Colm Toibin Quotes

It's very selfish when I write. I'm not aware, ever, of writing for another person; I'm not even really aware of writing for myself.

I'm a very vicious critic of myself.

The discussion of ideas as opposed to the American narcissistic obsession with what's going on with the self, that's the general thing people are talking about.

I find a lot of poetry to be narcissistic.

Narcissism is the part of my personality that I am the least proud of, and I certainly don't like to see it highlighted in everybody else I meet.

Will not a tiny speck very close to our vision blot out the glory of the world, and leave only a margin by which we see the blot? I know no speck so troublesome as self.

In America, life is introverted, self-absorbed - and so is their music.

We reproach people for talking about themselves; but it is the subject they treat best.

It's such a weird thing: to sit and look at yourself is so distracting to the psyche. It would be like me standing in front of a mirror and looking at myself all day, trying to find a flaw.

I don't mind arguing with myself. It's when I lose that it bothers me.

I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes on that I just assume you can hear.

I used to spend a lot of time just thinking about myself, thinking that the party started when I showed up.

If ordinary people complain that I speak too much of myself, I complain that they do not even think of themselves.

I'm my own severest critic, and I realize when I make mistakes.

It's the first time I've seen myself act, and I can't say I'm impressed.

I try not to be super self-referential about my work because it becomes like navel gazing at a certain point.

I am absolutely my own biggest critic.

It is always good to self-analyse and be self-critical. That is how I've got through so far and improved.

I am always analysing myself; I am always critical of myself and always trying to improve.

I analyse everything I do and when I see something I don't like I try to find the solution and that's why I'm so hard on myself.

The criticism is what I expect, honestly, because I'm criticizing myself every day when I come in here and watch that film. I'm trying to get better.

I believe my biggest critic is me only.

You know, I analyze my faults and my weaknesses very carefully. I'm very hypercritical of myself.

I'm sure I was insensitive. I'm probably still a jerk at times. But my priority as a freshman was to be good in basketball and play a lot. Not to be the nicest person in the world. I was one-track-minded. I still am.

You can't get too caught up in yourself.