Another man Quote by Donald Miller
““Writers don't make any money at all. We make about a dollar. It is terrible. But then again we don't work either. We sit around in our underwear until noon then go downstairs and make coffee, fry some eggs, read the paper, read part of a book, smell the book, wonder if perhaps we ourselves should work on our book, smell the book again, throw the book across the room because we are quite jealous that any other person wrote a book, feel terribly guilty about throwing the schmuck's book across the room because we secretly wonder if God in heaven noticed our evil jealousy, or worse, our laziness. We then lie across the couch facedown and mumble to God to forgive us because we are secretly afraid He is going to dry up all our words because we envied another man's stupid words. And for this, as I said, we are paid a dollar. We are worth so much more.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Author Interview, 2015, The Write Life Podcast
Writers often feel underpaid, idle, and jealous, leading to guilt and existential dread about their creative worth.
In simple terms: Writers feel poor, lazy, jealous, and guilty about their work.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the value of your craft beyond monetary pay.
Themes
creativity
selfworth
guilt
jealousy
productivity
Mood
frustrated
reflective
hopeful
Type
personal
motivational
When to use this quote
- writing sessions
- freelance gigs
- creative retreats
- peer critique groups
- self‑reflection journals
Key Concepts
impostor syndrome
creative block
self-criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does monetary compensation affect your creative motivation?
- What practices can reduce jealousy toward other writers?
A Different Perspective
The quote romanticizes suffering; financial reality may differ for many writers.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
