--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You could say, in a way, that I'm not…" description: "\"“You could say, in a way, that I'm not actually a writer, though perhaps I might be called a recorder? ... I just happen to be one of those holding the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/etienne-de-l-amour-39964_recorder_you-could-say-in-a-way-that-i-m-not-actu_2870581.jpg" --- # You could say, in a way, that I'm not actually a writer… ![“You could say, in a way, that I'm not actually a writer, though perhaps I might be called a recorder? ... I just happen to be one of those holding the pen, that's all.” quote by Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/etienne-de-l-amour-39964_recorder_you-could-say-in-a-way-that-i-m-not-actu_2870581.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/etienne-de-l-amour-39964_recorder_you-could-say-in-a-way-that-i-m-not-actu_2870581.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/etienne-de-l-amour-39964_recorder_you-could-say-in-a-way-that-i-m-not-actu_2870581.jpg) > ““You could say, in a way, that I'm not actually a writer, though perhaps I might be called a recorder? ... I just happen to be one of those holding the pen, that's all.”” [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker modestly describes themselves as a recorder rather than a writer, emphasizing a passive role in documenting. **In simple terms:** Seeing oneself as a recorder, not a writer. Key Takeaway Embrace the value of documenting experiences. Themes writing identity humility Mood thoughtful introspective Type creative philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - memoir - academic research Key Concepts recording narrative self‑perception Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling yourself a recorder affect your work? - What benefits arise from observing rather than creating? A Different Perspective Self‑deprecation may undervalue creative contribution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing-craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-craft/) ## Related quotes > [I actually was a writer who had the ability to perform his own work as opposed to a comedian who wrote his own material.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-actually-was-a-writer-who-had-the-ability-to-perform-his-own-work/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Actually the writer is the most important part of the filmmaking process. That's why I never hesitate in giving credit to a writer which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoojit-sircar/actually-the-writer-is-the-most-important-part-of-the-filmmaking/) [Shoojit Sircar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoojit-sircar/) > [My own accumulation of influences is actually what made me a writer in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sean-greer/my-own-accumulation-of-influences-is-actually-what-made-me-a-writer/) [Andrew Sean Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sean-greer/) > [The good writer, the great writer, has what I have called the three S's: the power to see, to sense, and to say. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-clark-powell/the-good-writer-the-great-writer-has-what-i-have-called-the-three-s-s/) [Lawrence Clark Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-clark-powell/) > [I'm a fantasy writer, called a fantasy writer. But there's very little, apart from one or two basic concepts in 'I Shall Wear Midnight,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-m-a-fantasy-writer-called-a-fantasy-writer-but-there-s-very-little/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I was obsessed with a writer called Martin Amis when I was a teenager. I read everything. Every single time I went to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-was-obsessed-with-a-writer-called-martin-amis-when-i-was-a-teenager/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [You have to remember that I was a bright but simple fellow from Canada who seldom, if ever, met another writer, and then only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-van-vogt/you-have-to-remember-that-i-was-a-bright-but-simple-fellow-from/) [A. E. van Vogt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-van-vogt/) > [In those days, we imagined ourselves as being kept in some kind of holding pen, waiting to be released into our lives. And when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/in-those-days-we-imagined-ourselves-as-being-kept-in-some-kind-of/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“I remember my mother telling me that, when she was a little girl in Catholic school, the nuns used to hit her left hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-remember-my-mother-telling-me-that-when-she-was-a-little-girl-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“You can call anyone you want a traitor as long as you're the one holding the pen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nihad-sirees/you-can-call-anyone-you-want-a-traitor-as-long-as-you-re-the-one/) Nihad Sirees > [I don't write directly on to the computer because I don't think well facing forward with fingers on a keyboard. I think better looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/i-don-t-write-directly-on-to-the-computer-because-i-don-t-think-well/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [Life is same as a book, you're holding a pen and writing it. Don't forget: never give your pen to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/life-is-same-as-a-book-you-re-holding-a-pen-and-writing-it-don-t/) Unkown > [“Your story isn’t over. You’re just finally holding the pen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-siidarth-bhattacharya/your-story-isn-t-over-you-re-just-finally-holding-the-pen/) Dr. Siidarth Bhattacharya > [“It's also worth noting that, when you meet someone, you never ask if he's right- or left-handed. After all: Does it really matter to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-also-worth-noting-that-when-you-meet-someone-you-never-ask-if-he/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The pen is truly mightier than the sword. Unless you're holding a pen and the other guy's holding a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-besseling/the-pen-is-truly-mightier-than-the-sword-unless-you-re-holding-a-pen/) Dave Besseling ## More by Etienne de L'Amour > [“Inspiration can be a wonderful thing, but it can also be quite fickle ... If you want to be able to call on inspiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/inspiration-can-be-a-wonderful-thing-but-it-can-also-be-quite-fickle/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [“You know, we worry about the Bomb, a thought interceded, and yet just look around: there are millions of people out there, just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/you-know-we-worry-about-the-bomb-a-thought-interceded-and-yet-just/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [“Let me leave you with a positive thought. William Shakespeare