--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't really think of time off as…" description: "\"I don't really think of time off as writing blocks. I think that's a western notion of demonizing inactivity. When your imagination decides it needs to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45d/elliott-smith-8566_block_i-don-t-really-think-of-time-off-as-writ_2812374.jpg" --- # I don't really think of time off as writing blocks. I… ![“I don't really think of time off as writing blocks. I think that's a western notion of demonizing inactivity. When your imagination decides it needs to take a nap. maybe that's what it needs to do.” quote by Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45d/elliott-smith-8566_block_i-don-t-really-think-of-time-off-as-writ_2812374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45d/elliott-smith-8566_block_i-don-t-really-think-of-time-off-as-writ_2812374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45d/elliott-smith-8566_block_i-don-t-really-think-of-time-off-as-writ_2812374.jpg) > “I don't really think of time off as writing blocks. I think that's a western notion of demonizing inactivity. When your imagination decides it needs to take a nap. maybe that's what it needs to do.” [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Time off isn’t a block; it’s a natural pause for imagination to rest. **In simple terms:** Rest fuels creativity. Key Takeaway Honor necessary pauses. Themes creativity rest productivity Mood calm thoughtful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - writing retreats - project planning - self‑care routines Key Concepts mental downtime creative cycles Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when to rest? - What rejuvenates your mind? A Different Perspective Too much rest can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) [Blocks Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blocks-think-3529102/) [Demonizing Inactivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonizing-inactivity-3529100/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Inactivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inactivity/) [Inactivity Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inactivity-imagination-3529101/) [Naps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naps/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-off/) [Time Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-writing/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Blocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-blocks-915043/) ## Related quotes > [Look at kids playing with blocks. I think it's in everyone's DNA to want to be a builder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-phillips/look-at-kids-playing-with-blocks-i-think-it-s-in-everyone-s-dna-to/) [Dan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-phillips/) > [I can't even explain the feeling of coming off the blocks because I never think about it. It's natural. I don't analyse it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/i-can-t-even-explain-the-feeling-of-coming-off-the-blocks-because-i/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [It’s not the fear of writing that blocks people, it’s fear of not writing well; something quite different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-berkun/it-s-not-the-fear-of-writing-that-blocks-people-it-s-fear-of-not/) [Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-berkun/) > [Its not the fear of writing that blocks people, its fear of not writing well; something quite different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/its-not-the-fear-of-writing-that-blocks-people-its-fear-of-not/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I spend a lot of time writing. I get inspiration from texts rather than images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-viola/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-writing-i-get-inspiration-from-texts-rather/) [Bill Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-viola/) > [Being a mother is the perfect experience for any writer. You learn how to not waste time. The writing hours become incredibly precious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiara-barzini/being-a-mother-is-the-perfect-experience-for-any-writer-you-learn-how/) [Chiara Barzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiara-barzini/) > [My routine is to create activities for myself unrelated to writing that allow little time for writing. This means that when I do get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/my-routine-is-to-create-activities-for-myself-unrelated-to-writing/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [“My #writing isn't a hobby; it's not a distraction nor escape from reality, neither is it a waste of time. My writing is me;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diem-burden/my-writing-isn-t-a-hobby-it-s-not-a-distraction-nor-escape-from/) [Diem Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diem-burden/) > [I love to write songs, but they don't come easy to me - I spend a lot of time writing really dumb stuff that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-love-to-write-songs-but-they-don-t-come-easy-to-me-i-spend-a-lot-of/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [To make time for writing, one has to take time out from somewhere. Obviously, a fair amount of time that you spend with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/to-make-time-for-writing-one-has-to-take-time-out-from-somewhere/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [“Writing time is for writing, not for checking e-mail, reading the news, or browsing the latest issues of journals. Sometimes I think it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-silvia/writing-time-is-for-writing-not-for-checking-e-mail-reading-the-news/) [Paul J. Silvia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-silvia/) > [I think I have a harder time writing about things that I am not actually going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-mark/i-think-i-have-a-harder-time-writing-about-things-that-i-am-not/) [Amber Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-mark/) > [Whatever's going on with me at the time of writing is going to find its way into the piece. If that doesn't happen, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/whatever-s-going-on-with-me-at-the-time-of-writing-is-going-to-find/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [I'm supposed to be taking time off. But I'm still writing and I have this Gap advert lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/i-m-supposed-to-be-taking-time-off-but-i-m-still-writing-and-i-have/) [Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/) > [I relish the time I have when there are no interruptions. Most often the best time for writing is late at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-armstrong/i-relish-the-time-i-have-when-there-are-no-interruptions-most-often/) [Franny Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-armstrong/) ## More by Elliott Smith > [Somewhere where people aren't so mad would be nice, but I don't know if there is anywhere like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/somewhere-where-people-aren-t-so-mad-would-be-nice-but-i-don-t-know/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I actually don't think that I'm gonna sell a lot of records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-actually-don-t-think-that-i-m-gonna-sell-a-lot-of-records/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [Because God only knows why people like what they like and don't like something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/because-god-only-knows-why-people-like-what-they-like-and-don-t-like/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [My girlfriend at the time convinced me to send these songs to Cavity Search. When they wanted to put out my record I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/my-girlfriend-at-the-time-convinced-me-to-send-these-songs-to-cavity/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [People think they know all these things about other people, and if you ask them why they think they know that, it'd be hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/people-think-they-know-all-these-things-about-other-people-and-if-you/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I didn't think I was gonna be playing on the Oscars or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-didn-t-think-i-was-gonna-be-playing-on-the-oscars-or-anything/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [All your secret wishes could right now be coming true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/all-your-secret-wishes-could-right-now-be-coming-true/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I can't think of anything off the top of my head that seems more important than something designed to raise money to keep something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-can-t-think-of-anything-off-the-top-of-my-head-that-seems-more/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [I went walking around the city some more, people watching with a cold, blank stare. And I saw your face in everyone, I swear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/i-went-walking-around-the-city-some-more-people-watching-with-a-cold/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [There are lots of things I like about playing in a band, the things I can't do by myself you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/there-are-lots-of-things-i-like-about-playing-in-a-band-the-things-i/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [The band's filter, but playing live is a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/the-band-s-filter-but-playing-live-is-a-lot-of-fun/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [Well, I try not to think about the general public since I have no idea what the general public is and I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/well-i-try-not-to-think-about-the-general-public-since-i-have-no-idea/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [People can be chaos but it's hard to fit it into some creative piece that you made. It's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/people-can-be-chaos-but-it-s-hard-to-fit-it-into-some-creative-piece/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [“Tired of dancing on a pot of gold flake paint”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/tired-of-dancing-on-a-pot-of-gold-flake-paint/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) > [A lot of people are kind of depressed. I'm happy some of the time, and some of the time I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-smith/a-lot-of-people-are-kind-of-depressed-i-m-happy-some-of-the-time-and/) [Elliott Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) [Explore all 80 Elliott Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-smith/) ## More Block quotes > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [Stevie Wonder always smells so good... I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/stevie-wonder-always-smells-so-good-i-m-like-a-dea-dog-i-can-smell/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [When it comes to people I love and care about, I may condense the time, but I'm giving them every ounce of my energy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-shetty/when-it-comes-to-people-i-love-and-care-about-i-may-condense-the-time/) [Jay Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-shetty/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [One of those blocks (that prevent the 'Middle East from entering the mainstream of modernity') is the orthodox tenet that the Koran and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-beichman/one-of-those-blocks-that-prevent-the-middle-east-from-entering-the/) [Arnold Beichman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-beichman/) > [The family is the building block for whatever solidarity there is in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/the-family-is-the-building-block-for-whatever-solidarity-there-is-in/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [New York is so serious about the creation of work. Everything is happening so fast, it feels like there's another studio, another session on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-is-so-serious-about-the-creation-of-work-everything-is/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I think you can train yourself to block out some of that pressure and replace it with confidence. It's about preparation, and the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-think-you-can-train-yourself-to-block-out-some-of-that-pressure-and/) [Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/) > [Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/writer-s-block-i-ve-never-heard-of-a-plumber-complain-about-plumber-s/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) [Browse all 1,755 Block quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't really think of time off as writing blocks. I think that's a western notion of demonizing inactivity. 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