--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing and the hope of writing pulls me…" description: "\"Writing and the hope of writing pulls me back from the edges of despair. I believe insanity and despair are at times one and the same.\" — Bell Hooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/bell-hooks-464_believe_writing-and-the-hope-of-writing-pulls-me_1134008.jpg" --- # Writing and the hope of writing pulls me back from the… ![“Writing and the hope of writing pulls me back from the edges of despair. I believe insanity and despair are at times one and the same.” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/bell-hooks-464_believe_writing-and-the-hope-of-writing-pulls-me_1134008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/bell-hooks-464_believe_writing-and-the-hope-of-writing-pulls-me_1134008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/bell-hooks-464_believe_writing-and-the-hope-of-writing-pulls-me_1134008.jpg) > “Writing and the hope of writing pulls me back from the edges of despair. I believe insanity and despair are at times one and the same.” [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing offers a lifeline from despair, blurring the line between madness and deep sorrow. **In simple terms:** Writing helps escape despair and madness. Key Takeaway Write to confront inner darkness. Themes creativity despair mental health writing madness Mood hopeful introspective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - journaling - art therapy - support groups - personal storytelling Key Concepts therapeutic expression psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does writing give you? - How do you differentiate despair from madness? A Different Perspective Writing alone may not heal deep wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Insanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insanity/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Where does one go from a world of insanity? Somewhere on the other side of despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/where-does-one-go-from-a-world-of-insanity-somewhere-on-the-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would hope that my writing's cleaner than it was when I started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-would-hope-that-my-writing-s-cleaner-than-it-was-when-i-started/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [So that's the dissenter's hope: that they are writing not for today but for tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/so-that-s-the-dissenter-s-hope-that-they-are-writing-not-for-today/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [“It is our hope that writing releases us. Instead maybe it deepens the echo. We call out to our past and the call comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/it-is-our-hope-that-writing-releases-us-instead-maybe-it-deepens-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [My writing is often a way of 'bearing witness' for others who lack the education and the opportunity to tell their own stories, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/my-writing-is-often-a-way-of-bearing-witness-for-others-who-lack-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“In some ways the goals of teaching and writing are the same. You hope to connect to someone else, to make them care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-f-kluge/in-some-ways-the-goals-of-teaching-and-writing-are-the-same-you-hope/) P.F. Kluge > [After the journey around the world, writing Hope's Edge, I began to see that it is not possible to know what's possible - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-moore-lapp/after-the-journey-around-the-world-writing-hope-s-edge-i-began-to-see/) [Frances Moore Lappé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-moore-lapp/) > [“what it means to serve Him. I am writing with the hope that as you cry and laugh with my family you will”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-j-davis/what-it-means-to-serve-him-i-am-writing-with-the-hope-that-as-you-cry/) [Katie J. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-j-davis/) > [I was in such a creative groove after turning in my last book (The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/i-was-in-such-a-creative-groove-after-turning-in-my-last-book-the/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) > [I'm not trying to write a bleak and blistering screed against American civilization. I'm writing something that I hope is fun and satirical and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/i-m-not-trying-to-write-a-bleak-and-blistering-screed-against/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [In my writing I hope to have a balance between the good and bad, the hard and soft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/in-my-writing-i-hope-to-have-a-balance-between-the-good-and-bad-the/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [Most so-called writers keep writing and writing with the hope, some day, to find something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/most-so-called-writers-keep-writing-and-writing-with-the-hope-some/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“I am writing with the hope that as you cry and laugh with my family you will be encouraged that God still uses flawed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-j-davis/i-am-writing-with-the-hope-that-as-you-cry-and-laugh-with-my-family/) [Katie J. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-j-davis/) > [You are the only reason I am still writing, I hope one day you read and understand how beautiful you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-are-the-only-reason-i-am-still-writing-i-hope-one-day-you-read/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“If someone wanted to be a runner, you don't tell them to think about running, you tell them to run. And the same simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/if-someone-wanted-to-be-a-runner-you-don-t-tell-them-to-think-about/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More by Bell Hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 Bell Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing and the hope of writing pulls me back from the edges of despair. 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