once wrote: “The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/let-me-leave-you-with-a-positive-thought-william-shakespeare-once/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [“Why should anything exist at all, you might ask? Existence didn't just spring out of nothing whatsoever. Even if there was a time of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/why-should-anything-exist-at-all-you-might-ask-existence-didn-t-just/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [ “The hidden economy \[is\] fed not by money and greed but by love, pure and simple. You see the best and truly golden opportunities… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/the-hidden-economy-is-fed-not-by-money-and-greed-but-by-love-pure-and/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [“The shadow of scepticism is dispelled in the light of real knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/the-shadow-of-scepticism-is-dispelled-in-the-light-of-real-knowledge/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [“He had been diagnosed as suffering from atypical schizophrenia. Lord, how he hated that awful-sounding label. It conjured up visions of some deranged maniac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/he-had-been-diagnosed-as-suffering-from-atypical-schizophrenia-lord/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [“Butcher, baker, candlestick maker – many are unaware of the true role they play in Reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/butcher-baker-candlestick-maker-many-are-unaware-of-the-true-role/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [“Don't just stand there and nod. The mind observes and cogitates, the heart engages, and I would encourage you to engage with the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/don-t-just-stand-there-and-nod-the-mind-observes-and-cogitates-the/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) > [“For the most part, what we think of as 'I' is nothing more than a whole heap of conditioning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-de-l-amour/for-the-most-part-what-we-think-of-as-i-is-nothing-more-than-a-whole/) [Etienne de L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) [Explore all 11 Etienne de L'Amour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-de-l-amour/) ## More Recorder quotes > [I never do formal interviews. I don't use a tape recorder. I take notes but occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/i-never-do-formal-interviews-i-don-t-use-a-tape-recorder-i-take-notes/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [My first synthesizer was the VCS3. I got it in Bristol in the late Sixties, long before Pink Floyd used them. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-jarre/my-first-synthesizer-was-the-vcs3-i-got-it-in-bristol-in-the-late/) [Jean-Michel Jarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-jarre/) > [I used to do little sketches into my cassette tape recorder when I was a little boy. I would just turn it on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-used-to-do-little-sketches-into-my-cassette-tape-recorder-when-i/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [The country is not a democratic state. Therefore we fear that they might carry a recorder in their pocket or there may be bugs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/the-country-is-not-a-democratic-state-therefore-we-fear-that-they/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [Every single morning, I have a person sitting right there next to me in prayer with a tape recorder - and a song comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrae-crouch/every-single-morning-i-have-a-person-sitting-right-there-next-to-me/) [Andrae Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrae-crouch/) > [When the audience first sees Cooper talking into his tape recorder at the beginning of 'Twin Peaks,' I think that's the greatest introduction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maclachlan/when-the-audience-first-sees-cooper-talking-into-his-tape-recorder-at/) [Kyle MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maclachlan/) > [There are many forms of photography. I consider myself simply a recorder of that which I find of interest around me. I personally have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hurn/there-are-many-forms-of-photography-i-consider-myself-simply-a/) [David Hurn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hurn/) > [I had wanted a tape recorder since I was tiny. I thought it was a magic thing. I never got one until just before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-had-wanted-a-tape-recorder-since-i-was-tiny-i-thought-it-was-a/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [My mom played the recorder. But not having electricity, we had minimal exposure to music. As I got a little older, we had Walkmans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bode-miller/my-mom-played-the-recorder-but-not-having-electricity-we-had-minimal/) [Bode Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bode-miller/) > [I'm always making music. I'm constantly making little musical recordings on my phone or on a little voice recorder I carry with me so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/i-m-always-making-music-i-m-constantly-making-little-musical/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [Life is marvelous now because I have a tape recorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-korbut/life-is-marvelous-now-because-i-have-a-tape-recorder/) [Olga Korbut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-korbut/) > [Music always hits me when I'm driving so I keep a recorder in my bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-stone/music-always-hits-me-when-i-m-driving-so-i-keep-a-recorder-in-my-bag/) [Angie Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-stone/) > [The beauty of having a studio is I can go in and record any time I want to, so you can always put down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-boi/the-beauty-of-having-a-studio-is-i-can-go-in-and-record-any-time-i/) [Big Boi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-boi/) > [So, I'll walk around with - just an iPhone will work - but sometimes I'll bring, like, a little mobile recorder and I'll just,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/so-i-ll-walk-around-with-just-an-iphone-will-work-but-sometimes-i-ll/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I first began with the recorder in our community music school. After that, I played horn and participated in the school orchestra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-martin/i-first-began-with-the-recorder-in-our-community-music-school-after/) [Max Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-martin/) Browse all 65 Recorder quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You could say, in a way, that I'm not actually a writer, though perhaps I might be called a recorder? ... 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