--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel that I am doing the minimum amount…" description: "\"I feel that I am doing the minimum amount of damage to other possibilities that may take place in a reader's head.\" — Edward Gorey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/edward-gorey-9339_amount_i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amoun_1909078.jpg" --- # I feel that I am doing the minimum amount of damage to… ![“I feel that I am doing the minimum amount of damage to other possibilities that may take place in a reader's head.” quote by Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/edward-gorey-9339_amount_i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amoun_1909078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/edward-gorey-9339_amount_i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amoun_1909078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/edward-gorey-9339_amount_i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amoun_1909078.jpg) > “I feel that I am doing the minimum amount of damage to other possibilities that may take place in a reader's head.” [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author aims to minimize interference with readers' imagination, allowing their own possibilities to emerge. **In simple terms:** Let readers imagine freely. Key Takeaway Avoid over-explaining. Themes creativity imagination authorial restraint Mood thoughtful reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - illustration - educational content - storytelling - marketing Key Concepts minimalism reader agency Questions to Reflect On - How much detail should you give? - Does restraint enhance engagement? A Different Perspective May limit clarity for some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) ## Related quotes > [Being there is just not enough. There's people who go to work and do the minimum yet expect a raise like the other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-avenda-o/being-there-is-just-not-enough-there-s-people-who-go-to-work-and-do/) [Ivan Avendano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-avenda-o/) > [“If doing the minimum wasn't good enough, it wouldn't be called the minimum”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-kackley/if-doing-the-minimum-wasn-t-good-enough-it-wouldn-t-be-called-the/) Rod Kackley > [The characters within a book were, from a certain point of view, identical on some fundamental level ‒ there weren't any images of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/the-characters-within-a-book-were-from-a-certain-point-of-view/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Writing isn't just on the page; it's voices in the reader's head. Read what you write out loud to someone-anyone-and you will catch all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-jo-napoli/writing-isn-t-just-on-the-page-it-s-voices-in-the-reader-s-head-read/) [Donna Jo Napoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-jo-napoli/) > [Too many ads that try not to go over the reader's head end up beneath his notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-burnett/too-many-ads-that-try-not-to-go-over-the-reader-s-head-end-up-beneath/) [Leo Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-burnett/) > [We create an interior 'movie' in the reader's head through words on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gerard/we-create-an-interior-movie-in-the-reader-s-head-through-words-on-the/) [Philip Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gerard/) > [The so-called paradoxes of an author, to which a reader takes exception, often exist not in the author's book at all, but rather in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-so-called-paradoxes-of-an-author-to-which-a-reader-takes/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [If I do not seem to be mentioning anything I’ve read lately, it is because I am in one of those periods of undifferentiated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/if-i-do-not-seem-to-be-mentioning-anything-i-ve-read-lately-it-is/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“Do you feel you are doing something important or that you care about deeply? Do the content and challenges associated with your work enthrall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-moses/do-you-feel-you-are-doing-something-important-or-that-you-care-about/) [Barbara Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-moses/) > [“Because you actually might not know what activities truly engage your attention and satisfy you, he says, it can be helpful to keep a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-gallagher/because-you-actually-might-not-know-what-activities-truly-engage-your/) [Winifred Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-gallagher/) > [I just want to keep laying down really great, strong characters, and the more I go unrecognized, the better job I feel I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-just-want-to-keep-laying-down-really-great-strong-characters-and/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [As long as I feel I am doing what I think is right and just for my country, for the Greek people, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/as-long-as-i-feel-i-am-doing-what-i-think-is-right-and-just-for-my/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [“I realized that with everything I did from that point onward, I would have to ask myself this question: "How would I feel if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mackey/i-realized-that-with-everything-i-did-from-that-point-onward-i-would/) [John Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mackey/) > [If I didn't feel that I was doing something or trying to do something for others, then I would have very little excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/if-i-didn-t-feel-that-i-was-doing-something-or-trying-to-do-something/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [And this whole period of time of gradually working at being a better guitar player and songwriter have gradually led me to the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/and-this-whole-period-of-time-of-gradually-working-at-being-a-better/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) ## More by Edward Gorey > [I have given up considering happiness as relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-have-given-up-considering-happiness-as-relevant/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [Interviewer: