--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Safety, reputation, their lives, their…" description: "\"Safety, reputation, their lives, their friends, and their world. Writers typically try to avoid that because it's not expedient.\" — Christopher Bollen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/christopher-bollen-9436_reputation_safety-reputation-their-lives-their-frie_89575.jpg" --- # Safety, reputation, their lives, their friends, and their… ![“Safety, reputation, their lives, their friends, and their world. Writers typically try to avoid that because it's not expedient.” quote by Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/christopher-bollen-9436_reputation_safety-reputation-their-lives-their-frie_89575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/christopher-bollen-9436_reputation_safety-reputation-their-lives-their-frie_89575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/christopher-bollen-9436_reputation_safety-reputation-their-lives-their-frie_89575.jpg) > “Safety, reputation, their lives, their friends, and their world. Writers typically try to avoid that because it's not expedient.” [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers often avoid addressing safety, reputation, and personal stakes because such topics are inconvenient and risky. **In simple terms:** Writers shy from risky subjects Key Takeaway Convenience overrides responsibility Themes writing ethics risk reputation personal stakes social responsibility Mood cautious critical Type observation critical commentary When to use this quote - journalism ethics classes - author workshops - media criticism Key Concepts authorial courage public perception Practical Applications - editorial guidelines - risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What pressures cause writers to sidestep difficult topics? - How can writers balance safety with truth-telling? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It would be no loss to the world if most of the writers now writing had been strangled at birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/it-would-be-no-loss-to-the-world-if-most-of-the-writers-now-writing/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [I believe that, in an ideal world, writers would feel free to write what matters to them without having to consider success, failure, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-believe-that-in-an-ideal-world-writers-would-feel-free-to-write/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [We used to have a genre called Muslim social drama which nobody in the world has. Writers from North India and Bengal came and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-agnihotri/we-used-to-have-a-genre-called-muslim-social-drama-which-nobody-in/) [Vivek Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-agnihotri/) > [“There is something cathartic about what has happened to me during this stay in hospital. I’ve heard others say that coming face to face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-menadue/there-is-something-cathartic-about-what-has-happened-to-me-during/) David Menadue > [“A friend of a friend . . ." Have you ever noticed that our friends' friends have much more interesting lives than our friends themselves?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/a-friend-of-a-friend-have-you-ever-noticed-that-our-friends-friends/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [God often works through the people we have in our lives. So who are your friends? What kind of friend are you to others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-often-works-through-the-people-we-have-in-our-lives-so-who-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many a person has held close, throughout their entire lives, two friends that always remained strange to one another, because one of them attracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ludwig/many-a-person-has-held-close-throughout-their-entire-lives-two/) [Emil Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ludwig/) > [I am learning to live close to the lives of my friends without ever seeing them. No miles of any measurement can separate your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-am-learning-to-live-close-to-the-lives-of-my-friends-without-ever/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“sixty years old and lives for the 3 f's--friends, family, and France.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-ivey/sixty-years-old-and-lives-for-the-3-f-s-friends-family-and-france/) Jamie Ivey > [“Friends come into our lives and friends leave our lives. But friends never leave our hearts. And best friends always get to stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-simmons/friends-come-into-our-lives-and-friends-leave-our-lives-but-friends/) John M. Simmons > [I got the reputation of being hard to work with. It has been hard for me to get rid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/i-got-the-reputation-of-being-hard-to-work-with-it-has-been-hard-for/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Louisiana's spicy, colorful politics have saddled our state with a reputation for tolerating lax ethical standards in government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/louisiana-s-spicy-colorful-politics-have-saddled-our-state-with-a/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Christopher Bollen > [There's something about fear and aesthetic that go hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/there-s-something-about-fear-and-aesthetic-that-go-hand-in-hand/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [You find when you're writing a detective story that you're actually not trying to solve anything. You're trying to stop the reader from solving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/you-find-when-you-re-writing-a-detective-story-that-you-re-actually/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [ I'm convinced I was the only kid ever who had a Death on the Nile \[1978\] movie poster and a Murder on the Orient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-m-convinced-i-was-the-only-kid-ever-who-had-a-death-on-the-nile/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [The