--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want to come over as some…" description: "\"I don't want to come over as some boringly self-deprecating person. But I don't see myself as a groundbreaking writer in the way plays are structured.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/tom-stoppard-437_come_i-don-t-want-to-come-over-as-some-boring_1592437.png" --- # I don't want to come over as some boringly… ![“I don't want to come over as some boringly self-deprecating person. But I don't see myself as a groundbreaking writer in the way plays are structured.” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/tom-stoppard-437_come_i-don-t-want-to-come-over-as-some-boring_1592437.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/tom-stoppard-437_come_i-don-t-want-to-come-over-as-some-boring_1592437.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/tom-stoppard-437_come_i-don-t-want-to-come-over-as-some-boring_1592437.png) > “I don't want to come over as some boringly self-deprecating person. But I don't see myself as a groundbreaking writer in the way plays are structured.” [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. The speaker worries about appearing self‑deprecating while not seeing themselves as revolutionary. **In simple terms:** Fear of being seen as boring. Key Takeaway Embrace authentic voice. Themes self‑image creativity authenticity Mood introspective encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - public readings - author branding Key Concepts literary criticism self‑perception Questions to Reflect On - What defines you balance humility and confidence? - How can you innovate without self‑doubt? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism may hinder risk‑taking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Self deprecating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-deprecating/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just a goofy, self-deprecating person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rafferty/i-m-just-a-goofy-self-deprecating-person/) [Sarah Rafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rafferty/) > [Well, I'm quite a self-deprecating person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/well-i-m-quite-a-self-deprecating-person/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [“His radio plays include: If You’re Glad I’ll Be Frank, Albert’s Bridge (Italia Prize), Where Are They Now?, Artist Descending A Staircase, The Dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/his-radio-plays-include-if-you-re-glad-i-ll-be-frank-albert-s-bridge/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [When people discuss his plays, he says that he feels like he's standing at customs watching an official ransack his luggage. He cheerfully declares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/when-people-discuss-his-plays-he-says-that-he-feels-like-he-s/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Despite the digital age, there is a very large number of venues and spaces that are looking for plays, and many of them are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/despite-the-digital-age-there-is-a-very-large-number-of-venues-and/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I'm so grateful to grab hold of something that wants to be a play. It doesn't happen very often. I don't have unwritten plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-so-grateful-to-grab-hold-of-something-that-wants-to-be-a-play-it/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [With plays that require any kind of reading program, I'm reading for a couple of years before using the material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/with-plays-that-require-any-kind-of-reading-program-i-m-reading-for-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Everybody I know is writing plays twice a year. It's sort of making me feel I am not up to much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/everybody-i-know-is-writing-plays-twice-a-year-it-s-sort-of-making-me/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Chekhov directors and Chekhov actors love working on his plays because there seems to be no end to what you can find out about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/chekhov-directors-and-chekhov-actors-love-working-on-his-plays/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/words-are-sacred-they-deserve-respect-if-you-get-the-right-ones-in/) [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/) > [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/) > [The problem men seem to have, and women, too, is that they have this very structured idea that we should find a partner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-kendal/the-problem-men-seem-to-have-and-women-too-is-that-they-have-this/) [Felicity Kendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-kendal/) > [I went straight from high school to 'Gossip Girl,' and both were very structured, scheduled environments, so I never had freedom to explore and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-went-straight-from-high-school-to-gossip-girl-and-both-were-very/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) ## 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. 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There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“More we know, more we come know that how less we know”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/souvik-khamrui/more-we-know-more-we-come-know-that-how-less-we-know/) Souvik Khamrui > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. 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