---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm very unhappy about my entire life if…"
description: "\"I'm very unhappy about my entire life if my writing is going wrong.\" — Tom Stoppard"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/tom-stoppard-437_about_i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if_2667987.png"
---

#  I'm very unhappy about my entire life if my writing is…

![“I'm very unhappy about my entire life if my writing is going wrong.” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/tom-stoppard-437_about_i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if_2667987.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/tom-stoppard-437_about_i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if_2667987.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/tom-stoppard-437_about_i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if_2667987.png)

> “I'm very unhappy about my entire life if my writing is going wrong.”

[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.

He feels that personal failure in writing makes his whole life feel worthless.

**In simple terms:** Writing troubles ruin his whole life.

Key Takeaway

Separate self‑worth from creative output.

Themes

creativity self‑esteem failure

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

personal motivational

When to use this quote

- writing blocks
- career crises
- therapy sessions

Key Concepts

artistic identity mental health perfectionism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you find meaning outside of writing?
- What other passions could sustain you?

A Different Perspective

Life has value beyond a single pursuit.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Entire life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entire-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [I've worked hard my entire life from the age of 14.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenya-moore/i-ve-worked-hard-my-entire-life-from-the-age-of-14/)

[Kenya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenya-moore/)

> [I have literally been working in music just about my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/i-have-literally-been-working-in-music-just-about-my-entire-life/)

[Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/)

> [I've been, like, 15 my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-ve-been-like-15-my-entire-life/)

[Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/)

> [My grandfather worked with charities his whole entire life, and we grew up living with him. He always told me about the other side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-lohan/my-grandfather-worked-with-charities-his-whole-entire-life-and-we/)

[Ali Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-lohan/)

> [Coaching has been my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-tarkanian/coaching-has-been-my-entire-life/)

[Jerry Tarkanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-tarkanian/)

> [Castro has lived almost his entire life as a clandestine revolutionary. To such figures, truth is always malleable, always subservient to political goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/castro-has-lived-almost-his-entire-life-as-a-clandestine/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-only-person-who-is-with-us-our-entire-life-is-ourselves/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I have been gender-nonconforming my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yance-ford/i-have-been-gender-nonconforming-my-entire-life/)

[Yance Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yance-ford/)

> [I built my entire life on the idea of independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-trierweiler/i-built-my-entire-life-on-the-idea-of-independence/)

[Valerie Trierweiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-trierweiler/)

> [Nothing in my entire life has ever come easy for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/nothing-in-my-entire-life-has-ever-come-easy-for-me/)

[Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/)

> [I've dealt with depression my entire life, on and off, which makes me the perfect author for teenage readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-ve-dealt-with-depression-my-entire-life-on-and-off-which-makes-me/)

[Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/)

> [Originally, back in 1992, DKNY started because I couldn't find a pair of jeans. I also wanted to dress my teenage daughter Gabby. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/originally-back-in-1992-dkny-started-because-i-couldn-t-find-a-pair/)

[Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/)

> [It is a point of pride for the American male to keep the same size Jockey shorts for his entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/it-is-a-point-of-pride-for-the-american-male-to-keep-the-same-size/)

[Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/)

> [AERIN is saturated with the qualities that have surrounded me my entire life, many of which came from my grandmother, Estee: passion, style, hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerin-lauder/aerin-is-saturated-with-the-qualities-that-have-surrounded-me-my/)

[Aerin Lauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerin-lauder/)

> [I've done taekwondo striking my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-ve-done-taekwondo-striking-my-entire-life/)

[Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/)

## 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 About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm very unhappy about my entire life if my writing is going wrong.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tom Stoppard"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if-my-writing-is-going-wrong/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if-my-writing-is-going-wrong/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/tom-stoppard-437_about_i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if_2667987.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/tom-stoppard-437_about_i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if_2667987.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/tom-stoppard-437_about_i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if_2667987.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm very unhappy about my entire life if my writing is going wrong.” — Tom Stoppard",
                "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": "Tom Stoppard",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm very unhappy about my entire...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if-my-writing-is-going-wrong/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-very-unhappy-about-my-entire-life-if-my-writing-is-going-wrong/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
