--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I definitely thought the first book was…" description: "\"I definitely thought the first book was going to be a one-off. I never thought I'd even write a book, not ever having aspired to be a writer. It's some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/viv-albertine-5176_book_i-definitely-thought-the-first-book-was_1503772.jpg" --- # I definitely thought the first book was going to be a… ![“I definitely thought the first book was going to be a one-off. I never thought I'd even write a book, not ever having aspired to be a writer. It's something that never occurred to me - a bit like it never occurred to me to play guitar when I was young. I just thought it was out of my league.” quote by Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/viv-albertine-5176_book_i-definitely-thought-the-first-book-was_1503772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/viv-albertine-5176_book_i-definitely-thought-the-first-book-was_1503772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/viv-albertine-5176_book_i-definitely-thought-the-first-book-was_1503772.jpg) > “I definitely thought the first book was going to be a one-off. I never thought I'd even write a book, not ever having aspired to be a writer. It's something that never occurred to me - a bit like it never occurred to me to play guitar when I was young. I just thought it was out of my league.” [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected opportunities can arise when we abandon self‑imposed limits, revealing hidden talents. **In simple terms:** Don’t let imagined limits stop you from trying new things. Key Takeaway Try, even if you think you’re not good enough. Themes creativity self‑discovery growth Mood inspirational encouraging Type motivational personal development When to use this quote - Writing a book - learning an instrument - career change - artistic projects Key Concepts Identity confidence skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - What would you attempt if you weren’t afraid? - How can you reframe “out of my league” as a challenge? A Different Perspective Fear of failure may still inhibit action despite encouragement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“It would be wonderful, she thought, to write a book which would help other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/it-would-be-wonderful-she-thought-to-write-a-book-which-would-help/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I thought I'd write one book and the world would change overnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-levine/i-thought-i-d-write-one-book-and-the-world-would-change-overnight/) [James Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-levine/) > [I've always written a little bit. I mean, I've written screenplays, and I've doctored my dialogue for years, and I've written speeches - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-ve-always-written-a-little-bit-i-mean-i-ve-written-screenplays-and/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“Melville's example demonstrates the wisdom of waiting to read the classics. Coming to a great book on your own after having accumulated essential life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-philbrick/melville-s-example-demonstrates-the-wisdom-of-waiting-to-read-the/) [Nathaniel Philbrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-philbrick/) > [The book has very specific qualities. Let's say in 2300 they discover the physical book, after having lived with the digital book for several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-spiegelman/the-book-has-very-specific-qualities-let-s-say-in-2300-they-discover/) [Art Spiegelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-spiegelman/) > [You can read me like a book. If I'm not having a good time, which is very rare, then you'll know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/you-can-read-me-like-a-book-if-i-m-not-having-a-good-time-which-is/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [“Have you ever been reading a book and found yourself having to pause for a second and read a certain part again because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-may/have-you-ever-been-reading-a-book-and-found-yourself-having-to-pause/) Emily May > [The most important thing about writing a book is having book parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-important-thing-about-writing-a-book-is-having-book-parties/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Books you have read share a deep ontological similarity with books you haven't: both can be profoundly fuzzy. At times books you haven't read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durham-peters/books-you-have-read-share-a-deep-ontological-similarity-with-books/) john durham peters > [In terms of fiction, I'd rather go out and have a good time than read a book about someone having a good or bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/in-terms-of-fiction-i-d-rather-go-out-and-have-a-good-time-than-read/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [One of the advantages of the book's having been out there for more than a quarter century is that there's been time for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-tobias/one-of-the-advantages-of-the-book-s-having-been-out-there-for-more/) [Andrew Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-tobias/) > [They give me the money, I give them the book. 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Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Truly Alice, books are wonderful things; to sit alone in a room and laugh and cry, because you are reading, and still be safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/truly-alice-books-are-wonderful-things-to-sit-alone-in-a-room-and/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [A travel book is a book that puts you in the shoes of the traveler, and it's usually a book about having a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/a-travel-book-is-a-book-that-puts-you-in-the-shoes-of-the-traveler/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“Truly, books are wonderful things; to sit alone in a room and laugh and cry, because you are reading, and still be safe when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/truly-books-are-wonderful-things-to-sit-alone-in-a-room-and-laugh-and/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) ## More by Viv Albertine > [I have a lot of empathy, and I think that's where mothering starts. You are there to empathise and facilitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-have-a-lot-of-empathy-and-i-think-that-s-where-mothering-starts-you/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I get the same lurching thrill now when I'm about to sit down to an egg mayonnaise sandwich and a packet of plain crisps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-get-the-same-lurching-thrill-now-when-i-m-about-to-sit-down-to-an/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I have a daughter. I have my imagination. I have friends. I, in no way, am going to louse that up with some idiot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-have-a-daughter-i-have-my-imagination-i-have-friends-i-in-no-way-am/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I don't believe in an afterlife. You live on in the people you influence during your lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-you-live-on-in-the-people-you/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [Women are constantly taught to think about what other people are thinking, from those 'Jackie' magazine quizzes - 'What's he thinking?' - to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/women-are-constantly-taught-to-think-about-what-other-people-are/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [Most female artists - to do what you have to do and to be as honest as you have to be, to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/most-female-artists-to-do-what-you-have-to-do-and-to-be-as-honest-as/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I'm not a gifted storyteller, so I write what I know and hope that honesty resonates with other people's experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-m-not-a-gifted-storyteller-so-i-write-what-i-know-and-hope-that/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [The more blows you have in life, the better, because it means you're challenging yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/the-more-blows-you-have-in-life-the-better-because-it-means-you-re/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I'd like to be with someone kind who can hold a conversation and is in my age group. If that's too much to ask,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-d-like-to-be-with-someone-kind-who-can-hold-a-conversation-and-is/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I think, often, people who do something new creatively don't benefit financially from it - it's the people who come after and make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-think-often-people-who-do-something-new-creatively-don-t-benefit/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [If I didn't live in London, I would live in Glasgow. I love the colour of the brick and the black ironwork. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/if-i-didn-t-live-in-london-i-would-live-in-glasgow-i-love-the-colour/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [We used to have massively long discussions about how we should stand on stage. Should we stand with our legs apart? No, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/we-used-to-have-massively-long-discussions-about-how-we-should-stand/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I'm the angriest and most empathetic person you'll ever meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-m-the-angriest-and-most-empathetic-person-you-ll-ever-meet/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [“At last there is an unknown element back in my life. This is how it used to be. This is how I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/at-last-there-is-an-unknown-element-back-in-my-life-this-is-how-it/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I think I am the Elizabeth Barrett of 2015. Not in terms of genius but in bed a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-think-i-am-the-elizabeth-barrett-of-2015-not-in-terms-of-genius-but/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) [Explore all 103 Viv Albertine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I definitely thought the first book was going to be a one-off. 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