Binyavanga Wainaina Quotes

Life is very short, and if you worry what people think of you, if you second-guess yourself, you're in trouble.

I know what my body can do.

I hope people don't get tired of looking at me.

I've never hidden the fact that I used to be shy, even when I was 30. However, I might have been self-conscious on the inside, but I was never inhibited about my body.

I wish I were the type who could walk into a place and have everybody love me. But I'm not, and there's no use wishing.

I wasn't a naturally confident, extravert, outgoing person.

I don't think anything can help me socially, to be honest: I have this terrible personality. I don't really know how to describe it... maybe I'll go with surly.

I think you're not a human being unless you have doubts and fears.

I wish I knew at 14 not to put much thought into what other people my age said to me, cause we were all looking for the answers. So I wish I knew that other people really don't know any more than you do!

I've always been strong-minded, but I wonder.

It is easy enough to praise men for the courage of their convictions. I wish I could teach the sad young of this mealy generation the courage of their confusions.

I started second-guessing myself and was always questioning myself. I have really learned a lot.

Earlier in my career, I was really tight, really together, and knew who I was and I was confident. I kind of feel in between now.

I'm not as shy as everybody makes me out to be.

I don't know whether I inspire anything in anyone.

I have no idea what the audience makes of me.

I always told, Sandra Bullock was my student when she was younger, I always told her it's important that we hold on to our insecurity, the wisdom of insecurity.

Some days I totally appreciate everything that's happening to me, and some days I feel everyone's waiting for me to mess up.

I probably am more shy than people realize. But I'm shy when I leave a studio and I am just myself.

Unless I try, I'm never really going to be at ease with myself.

When I was younger, I think I intimidated people much more because I was far more insecure.

If I told people that I knew what I was doing, nobody would believe me, so why even try and fake it?

I, uh, don't think I'm, y'know, so different than your average, y'know, average.

I can't say I have control over my emotions; I don't know my mind. I'm lost like everyone else. I'm certainly not a leader.

I couldn't get a date, but I couldn't be quite sure how unattractive I'd become. I was still friendly; I made jokes, and in my mind, if I saw a woman smiling at me... I still had a chance. I did not.