--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the trouble with you readers. You…" description: "\"“That's the trouble with you readers. You know all the plots.”\" — Billy Wilder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/billy-wilder-8818_books_that-s-the-trouble-with-you-readers-you_1391808.jpg" --- # That's the trouble with you readers. You know all the plots. ![“That's the trouble with you readers. You know all the plots.” quote by Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/billy-wilder-8818_books_that-s-the-trouble-with-you-readers-you_1391808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/billy-wilder-8818_books_that-s-the-trouble-with-you-readers-you_1391808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/billy-wilder-8818_books_that-s-the-trouble-with-you-readers-you_1391808.jpg) > ““That's the trouble with you readers. You know all the plots.”” [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Readers often anticipate story twists, reducing surprise and enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Knowing plots lessens surprise. Key Takeaway Embrace unpredictability in reading. Themes literature anticipation surprise Mood reflective curious Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - book clubs - movie nights - creative writing - storytelling workshops Key Concepts Narrative structure reader expectations Questions to Reflect On - How does knowing a plot affect your engagement? - Can you find value in familiar stories? A Different Perspective Even with known plots, new insights can arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Know Plots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-plots-4853862/) [Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers/) [Readers Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers-know-806976/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-readers-4853861/) ## Related quotes > [How can I expect readers to know who I am if I do not tell them about my family, my friends, the relationships in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-alameddine/how-can-i-expect-readers-to-know-who-i-am-if-i-do-not-tell-them-about/) [Rabih Alameddine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabih-alameddine/) > [I respond very well to rules. If there are certain parameters it's much easier to do something really good. Especially when readers know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-mina/i-respond-very-well-to-rules-if-there-are-certain-parameters-it-s/) [Denise Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-mina/) > [Many readers know my work first through 'Housekeeping,' simply because it was my only novel for a pretty long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/many-readers-know-my-work-first-through-housekeeping-simply-because/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [readable text and authority so that readers know how to spend - no matter how much information there is, I have the same number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gelernter/readable-text-and-authority-so-that-readers-know-how-to-spend-no/) [David Gelernter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gelernter/) > [“To all the readers who do not know me personally, who were kind enough to take the trouble to read my small effort, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/to-all-the-readers-who-do-not-know-me-personally-who-were-kind-enough/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [While the cast of characters stays the same, I always try to add in new information so readers get to know the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-cleland/while-the-cast-of-characters-stays-the-same-i-always-try-to-add-in/) [Jane Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-cleland/) > [I think it is important for readers to know that it is possible to bring intellectualism and idealism to the White House and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-scott-berg/i-think-it-is-important-for-readers-to-know-that-it-is-possible-to/) [A. Scott Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-scott-berg/) > [“It is, of course, not only impossible for readers to know the intention of most, if not all, writers, but an author himself may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-goldfarb/it-is-of-course-not-only-impossible-for-readers-to-know-the-intention/) [Russell M. Goldfarb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-goldfarb/) > [While readers know that advertisements keep the product cost low, they still buy a newspaper for its editorial content and not for its advertisements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/while-readers-know-that-advertisements-keep-the-product-cost-low-they/) [Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/) > [Kids who are nine, 10 and 11 are pretty sophisticated readers; they know that there isn't always a good outcome every time and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/kids-who-are-nine-10-and-11-are-pretty-sophisticated-readers-they/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [As a writer I am proud that if you took my last four books, and they didn't have my name on them, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-neugeboren/as-a-writer-i-am-proud-that-if-you-took-my-last-four-books-and-they/) [Jay Neugeboren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-neugeboren/) > [I am often asked why I use a variety of pen names. The answer is that this way readers always know which of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayne-ann-krentz/i-am-often-asked-why-i-use-a-variety-of-pen-names-the-answer-is-that/) [Jayne Ann Krentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayne-ann-krentz/) > [WWII is something contemporary readers already know a lot about. If our schools are doing their jobs, they know about the invasion of Normandy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/wwii-is-something-contemporary-readers-already-know-a-lot-about-if/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [Fiction supplies the only philosophy that may readers know; it establishes their ethical, social, and material standards; it confirms them in their prejudices or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-brande/fiction-supplies-the-only-philosophy-that-may-readers-know-it/) [Dorothea Brande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-brande/) > [Because of the nature of my brand, it's so important our readers know it really is me behind my keyboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-morin/because-of-the-nature-of-my-brand-it-s-so-important-our-readers-know/) [Brit Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-morin/) ## More by Billy Wilder > [If there's anything I hate more than not being taken seriously, it's being taken too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/if-there-s-anything-i-hate-more-than-not-being-taken-seriously-it-s/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I just always think, 'Do I like it?' And if I like it, maybe other people will come and like it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-just-always-think-do-i-like-it-and-if-i-like-it-maybe-other-people/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Helen: You've got talent and ambition. Don: Talent? Ambition? That's dead long ago. That's drowned. That's drifting around with a bloated belly on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/helen-you-ve-got-talent-and-ambition-don-talent-ambition-that-s-dead/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [An actor entering through the door, you've got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you've got a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/an-actor-entering-through-the-door-you-ve-got-nothing-but-if-he/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I hate that word. It's return--a return to the millions of people who've never forgiven me for deserting the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-hate-that-word-it-s-return-a-return-to-the-millions-of-people-who/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [The more subtle and elegant you are in hiding your plot points, the better you are as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/the-more-subtle-and-elegant-you-are-in-hiding-your-plot-points-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [When Chaplin found a voice to say what was on his mind, he was like a child of eight writing lyrics for Beethoven's Ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/when-chaplin-found-a-voice-to-say-what-was-on-his-mind-he-was-like-a/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I, you know, am all over the place — every category of pictures I have made, good, bad or indifferent. I could not make,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-you-know-am-all-over-the-place-every-category-of-pictures-i-have/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Love is the hardest thing in the world to write about. So simple. You've got to catch it through details, like the early morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/love-is-the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-to-write-about-so-simple-you/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [If you don't like what you're doing, it's unlikely anyone else will either, so be sure you are happy with your own work first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/if-you-don-t-like-what-you-re-doing-it-s-unlikely-anyone-else-will/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I have ten commandments. The first nine are, thou shalt not bore. The tenth is, thou shalt have right of final cut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-have-ten-commandments-the-first-nine-are-thou-shalt-not-bore-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I just made pictures I would've liked to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-just-made-pictures-i-would-ve-liked-to-see/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Money makes even bastards legitimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/money-makes-even-bastards-legitimate/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [After so many drive-in waitresses becoming movie stars, there has been this real drought, when along come class; somebody who actually went to school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/after-so-many-drive-in-waitresses-becoming-movie-stars-there-has-been/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [I'm delighted with it, because it used to be that films were the lowest form of art. Now we've got something to look down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-m-delighted-with-it-because-it-used-to-be-that-films-were-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) [Explore all 77 Billy Wilder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That's the trouble with you readers. 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