death drive is parasitic. It runs off of other drives, leeching off of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/the-death-drive-is-parasitic-it-runs-off-of-other-drives-leeching-off/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [It's hard for me to figure out where I want to be. But it's definitely in New York. I feel like New York throws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/it-s-hard-for-me-to-figure-out-where-i-want-to-be-but-it-s-definitely/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [There's also something sexual about watching the nubile girl in terror. But you do take on her fear as your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/there-s-also-something-sexual-about-watching-the-nubile-girl-in/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [I've never had a mentor. I've always wanted one. I'm actually really disappointed that nobody took my under their wing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-ve-never-had-a-mentor-i-ve-always-wanted-one-i-m-actually-really/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [The Greeks really believed in history. They believed that the past had consequences and that you might be punished for the sins of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/the-greeks-really-believed-in-history-they-believed-that-the-past-had/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [I was never afraid on stage. That's where I was the least afraid. I could just do what I do and I had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-was-never-afraid-on-stage-that-s-where-i-was-the-least-afraid-i/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [One day I want to write a full-on horror book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/one-day-i-want-to-write-a-full-on-horror-book/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [When you create a fence, you keep people out, but you also limit your mobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/when-you-create-a-fence-you-keep-people-out-but-you-also-limit-your/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [I just think, as writers, especially with a book that takes years to write, you sort of wake up every morning hoping and praying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-just-think-as-writers-especially-with-a-book-that-takes-years-to/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [There is something very romantic about the orphan figure in American literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/there-is-something-very-romantic-about-the-orphan-figure-in-american/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [It is a little out of touch to presume that someone wants to follow your every observation and insight over the course of hundreds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/it-is-a-little-out-of-touch-to-presume-that-someone-wants-to-follow/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [ Looking back, \[R.E.M.\]videos, by in large, have always been art films. I'm thinking of "Losing My Religion." That's a landmark piece. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/looking-back-r-e-m-videos-by-in-large-have-always-been-art-films-i-m/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) [Explore all 72 Christopher Bollen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) ## More Reputation quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Louisiana's spicy, colorful politics have saddled our state with a reputation for tolerating lax ethical standards in government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/louisiana-s-spicy-colorful-politics-have-saddled-our-state-with-a/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I got the reputation of being hard to work with. It has been hard for me to get rid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/i-got-the-reputation-of-being-hard-to-work-with-it-has-been-hard-for/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [A man's reputation is the opinion people have of him; his character is what he really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-miner/a-man-s-reputation-is-the-opinion-people-have-of-him-his-character-is/) Jack Miner > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [Until you lose your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/until-you-lose-your-reputation-you-never-realize-what-a-burden-it-was/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [I took anything that came across my doorstep. I started getting a reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-stewart/i-took-anything-that-came-across-my-doorstep-i-started-getting-a/) [Lynne Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-stewart/) > [I think success is a relative term. If you're a caveman, success is capturing an elephant. Success is achieving better than the norm. Success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-taffer/i-think-success-is-a-relative-term-if-you-re-a-caveman-success-is/) [Jon Taffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-taffer/) > [One man lies in his words, and gets a bad reputation; another in his manners, and enjoys a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/one-man-lies-in-his-words-and-gets-a-bad-reputation-another-in-his/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [A great reputation is a great noise, the more there is of it, and the further does it swell. Land, monuments, Nations, all fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reputation-is-a-great-noise-the-more-there-is-of-it-and-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I was spoiled and I was arrogant. I was very demanding, had an overblown image of who I was and got a reputation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-reinhold/i-was-spoiled-and-i-was-arrogant-i-was-very-demanding-had-an/) [Judge Reinhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-reinhold/) [Browse all 2,131 Reputation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Safety, reputation, their lives, their friends, and their world. 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