--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writers don't give prescriptions. They…" description: "\"Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!\" — Chinua Achebe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/chinua-achebe-781_giving_writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-gi_2672150.png" --- # Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches! ![“Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/chinua-achebe-781_giving_writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-gi_2672150.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/chinua-achebe-781_giving_writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-gi_2672150.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/chinua-achebe-781_giving_writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-gi_2672150.png) > “Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!” [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers do not provide simple solutions; they provoke thought and challenge readers, often causing discomfort. **In simple terms:** Writers give challenges, not recipes. Key Takeaway Seek depth over easy answers. Themes writing challenge discomfort prescriptions headaches Mood provocative intellectual Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading clubs - education - artistic appreciation Key Concepts literary criticism creative process Questions to Reflect On - Why do writers avoid giving prescriptions? - How does discomfort foster growth? A Different Perspective Some may find it inaccessible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Thought provoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-provoking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We have had two chickens in every pot, two cars in every garage, and now we have two headaches for every aspirin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiorello-h-la-guardia/we-have-had-two-chickens-in-every-pot-two-cars-in-every-garage-and/) [Fiorello H. La Guardia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiorello-h-la-guardia/) > [Let me tell you quite bluntly that this king business has given me personally nothing but headaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/let-me-tell-you-quite-bluntly-that-this-king-business-has-given-me/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) > [The gods have chosen to entertain me with chronic eyestrain headaches. Very poisonous episodes. So I don't do a lot of reading anymore except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-gods-have-chosen-to-entertain-me-with-chronic-eyestrain-headaches/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [People never think of entertainers as being human. When you walk out on stage, the audience think, 'Nothing can go wrong with them.' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-carpenter/people-never-think-of-entertainers-as-being-human-when-you-walk-out/) [Karen Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-carpenter/) > [Natural joy brings no headaches and no heartaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/natural-joy-brings-no-headaches-and-no-heartaches/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [I used to get headaches in 3D movies, and I didn't want the movie to give people headaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-raimi/i-used-to-get-headaches-in-3d-movies-and-i-didn-t-want-the-movie-to/) [Sam Raimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-raimi/) > [I can't tell you how many shows I've done with full-blown migraine headaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-taylor-thomas/i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-shows-i-ve-done-with-full-blown-migraine/) [Jonathan Taylor Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-taylor-thomas/) > [The general manager is kind of like the step into darkness when you reach the top of the league. As GM, you're responsible for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/the-general-manager-is-kind-of-like-the-step-into-darkness-when-you/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [I had headaches for over 30 years until I tried chiropractic. They have completely disappeared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-belli/i-had-headaches-for-over-30-years-until-i-tried-chiropractic-they/) [Melvin Belli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-belli/) > [The crowns of kings do not prevent those who wear them from being tormented sometimes by violent headaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-crowns-of-kings-do-not-prevent-those-who-wear-them-from-being/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [In headaches and in worry Vaguely life leaks away, And Time will have his fancy To-morrow or today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/in-headaches-and-in-worry-vaguely-life-leaks-away-and-time-will-have/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [You and your friends...always together, No time for the B-I-G, so I'm O-U-T. The sex was great, but the headaches I can't take. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/you-and-your-friends-always-together-no-time-for-the-b-i-g-so-i-m-o-u/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [The first show I ever did, singing and dancing, was Beauty and the Beast. I was playing Gaston. Gaston has red tights, knee high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/the-first-show-i-ever-did-singing-and-dancing-was-beauty-and-the/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Hiding my migraines on the set may have been my toughest challenge as an actor. There were times when the pain from migraine headaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-fairchild/hiding-my-migraines-on-the-set-may-have-been-my-toughest-challenge-as/) [Morgan Fairchild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-fairchild/) > [It would have been a helluva lot more fun if I had never hit those 61 homeruns... all it brought me was headaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-maris/it-would-have-been-a-helluva-lot-more-fun-if-i-had-never-hit-those-61/) [Roger Maris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-maris/) ## More by Chinua Achebe > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/do-not-despair-i-know-you-will-not-despair-you-have-a-manly-and-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [My son even if you want to fall, at least fall where your bones can be gathered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/my-son-even-if-you-want-to-fall-at-least-fall-where-your-bones-can-be/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/and-so-mr-brown-came-to-be-respected-even-by-the-clan-because-he-trod/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-have-learned-that-a-man-who-makes-trouble-for-others-is-also-making/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-fact-i-thought-that-christianity-was-very-a-good-and-a-very/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I do not actually see how art, literature can be anything other that being in that domain of trying to tell us, trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-do-not-actually-see-how-art-literature-can-be-anything-other-that/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/democracy-is-not-something-you-put-away-for-ten-years-and-then-in-the/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-there-is-a-big-tree-small-ones-climb-on-its-back-to-reach-the-sun/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of my essays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-i-began-going-to-school-and-learned-to-read-i-encountered/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane. H. P. LOVECRAFT, attributed, Telling It Like It Is Dancing is very important nowadays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-nobody-dances-sober-unless-they-happen-to-be-insane-h-p/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [This is why I find racism impossible, because this is against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/this-is-why-i-find-racism-impossible-because-this-is-against-humanity/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/then-listen-to-me-he-said-and-cleared-his-throat-it-s-true-that-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [What you must accept is that your life is not going to be the same while you are writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/what-you-must-accept-is-that-your-life-is-not-going-to-be-the-same/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Explore all 368 Chinua Achebe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [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 received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chinua Achebe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-give-headaches/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-give-headaches/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/chinua-achebe-781_giving_writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-gi_2672150.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/chinua-achebe-781_giving_writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-gi_2672150.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/chinua-achebe-781_giving_writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-gi_2672150.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!” — Chinua Achebe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chinua Achebe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Writers don't give prescriptions. They give...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-give-headaches/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/writers-don-t-give-prescriptions-they-give-headaches/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```