--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've written five books, a book every…" description: "\"I've written five books, a book every three years. I'm fairly lazy and it doesn't take that much...people who are not lazy are Isaac Asimov.\" — Ethan C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/ethan-canin-27277_asimov_i-ve-written-five-books-a-book-every-thr_1983763.png" --- # I've written five books, a book every three years. I'm… ![“I've written five books, a book every three years. I'm fairly lazy and it doesn't take that much...people who are not lazy are Isaac Asimov.” quote by Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/ethan-canin-27277_asimov_i-ve-written-five-books-a-book-every-thr_1983763.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/ethan-canin-27277_asimov_i-ve-written-five-books-a-book-every-thr_1983763.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/ethan-canin-27277_asimov_i-ve-written-five-books-a-book-every-thr_1983763.png) > “I've written five books, a book every three years. I'm fairly lazy and it doesn't take that much...people who are not lazy are Isaac Asimov.” [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He writes a book every three years, attributing it to laziness, contrasting with Isaac Asimov's prolific output. **In simple terms:** He writes regularly, calling it lazy, unlike Asimov. Key Takeaway Consistent effort yields results. Themes writing productivity creativity Mood reflective humorous Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - daily writing schedule - goal setting - publishing timeline Key Concepts discipline habit formation comparison Questions to Reflect On - How does your routine affect quality? - What drives your writing pace? A Different Perspective Self‑deprecating humor may mask true effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asimov/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I used to read a lot of Isaac Asimov and Philip Dick and 'Inland Empire's' one of the earlier books I read!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/i-used-to-read-a-lot-of-isaac-asimov-and-philip-dick-and-inland/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [Isaac Asimov's remark about the infantilism of pseudoscience is just as applicable to religion: 'Inspect every piece of pseudoscience and you will find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/isaac-asimov-s-remark-about-the-infantilism-of-pseudoscience-is-just-2/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Whenever someone wonders how I could have written 57 books, I remind them that Isaac Asimov wrote 500 books. I like Asimov's view that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/whenever-someone-wonders-how-i-could-have-written-57-books-i-remind/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [In accordance with the terms of the Clarke-Asimov treaty, the second-best science writer dedicates this book to the second-best science-fiction writer. \[dedication to Isaac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/in-accordance-with-the-terms-of-the-clarke-asimov-treaty-the-second/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [For bedtime reading, I usually curl up with a good monograph on quantum physics or string theory, my specialty. But since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/for-bedtime-reading-i-usually-curl-up-with-a-good-monograph-on/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [Isaac Asimov is, in reality, based on something I had invented a few years previously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/isaac-asimov-is-in-reality-based-on-something-i-had-invented-a-few/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [I've read everything that Isaac Asimov ever wrote, for a start. I'm massively into my fantasy genre, anything by R.A. Salvatore or David Gemmell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-ve-read-everything-that-isaac-asimov-ever-wrote-for-a-start-i-m/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy centers around the “Seldon Plan” to shorten a reversion period from 30,000 years to 1,000 years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/isaac-asimov-s-foundation-trilogy-centers-around-the-seldon-plan-to/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s remark about the infantilism of pseudoscience is just as applicable to religion: ‘Inspect every piece of pseudoscience and you will find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/isaac-asimov-s-remark-about-the-infantilism-of-pseudoscience-is-just/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [There were four major 20th-century science fiction writers: Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Ray Bradbury. Of those four, the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/there-were-four-major-20th-century-science-fiction-writers-arthur-c/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ― Isaac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/your-assumptions-are-your-windows-on-the-world-scrub-them-off-every-3/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“The science fiction novelist Isaac Asimov reportedly once said, “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/the-science-fiction-novelist-isaac-asimov-reportedly-once-said-the/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Isaac Asimov”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohi-shetty/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those/) Rohi Shetty ## More by Ethan Canin > [Art is so personal. I'm very comforted by the fact that certain movies that I love, other people hate. Certain books that I love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/art-is-so-personal-i-m-very-comforted-by-the-fact-that-certain-movies/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [I work with wood a lot. I like building. I think of building. I would love to buy land on some water somewhere and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/i-work-with-wood-a-lot-i-like-building-i-think-of-building-i-would/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [You have to be smart enough to see the world for yourself and honest. The whole book-publicity thing is not really honest, at base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/you-have-to-be-smart-enough-to-see-the-world-for-yourself-and-honest/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [“The forgotten of this country have a consistent history of turning on their champions, and I suppose the way working men and women have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/the-forgotten-of-this-country-have-a-consistent-history-of-turning-on/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [There are writers who draw immediate attention to the fact that it's fiction. And I like some of that, but it doesn't really have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/there-are-writers-who-draw-immediate-attention-to-the-fact-that-it-s/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [Don't write about a character. Become that character, and then write your story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/don-t-write-about-a-character-become-that-character-and-then-write/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [If someone doesn't like your fiction, it's really insulting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/if-someone-doesn-t-like-your-fiction-it-s-really-insulting/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [You're never so alive as after you thought you were going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/you-re-never-so-alive-as-after-you-thought-you-were-going-to-die/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [There are some advantages to being a writer: you do generally get better as you get older. I think I understand things better. