--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody I know is writing plays twice a…" description: "\"Everybody I know is writing plays twice a year. It's sort of making me feel I am not up to much.\" — Tom Stoppard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/tom-stoppard-437_am_everybody-i-know-is-writing-plays-twice_743312.png" --- # Everybody I know is writing plays twice a year. It's sort… ![“Everybody I know is writing plays twice a year. It's sort of making me feel I am not up to much.” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/tom-stoppard-437_am_everybody-i-know-is-writing-plays-twice_743312.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/tom-stoppard-437_am_everybody-i-know-is-writing-plays-twice_743312.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/tom-stoppard-437_am_everybody-i-know-is-writing-plays-twice_743312.png) > “Everybody I know is writing plays twice a year. It's sort of making me feel I am not up to much.” [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comparing peers’ productivity can trigger self‑doubt, but also inspiration. **In simple terms:** Seeing others produce can inspire or intimidate. Key Takeaway Use comparison as motivation, not discouragement. Themes creativity self‑esteem peer influence Mood thoughtful encouraging Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - writing workshops - career development - mental health Key Concepts artistic productivity confidence building Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance inspiration and self‑criticism? - What strategies keep you focused on personal growth? A Different Perspective Constant comparison can harm mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You can run a lot of plays when your X is twice as big as the other guys' O. It makes your X's and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-westphal/you-can-run-a-lot-of-plays-when-your-x-is-twice-as-big-as-the-other/) Paul Westphal > [I only saw my father twice a year. If I'd seen him all the time I'd probably have murdered him by now. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/i-only-saw-my-father-twice-a-year-if-i-d-seen-him-all-the-time-i-d/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [I only work once or twice a year for about a month, so I have a lot of free time. But I'm good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/i-only-work-once-or-twice-a-year-for-about-a-month-so-i-have-a-lot-of/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [I need six months vacation, twice a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/i-need-six-months-vacation-twice-a-year/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [I have broken my collarbone twice in a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stoner/i-have-broken-my-collarbone-twice-in-a-year/) [Casey Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stoner/) > [I need a six month vacation twice a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-macarthur/i-need-a-six-month-vacation-twice-a-year/) Pete MacArthur > [I want a six month vacation...Twice a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-six-month-vacation-twice-a-year/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I fell into writing plays by accident. But the reason I write plays is that it's the only thing I'm any good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-fell-into-writing-plays-by-accident-but-the-reason-i-write-plays-is/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [I started writing plays, but the fact that plays don't last forever was too much for me to bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-started-writing-plays-but-the-fact-that-plays-don-t-last-forever/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [It's very lucky to be able to do a job where I get to sit about writing plays all day and going to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wade/it-s-very-lucky-to-be-able-to-do-a-job-where-i-get-to-sit-about/) [Laura Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wade/) > [Writing plays for me is often an act of looking at basement-level fears in terms of where they come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/writing-plays-for-me-is-often-an-act-of-looking-at-basement-level/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [What is the use of writing plays, what is the use of writing anything, if there is not a will which finally moulds chaos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/what-is-the-use-of-writing-plays-what-is-the-use-of-writing-anything/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I've been writing plays since the third grade. The biggest difference now is that professionals act in them rather than eight year olds...and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colette-freedman/i-ve-been-writing-plays-since-the-third-grade-the-biggest-difference/) [Colette Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colette-freedman/) > [In the end, one has to feel lucky that things fell out O.K. I've felt that all the years I've been writing plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/in-the-end-one-has-to-feel-lucky-that-things-fell-out-o-k-i-ve-felt/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [You can't go around chasing your own plays and showing up every time somebody does one somewhere. You just cross your fingers and hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-can-t-go-around-chasing-your-own-plays-and-showing-up-every-time/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More by Tom Stoppard > [If I wanted to change the world, the last thing I would do is write a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-wanted-to-change-the-world-the-last-thing-i-would-do-is-write-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with having an ashtray just out of eye line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/after-all-these-years-i-definitely-associate-having-a-pen-in-my-hand/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The universe is deterministic all right, just like Newton said, I mean it's trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-universe-is-deterministic-all-right-just-like-newton-said-i-mean/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For me, human rights simply endorse a view of life and a set of moral values that are perfectly clear to an eight-year-old child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-me-human-rights-simply-endorse-a-view-of-life-and-a-set-of-moral/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Dying is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over... Death is not anything... death is not... It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/dying-is-not-romantic-and-death-is-not-a-game-which-will-soon-be-over/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I'm not interested in clothes; I just like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-not-interested-in-clothes-i-just-like-them/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For 10 years of my life, 3 times a day, I thanked the Lord for what I was about to receive and thanked him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-10-years-of-my-life-3-times-a-day-i-thanked-the-lord-for-what-i/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [You should not translate for more than two hours at a time. After that, you lose your edge, the language becomes clumsy, rigid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-should-not-translate-for-more-than-two-hours-at-a-time-after-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [No matter how imperfect things are, if you've got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is concealable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/no-matter-how-imperfect-things-are-if-you-ve-got-a-free-press/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Eternity's a terrible thought. I mean, where's it all going to end?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/eternity-s-a-terrible-thought-i-mean-where-s-it-all-going-to-end/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There is truth and falsehood in a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/there-is-truth-and-falsehood-in-a-comma/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) [Explore all 559 Tom Stoppard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everybody I know is writing plays twice a year. 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