Tom Stoppard Quotes

I always think the insecurity is going to go away, but it's always there. Only bad writers think they're good.

If you're a writer, you're constantly doubting yourself.

Every single time I step into the studio, I say, 'Can I still do this? Do I still have it? Have I ever had it?' I suppose there's a good amount of self-loathing that goes into any form of artisanship.

I have a hard time sometimes watching my own work.

I've always been a bit of a self-doubter. I think a lot of actors are.

I had a period where I thought I might not be good enough to publish.

As a writer, you live in permanent self-doubt; you're on permanent trial.

I've always wanted to do a photo book, but I've never done one because I've never felt ready; I just didn't feel my work was good enough.

Lack of confidence - every time I start a new piece of work, it seems I have to spend a long while under the duvet thinking I can't do it.

It's a phobia I have. I never assume I'm going to be able to write another album after I finish one.

As a typical creative, I am all ego and insecurity!

I am always in self-doubt... every moment of my filmmaking. I am supremely confident when the story is being written and everything is in our head. But the moment we get into the filmmaking, I start doubting myself - from the camera angle to the re-recording to getting the actors to do their shots.

Writers always have confidence issues - it comes with the territory. We never know where we fit in, or what the actual value of our work might be. So we hit lulls, or slogs. Throw in the idea that many creative people are somewhat manic-depressive, and it can get pretty dark at times.

The biggest insecurity I had was my singing. Even though I had sold 70 million records, there was this feeling like, I'm not good at this.

I've never been super confident about anything. The work is never as good as it could be.

I still believe that at any time the no-talent police will come and arrest me.

Part of being an artist is that you are always concerned you don't have what it takes. It... keeps us honest.

Creative people are very insecure people because they don't know whether people like them or are in awe of them. That insecurity always comes out. It makes them a better actor, I feel.

Part of me feels that I'm letting people down by not being as interesting as my books.

I'm so hard on myself. I play these sketches in my computer for friends and they say 'Gee whiz, the vocal's beautiful.' I hear, 'It needs to be better.'

No matter how many awards you've won or how many sales you've got, come the next book it's still a blank sheet of paper and you're still panicking like hell that you've got nothing new to say.

No one leaves the edit room thinking, 'Yeah, I nailed that one!' Everyone I know goes into their first premiere or their first screening thinking, 'I screwed up so bad. I'm sorry, I messed up.' It's just a real common feeling.

All artists have insecurity.

Sometimes I panic and think I can't really write.

I never thought I was good enough actually to write.