thought-my-life-was-difficult-i-thought-i/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Stop. Stop time. Stop the world. Stop everything for the moment he crosses the room and pulls me into his arms and pins me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/stop-stop-time-stop-the-world-stop-everything-for-the-moment-he/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I lived in a really dark place. I wasn't safe in my own mind. I woke up every morning hoping to die and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-lived-in-a-really-dark-place-i-wasn-t-safe-in-my-own-mind-i-woke-up/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He and I would end up like water going nowhere. Water that never moves-- It's fine for a little while. You can drink from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-and-i-would-end-up-like-water-going-nowhere-water-that-never-moves/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Revenge I think Has never looked so sweet”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/revenge-i-think-has-never-looked-so-sweet/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“If you hide your heart, he will never be able to take it from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/if-you-hide-your-heart-he-will-never-be-able-to-take-it-from-you/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I sigh. "I don't know what's happening to me." "They're called hormones." I shoot him a dirty look. "I'm serious." "Me too." He cocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-sigh-i-don-t-know-what-s-happening-to-me-they-re-called-hormones-i/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“So, let me get this straight," Winston says. "Our plan is basically seduce the soldiers and civilians of Sector 45 into fighting with us?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/so-let-me-get-this-straight-winston-says-our-plan-is-basically-seduce/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“You allow the world to think you're a heartless murderer," I tell him. "And you're not." He laughs, once; his eyebrows lifting in surprise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/you-allow-the-world-to-think-you-re-a-heartless-murderer-i-tell-him/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“We've been shattered and reconstructed, told to make an effort every single day to pretend we still function the way we're supposed to. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/we-ve-been-shattered-and-reconstructed-told-to-make-an-effort-every/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I would rather be dead, than go back to being silent and suffocated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-would-rather-be-dead-than-go-back-to-being-silent-and-suffocated/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“We're running out of time, he said. As if time were the kind of thing you could run out of, as if it were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/we-re-running-out-of-time-he-said-as-if-time-were-the-kind-of-thing-3/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I've finally gotten to a point in my life where I'm not afraid to speak. Where my shadow no longer haunts me. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-finally-gotten-to-a-point-in-my-life-where-i-m-not-afraid-to/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“So I take a deep breath. Step forward. Let go. 10 seconds and I'm trying to breathe 9 And I'm trying to be brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/so-i-take-a-deep-breath-step-forward-let-go-10-seconds-and-i-m-trying/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I count everything. Even numbers, odd numbers, multiples of 10. I count the ticks of the clock i count the tocks of the clock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-count-everything-even-numbers-odd-numbers-multiples-of-10-i-count/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## More by Tahereh Mafi > [His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/his-hands-are-holding-my-cheeks-and-he-pulls-back-just-to-look-me-in/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I didn't want the clothes or the perfect shoes or the expensive anything. I didn't want to be draped in silk. All I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-didn-t-want-the-clothes-or-the-perfect-shoes-or-the-expensive/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“infinite points of feeling for every nerve ending in my body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/infinite-points-of-feeling-for-every-nerve-ending-in-my-body/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He's too much. Everything about him is too much. His emotions, his actions, his anger, his aggression. His love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-s-too-much-everything-about-him-is-too-much-his-emotions-his/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Right now I can't even control my own imagination as it grips my hair and drags me into the dark”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/right-now-i-can-t-even-control-my-own-imagination-as-it-grips-my-hair/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I want you, I want all of you. I want you inside and out and catching your breath and aching for me like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-want-you-i-want-all-of-you-i-want-you-inside-and-out-and-catching/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I will give no one the satisfaction of my death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-will-give-no-one-the-satisfaction-of-my-death/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I almost forget that she still hates me, despite how hard I’ve fallen for her. And I’ve fallen. So hard. I’ve hit the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-almost-forget-that-she-still-hates-me-despite-how-hard-i-ve-fallen/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/all-i-ever-wanted-was-to-reach-out-and-touch-another-human-being-not/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“It's the kind of kiss that makes you realize oxygen is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/it-s-the-kind-of-kiss-that-makes-you-realize-oxygen-is-overrated/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“That’s when I understand. Of course she’s not okay. Of course she didn’t get any sleep last night. Last night she almost killed one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/that-s-when-i-understand-of-course-she-s-not-okay-of-course-she-didn/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I used to have a family. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-used-to-have-a-family-he/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I've never been able to follow through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-never-been-able-to-follow-through/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“ground where it smells like ice and metal and dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/ground-where-it-smells-like-ice-and-metal-and-dirt/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) [Explore all 821 Tahereh Mafi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## More Coward quotes > [Only a coward will use a gun to protect and get respect for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/only-a-coward-will-use-a-gun-to-protect-and-get-respect-for-themselves/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [“The Coward will run away from danger, only to strike in the dark. The Heroine will run through the dark, even though she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-cleinman/the-coward-will-run-away-from-danger-only-to-strike-in-the-dark-the/) David A. Cleinman > [“A thousand times a coward and not once a dead man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suad-amiry/a-thousand-times-a-coward-and-not-once-a-dead-man/) Suad Amiry > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“It is true that only a coward can be brave, as a man who feels no fear has conquered nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-david-iggulden/it-is-true-that-only-a-coward-can-be-brave-as-a-man-who-feels-no-fear/) Conn & David Iggulden > [If you're a generous person, when you get money and fame, you're going to be more generous. If you're a sharer, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/if-you-re-a-generous-person-when-you-get-money-and-fame-you-re-going/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [My advice to you, if you should ever be in a hold up, is to line up with the cowards and save your bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/my-advice-to-you-if-you-should-ever-be-in-a-hold-up-is-to-line-up/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back... Watch out against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-the-disease-of-cowards-who-do-not-have-the-courage-to-speak/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I found from working on the film that I am a bigot, at times. And that I am also a coward, at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-found-from-working-on-the-film-that-i-am-a-bigot-at-times-and-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) Browse all 1,331 Coward quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I never even tried. Because I let the world teach me to hate myself. 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