--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A friend of mine asked me if it's still…" description: "\"“A friend of mine asked me if it's still possible to write a classic. I told him we will never know.”\" — Gary Hays" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/gary-hays-89658_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still_1517022.jpg" --- # A friend of mine asked me if it's still possible to write… ![“A friend of mine asked me if it's still possible to write a classic. I told him we will never know.” quote by Gary Hays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/gary-hays-89658_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still_1517022.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/gary-hays-89658_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still_1517022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/gary-hays-89658_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still_1517022.jpg) > ““A friend of mine asked me if it's still possible to write a classic. I told him we will never know.”” Gary Hays ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing a classic is uncertain; the future of literary greatness remains unknowable. **In simple terms:** Classic status is unpredictable. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty in creative ambition. Themes literature creativity uncertainty humor Mood reflective philosophical humorous Type Friendship:0 Friend Asked:0 Possible Write:0 Asked Possible:0 Write Classic:0 Classic Told:0 When to use this quote - academic seminars - writing workshops - personal reflection Key Concepts classic literature authorial ambition future speculation Questions to Reflect On - What defines a “classic” for you? - How do you measure literary success? A Different Perspective Not all agree that classics are unattainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [“Her voice was trained, supple as leather, precise as a knife thrower's blade. Singing or talking, it had the same graceful quality, and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/her-voice-was-trained-supple-as-leather-precise-as-a-knife-thrower-s/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“Darlin’, the last time I walked into a mall was two presidents ago.” I stared at him in shock. Then I asked, “Is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/darlin-the-last-time-i-walked-into-a-mall-was-two-presidents-ago-i/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I believe that I've been asked all possible questions. I, myself, if I were a journalist, would not know what to ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-believe-that-i-ve-been-asked-all-possible-questions-i-myself-if-i/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I wanna write a classic metal record, a classic rock record, in 2013.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-shadows/i-wanna-write-a-classic-metal-record-a-classic-rock-record-in-2013/) [M. Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-shadows/) > [You don't have to be dead to write a classic, and you don't have to be literary to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-scottoline/you-don-t-have-to-be-dead-to-write-a-classic-and-you-don-t-have-to-be/) [Lisa Scottoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-scottoline/) > [Not everyone can say, 'I'm going to write a classic today.' If that was the case, we'd all be doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/not-everyone-can-say-i-m-going-to-write-a-classic-today-if-that-was/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I kind of write in a very classic way. I sit in the piano, working on some catchy, cool melodies and coming up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/i-kind-of-write-in-a-very-classic-way-i-sit-in-the-piano-working-on/) [Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/) > [An friend asked me a while ago to give her one good reason why I love you so much. I smiled and said, Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edchelyn/an-friend-asked-me-a-while-ago-to-give-her-one-good-reason-why-i-love/) Edchelyn > [I think the thing that has made it possible for me to write personal songs and sing them year after year is the sensibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/i-think-the-thing-that-has-made-it-possible-for-me-to-write-personal/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I wrote an album about being in love. I don't think it's possible to write an album while you're in love - why on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lightbody/i-wrote-an-album-about-being-in-love-i-don-t-think-it-s-possible-to/) Gary Lightbody > [“I wish you would, because I’m not sure how long I can put up with this.” “I’ll bet you can put up with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/i-wish-you-would-because-i-m-not-sure-how-long-i-can-put-up-with-this/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [I think it's absolutely possible to write a song and go somewhere where no one's been before, uncharted territory. In terms of content, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-think-it-s-absolutely-possible-to-write-a-song-and-go-somewhere/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [Gustave Flaubert said, "Emma Bovary, c'est moi." It is not possible to write something you are not, but to have a new form, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lore-segal/gustave-flaubert-said-emma-bovary-c-est-moi-it-is-not-possible-to/) [Lore Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lore-segal/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [“You were with Margo Roth Spiegelman last night? At THREE A.M.? I nodded. Alone? I nodded. Oh my God, if you hooked up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-were-with-margo-roth-spiegelman-last-night-at-three-a-m-i-nodded/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by Gary Hays > [“You just cannot reason with a turnip. It's fruitless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hays/you-just-cannot-reason-with-a-turnip-it-s-fruitless/) Gary Hays Explore all 2 Gary Hays quotes ## More Friendship quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) Unknwon > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [If you love some one for who they are not for there body or how many friend so when you say I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/if-you-love-some-one-for-who-they-are-not-for-there-body-or-how-many/) Unknow > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/) [Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/) [Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/) [Browse all 45,469 Friendship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A friend of mine asked me if it's still possible to write a classic. I told him we will never know.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Hays" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hays/a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still-possible-to-write-a-classic-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Friendship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hays/a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still-possible-to-write-a-classic-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/gary-hays-89658_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still_1517022.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/gary-hays-89658_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still_1517022.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/gary-hays-89658_friendship_a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still_1517022.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A friend of mine asked me if it's still possible to write a classic. I told him we will never know.” — Gary Hays", "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": "Gary Hays", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hays/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A friend of mine asked me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hays/a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still-possible-to-write-a-classic-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hays/a-friend-of-mine-asked-me-if-it-s-still-possible-to-write-a-classic-i/#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 } } ] } ```