What is your greatest regret? Gorey: That I don't have one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/interviewer-what-is-your-greatest-regret-gorey-that-i-don-t-have-one/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I should like a parsley sandwich. To the best of my knowledge they are not in season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-should-like-a-parsley-sandwich-to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-they-are/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I really think I write about everyday life. I don't think I'm quite as odd as others say I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-really-think-i-write-about-everyday-life-i-don-t-think-i-m-quite-as/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [There was a young lady named Mae Who smoked without stopping all day; As pack followed pack, Her lungs first turned black, And eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/there-was-a-young-lady-named-mae-who-smoked-without-stopping-all-day/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“Apropos of nothing at all except that it has been on my mind and I think I had better say it because it accounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/apropos-of-nothing-at-all-except-that-it-has-been-on-my-mind-and-i/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [Vice is nice, but a little virtue won't hurt you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/vice-is-nice-but-a-little-virtue-won-t-hurt-you/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“How elegant! how choice! how gay! To think one doesn’t have to pay. There is sound of falling tears; It comes from nowhere to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/how-elegant-how-choice-how-gay-to-think-one-doesn-t-have-to-pay-there/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I just kind of conjured them up out of my subconscious and put them in order of ascending peculiarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-just-kind-of-conjured-them-up-out-of-my-subconscious-and-put-them/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I've never had any intentions about anything. That's why I am where I am today, which is neither here nor there, in a literal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-ve-never-had-any-intentions-about-anything-that-s-why-i-am-where-i/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [The Suicide, as she is falling, Illuminated by the moon, Regrets her act, and finds appalling The thought she will be dead so soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/the-suicide-as-she-is-falling-illuminated-by-the-moon-regrets-her-act/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“He presented it with a length of string and passed on to the statue of Corrupted Endeavor to await the arrival of Autumn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/he-presented-it-with-a-length-of-string-and-passed-on-to-the-statue/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I don't know what it is I'm doing. But it's not that. Despite all evidence to the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-i-m-doing-but-it-s-not-that-despite-all/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I realize that homosexuality is a serious problem for anyone who is - but then, of course, heterosexuality is a serious problem for anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-realize-that-homosexuality-is-a-serious-problem-for-anyone-who-is/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I really think I write about everyday life. I don't think I'm quite as odd as others say I am. Life is intrinsically, well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-really-think-i-write-about-everyday-life-i-don-t-think-i-m-quite-as-2/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) [Explore all 73 Edward Gorey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) ## More Amount quotes > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [You have a little bit of talent, a certain amount of good fortune and a lot of hard work in pursuit of whatever truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sutherland/you-have-a-little-bit-of-talent-a-certain-amount-of-good-fortune-and/) [Donald Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sutherland/) > [I have a tremendous amount of respect for military families. To have to worry about your loved ones and still try and live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-have-a-tremendous-amount-of-respect-for-military-families-to-have/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [In sports teams, apart from talk of sporting prowess and the imparting of inspirational thought, an extraordinary amount of time is spent discussing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/in-sports-teams-apart-from-talk-of-sporting-prowess-and-the-imparting/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) Browse all 4,202 Amount quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel that I am doing the minimum amount of damage to other possibilities that may take place in a reader's head.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Gorey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amount-of-damage-to-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amount" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amount-of-damage-to-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/edward-gorey-9339_amount_i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amoun_1909078.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/edward-gorey-9339_amount_i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amoun_1909078.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/edward-gorey-9339_amount_i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amoun_1909078.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel that I am doing the minimum amount of damage to other possibilities that may take place in a reader's…” — Edward Gorey", "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": "Edward Gorey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I feel that I am doing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amount-of-damage-to-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-feel-that-i-am-doing-the-minimum-amount-of-damage-to-other/#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 } } ] } ```