--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes it's interesting to see what…" description: "\"Sometimes it's interesting to see what people who have too much control need to do to write freely.\" — Alice Mattison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/alice-mattison-11066_interesting_sometimes-it-s-interesting-to-see-what-p_967073.jpg" --- # Sometimes it's interesting to see what people who have too… ![“Sometimes it's interesting to see what people who have too much control need to do to write freely.” quote by Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/alice-mattison-11066_interesting_sometimes-it-s-interesting-to-see-what-p_967073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/alice-mattison-11066_interesting_sometimes-it-s-interesting-to-see-what-p_967073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/alice-mattison-11066_interesting_sometimes-it-s-interesting-to-see-what-p_967073.jpg) > “Sometimes it's interesting to see what people who have too much control need to do to write freely.” [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how excessive control can stifle authentic expression, suggesting that true creativity emerges when constraints are loosened. **In simple terms:** Too much control hinders free writing. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility to write authentically. Themes creativity control authenticity Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative retreats - overcoming perfectionism - authorial voice - creative blocks Key Concepts psychology self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - What constraints do you impose on yourself? - How can you create space for spontaneity? A Different Perspective Even with freedom, external pressures may still limit expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-need-286608/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-people/) [Need Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-write/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-control/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Write Freely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-freely-1159995/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If you can't write freely and if you can't speak freely in your country, you can be sure that you are living in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-can-t-write-freely-and-if-you-can-t-speak-freely-in-your/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Write freely and with feeling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-lopez/write-freely-and-with-feeling/) [Dee Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-lopez/) > [“Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/write-freely-and-as-rapidly-as-possible-and-throw-the-whole-thing-on-3/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/write-freely-and-as-rapidly-as-possible-and-throw-the-whole-thing-on-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Such expression is impossible in a cramped atmosphere. As I have no desire to offer civil disobedience I cannot write freely. As the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/such-expression-is-impossible-in-a-cramped-atmosphere-as-i-have-no/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“To write freely is to walk a joyous, terrifying, exhilarating path naked through the world of the fully clothed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-garber/to-write-freely-is-to-walk-a-joyous-terrifying-exhilarating-path/) [Michele Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-garber/) > [I want to write without shame or pride or over-compensation in one direction or another. To write freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-want-to-write-without-shame-or-pride-or-over-compensation-in-one/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [I wanted to protect the songs. I wanted to make sure I could write freely and not be self-conscious about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandra-deheza/i-wanted-to-protect-the-songs-i-wanted-to-make-sure-i-could-write/) [Alejandra Deheza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandra-deheza/) > [A lot of the people involved in the media are very serious, honest people, and they will tell you, and I think they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-lot-of-the-people-involved-in-the-media-are-very-serious-honest/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/write-freely-and-as-rapidly-as-possible-and-throw-the-whole-thing-on/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [When I write a book I'm always questioning the project as a whole. I always feel I might have to just throw it away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/when-i-write-a-book-i-m-always-questioning-the-project-as-a-whole-i/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [“It's not that you should never love something so much it can control you. It's that you need to love something that much so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-that-you-should-never-love-something-so-much-it-can-control/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you don't control your need your need will control you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/if-you-don-t-control-your-need-your-need-will-control-you/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [Control yourself. Take only what you need from it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mgmt/control-yourself-take-only-what-you-need-from-it/) [MGMT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mgmt/) > [“Worry is the worst kind of torture, because it makes you realize that you are not in control. And, what I need most, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-s-wrights/worry-is-the-worst-kind-of-torture-because-it-makes-you-realize-that/) [D.S. Wrights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-s-wrights/) ## More by Alice Mattison > [Sometimes indirect style and varying chronology is great, but quite often I've seen it be just something that gets in the way. It turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/sometimes-indirect-style-and-varying-chronology-is-great-but-quite/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [Every once in a while someone says, 'You can't really learn anything, if you're really a writer then you wouldn't need to do it.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/every-once-in-a-while-someone-says-you-can-t-really-learn-anything-if/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [Whoever would write books? It's suffering as well as greatly satisfying. And certainly there's suffering in the sense that you don't know for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/whoever-would-write-books-it-s-suffering-as-well-as-greatly/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [I get to a certain point, and I think in a novel it's about the third draft, when I want other eyes on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-get-to-a-certain-point-and-i-think-in-a-novel-it-s-about-the-third/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [It's hard to say which of us is luckier, the ones who go through long periods when they can't write or the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/it-s-hard-to-say-which-of-us-is-luckier-the-ones-who-go-through-long/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [“When a man I like touches my arm or my hair, I want to know if he'll touch the center of me, and whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/when-a-man-i-like-touches-my-arm-or-my-hair-i-want-to-know-if-he-ll/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [I heard a white writer say, 'Oh, I'd never put black people in my writing, I'm afraid I would offend someone by doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-heard-a-white-writer-say-oh-i-d-never-put-black-people-in-my/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [When I've taught writing to five, six, and seven year olds, it's not very different than talking to an adult writer. They're writers then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/when-i-ve-taught-writing-to-five-six-and-seven-year-olds-it-s-not/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [I find that I get very excited about what my students are up to and that I get to be the hurdle they need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-find-that-i-get-very-excited-about-what-my-students-are-up-to-and/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [I love to read nonfiction and memoir, but I'm mostly interested in the piece of writing more than the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-love-to-read-nonfiction-and-memoir-but-i-m-mostly-interested-in-the/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [I think that inevitably, the trouble our characters go through is a kind of metaphor for what's happening in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-think-that-inevitably-the-trouble-our-characters-go-through-is-a/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [When an editor first explained to me the difference between direct and indirect writing, I just thought it was a stylistic choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/when-an-editor-first-explained-to-me-the-difference-between-direct/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [Writers sometimes are paid a great deal of money, but much more frequently they're not paid or are paid only a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/writers-sometimes-are-paid-a-great-deal-of-money-but-much-more/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [We're always inventing, even if we're making someone who's fairly close to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/we-re-always-inventing-even-if-we-re-making-someone-who-s-fairly/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [I just like doing it, I like writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/i-just-like-doing-it-i-like-writing/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) [Explore all 62 Alice Mattison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) ## More Interesting quotes > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [It is sort of interesting that in our society this days we are very quick to apply the term 'war' to places where thare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/it-is-sort-of-interesting-that-in-our-society-this-days-we-are-very/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. And when we realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/we-re-wired-to-expect-the-world-to-be-brighter-and-more-meaningful/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [Failure or success seems to have been allotted to men by their stars. But they retain the power of wriggling, of fighting with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/failure-or-success-seems-to-have-been-allotted-to-men-by-their-stars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life can be difficult sometimes, it gets bumpy. What with family and kids and things not going exactly like you planned. But that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-van-patten/life-can-be-difficult-sometimes-it-gets-bumpy-what-with-family-and/) [Joyce Van Patten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-van-patten/) > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. 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