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/there-are-some-advantages-to-being-a-writer-you-do-generally-get/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [To have too much time is not good, you have to force yourself. And human beings aren't meant for true freedom. I've learned that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/to-have-too-much-time-is-not-good-you-have-to-force-yourself-and/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [I think talent has a huge amount to do with concentration, concentration rather than the athletic ability of your neurons. If you can concentrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/i-think-talent-has-a-huge-amount-to-do-with-concentration/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [“Now she was smiling. “And while you’re at it,” she said, “here’s another one for you. Theodicy. That’s another word Leibniz used. As long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/now-she-was-smiling-and-while-you-re-at-it-she-said-here-s-another/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [Writing a book is like an unknown abyss, every time. Every book is different. Contrary to what unpublished writers think, it's horrible to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/writing-a-book-is-like-an-unknown-abyss-every-time-every-book-is/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [You can tell within a sentence if something is fiction or non-fiction. You can tell in the artifice of the language or the care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/you-can-tell-within-a-sentence-if-something-is-fiction-or-non-fiction/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) > [“One of the hallmarks of our politics now is that we tend to elect those who can campaign over those who can lead;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-canin/one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our-politics-now-is-that-we-tend-to-elect/) [Ethan Canin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) [Explore all 20 Ethan Canin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-canin/) ## More Asimov quotes > [“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Isaac Asimov”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohi-shetty/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those/) Rohi Shetty > [I've read everything that Isaac Asimov ever wrote, for a start. I'm massively into my fantasy genre, anything by R.A. Salvatore or David Gemmell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-ve-read-everything-that-isaac-asimov-ever-wrote-for-a-start-i-m/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [Isaac Asimov is, in reality, based on something I had invented a few years previously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/isaac-asimov-is-in-reality-based-on-something-i-had-invented-a-few/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Asimov was the reason why we changed some rules in the SFWA, and I'm not convinced we changed it for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/asimov-was-the-reason-why-we-changed-some-rules-in-the-sfwa-and-i-m/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) > [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s remark about the infantilism of pseudoscience is just as applicable to religion: ‘Inspect every piece of pseudoscience and you will find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/isaac-asimov-s-remark-about-the-infantilism-of-pseudoscience-is-just/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. -Issac Asimov-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keisha-v/people-who-think-they-know-everything-are-a-great-annoyance-to-those-2/) Keisha V > [For bedtime reading, I usually curl up with a good monograph on quantum physics or string theory, my specialty. But since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/for-bedtime-reading-i-usually-curl-up-with-a-good-monograph-on/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [“Far from disproving the existence of God, astronomers may be finding more circumstantial evidence that God exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jastrow/far-from-disproving-the-existence-of-god-astronomers-may-be-finding/) [Robert Jastrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jastrow/) > [“Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy centers around the “Seldon Plan” to shorten a reversion period from 30,000 years to 1,000 years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/isaac-asimov-s-foundation-trilogy-centers-around-the-seldon-plan-to/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [A story in Asimov's is read by hundreds of thousands of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-egan/a-story-in-asimov-s-is-read-by-hundreds-of-thousands-of-people/) [Greg Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-egan/) > [We never had books at home, but my dad, seeing how keen I was to read, took me to Islington Library when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/we-never-had-books-at-home-but-my-dad-seeing-how-keen-i-was-to-read/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [It's hard not to like Asimov; he's a really likable guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/it-s-hard-not-to-like-asimov-he-s-a-really-likable-guy/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“They spoke as if this were settled science. We’ll discuss the three laws in chapter 1, but it’s enough to say for now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-barrat/they-spoke-as-if-this-were-settled-science-we-ll-discuss-the-three/) [James Barrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-barrat/) > [There were four major 20th-century science fiction writers: Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Ray Bradbury. Of those four, the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/there-were-four-major-20th-century-science-fiction-writers-arthur-c/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) [Browse all 37 Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asimov/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've written five books, a book every three years. 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