--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As for discipline—it's important, but…" description: "\"As for discipline—it's important, but sort of overrated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/elizabeth-gilbert-131_believe_as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sor_167674.jpg" --- # As for discipline—it's important, but sort of overrated… ![“As for discipline—it's important, but sort of overrated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will always disappoint you. Your laziness will always disappoint you.” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/elizabeth-gilbert-131_believe_as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sor_167674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/elizabeth-gilbert-131_believe_as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sor_167674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/elizabeth-gilbert-131_believe_as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sor_167674.jpg) > “As for discipline—it's important, but sort of overrated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will always disappoint you. Your laziness will always disappoint you.” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discipline matters, yet forgiving oneself is crucial because creative work inevitably falls short and effort wanes. **In simple terms:** Self‑forgiveness outweighs strict discipline for writers. Key Takeaway Practice kindness to yourself when writing. Themes creativity self‑compassion discipline Mood reflective encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - author workshops - daily journaling - creative retreats Key Concepts writer’s block perfectionism motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance discipline with self‑forgiveness? - What practices nurture both? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can still hinder progress despite forgiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-forgiveness/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Humility is not a virtue in a writer, it is an absolute necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lee-burke/humility-is-not-a-virtue-in-a-writer-it-is-an-absolute-necessity/) [James Lee Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lee-burke/) > [Courage is most important virtue, one is blessed with. It is the courage which makes you stand alone even in storm of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/courage-is-most-important-virtue-one-is-blessed-with-it-is-the/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Courage is the most important virtue because it is the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/courage-is-the-most-important-virtue-because-it-is-the-hardest/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [In ethics, prudence is not an important virtue, but in the world it is almost everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/in-ethics-prudence-is-not-an-important-virtue-but-in-the-world-it-is/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I know of nothing more valuable, when it comes to the all-important virtue of authenticity, than simply being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-know-of-nothing-more-valuable-when-it-comes-to-the-all-important/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Without courage you cant practice any virtue consistently.Courage is most important virtue by which you can attain any goal with consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/without-courage-you-cant-practice-any-virtue-consistently-courage-is/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Tolerance is an important virtue of bodhisattvas .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/tolerance-is-an-important-virtue-of-bodhisattvas/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I think that discipline is so much of an important part of being a parent. Because it's very, very important to teach your children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-think-that-discipline-is-so-much-of-an-important-part-of-being-a/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that's important. Self-discipline with awareness of consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/whether-you-call-it-buddhism-or-another-religion-self-discipline-that/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I won't say I am a strict mother, but discipline is important. Timing and routine are important for kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karisma-kapoor/i-won-t-say-i-am-a-strict-mother-but-discipline-is-important-timing/) [Karisma Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karisma-kapoor/) > [Discipline is important for everything in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-peterffy/discipline-is-important-for-everything-in-life/) [Thomas Peterffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-peterffy/) > [Discipline is important as long as you're having a good time. What I always did was I did what I enjoyed, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zorn/discipline-is-important-as-long-as-you-re-having-a-good-time-what-i/) [John Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zorn/) > [“Discipline is important as practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-poison-king-2/discipline-is-important-as-practice/) Dr poison king > [I do believe sometimes discipline is very important. I'm not just lying around like a lazy cow all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/i-do-believe-sometimes-discipline-is-very-important-i-m-not-just/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [“The essence of self-discipline is to do the important thing rather than the urgent thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orik-stefansson/the-essence-of-self-discipline-is-to-do-the-important-thing-rather/) Orik Stefansson ## More by Elizabeth Gilbert > [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. He's just the guy who's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-your-friend-my-husband-is-my-best-friend-he-s-not-the-mirror/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Not to mention that I have finally arrived at that age where a woman starts to question whether the wisest way to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/not-to-mention-that-i-have-finally-arrived-at-that-age-where-a-woman/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“The Buddha taught that all human suffering is rooted in desire. Don't we all know this to be true? Any of us who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-buddha-taught-that-all-human-suffering-is-rooted-in-desire-don-t/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/learn-your-way-around-loneliness-make-a-map-of-it-sit-with-it-for/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [If we never leave our house except to drive to work, do we need to be even remotely aware of this powerful, humbling, extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-we-never-leave-our-house-except-to-drive-to-work-do-we-need-to-be/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker," he continued, as though he had not heard her. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-will-tell-you-why-we-have-these-extraordinary-minds-and-souls-miss/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-ingredients-of-both-darkness-and-light-are-equally-present-in-all/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-live-in-nature-where-everything-is-connected-circular-the-seasons/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“His spelling was several degrees beyond arbitrary, and his punctuation brought reason to sigh with unhappiness. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/his-spelling-was-several-degrees-beyond-arbitrary-and-his-punctuation/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) [Explore all 1,156 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [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 don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As for discipline—it's important, but sort of overrated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will always disappoint you. Your laziness will always disappoint you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Gilbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sort-of-overrated-the-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sort-of-overrated-the-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/elizabeth-gilbert-131_believe_as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sor_167674.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/elizabeth-gilbert-131_believe_as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sor_167674.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/elizabeth-gilbert-131_believe_as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sor_167674.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As for discipline—it's important, but sort of overrated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe…” — Elizabeth Gilbert", "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": "Elizabeth Gilbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As for discipline—it's important, but sort...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sort-of-overrated-the-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/as-for-discipline-it-s-important-but-sort-of-overrated-the-more/#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 } } ] } ```