Christopher Paolini Quotes

When the eyes are on you for the first time, you can't believe that people aren't criticising you.

You can't base your life off waking up every morning, like, 'What are people saying about me now?' Then I'd never stay in my creative headspace.

For a long time I managed to think two things simultaneously, that I am actually a good playwright, and that the next time I write a play I will be revealed as someone who is no good at all.

If I wasn't so insecure about myself I wouldn't work as hard as I do. I am constantly seeking approval.

Most actors on most days don't think they're worthy.

Everyone around me says, You're a genius! You're great! That's your voice! But I'm not sure if they're right.

I ended up becoming so self-conscious that my songs stopped being about my life and started being about what people thought of my music. And that was really bad.

As actors, we tend to usually have some issues with self-esteem and some need for validation, and it takes awhile for that fear of not having a job to go away.

I am an insecure person. I have my own insecurities about lots of things, but I am pretty secure as an actor.

Blocks usually stem from fear of being judged. If you imagine the world is listening, you'll never write a line.

And my fear of failure has been lifelong and deep. If you are what you do- and I think my parents may have accidentally given me this idea- and you do poorly, what then? It’s over; you’re wiped out. All those prophecies you heard in the dark have come true, and people can see the real you, see what a schmendrick you are, what a fraud.

This weird thing that musicians have... it's got something to do with approval, and not feeling good enough, and therefore going out and being great somehow makes your life valid.

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

We probably wouldn't worry about what people think of us if we could know how seldom they do.

It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes.

I don't take compliments very easily. I think most musicians suffer from low self-esteem to some extent.

I never feel like I have anything. People can tell me a thousand times, 'You're the guy, you're the guy,' and I'm just like, 'We'll see when I'm on the set.'

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.

I tend to be hypercritical of my performances. That's why I hate watching them with people I know.

I have a huge ego and a huge inferiority complex at the same time.

And it is easy to believe you are not good enough if you listen to everybody else.

What if I couldn't handle people's opinions of me? I know that shouldn't dictate a person's degree of peace or happiness in life, but the problem is, I chose a business saturated in judgment.

I have a really difficult time watching myself on film. I literally cower in my seat and cover my face.

For years, I didn't give interviews because I was scared of people judging me or thinking I was arrogant.