---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even the people who have had success and…"
description: "\"Even the people who have had success and made money writing these books of fiction seem to feel the need to pretend it's no big deal, or part of a natu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/george-murray-21733_about_even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and_589257.jpg"
---

#  Even the people who have had success and made money…

![“Even the people who have had success and made money writing these books of fiction seem to feel the need to pretend it's no big deal, or part of a natural progression from poetry to fiction, but often it's really just about the money, the perceived prestige.” quote by George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/george-murray-21733_about_even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and_589257.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/george-murray-21733_about_even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and_589257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/george-murray-21733_about_even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and_589257.jpg)

> “Even the people who have had success and made money writing these books of fiction seem to feel the need to pretend it's no big deal, or part of a natural progression from poetry to fiction, but often it's really just about the money, the perceived prestige.”

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Authors often mask commercial motives, presenting fiction as a natural artistic evolution, but money and prestige drive many.

**In simple terms:** Authors hide profit motives behind artistic claims.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and balance art with commerce.

Themes

authenticity creative industry motivation

Mood

critical analytical

Type

explanatory industry

When to use this quote

- publishing
- career planning
- creative projects

Key Concepts

literary economics artist identity

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do creators downplay financial goals?
- How can honesty about profit affect credibility?

A Different Perspective

May undervalue genuine artistic intent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Prestige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prestige/) [Progression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progression/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“I always tell people that if they want to know about the history of a country, do not go to the history books, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chenjerai-hove/i-always-tell-people-that-if-they-want-to-know-about-the-history-of-a/)

Chenjerai Hove

> [I got expelled from the public library for putting all the 'Women's Rights' books in the fiction section.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-got-expelled-from-the-public-library-for-putting-all-the-women-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Friends are like books, some are Fiction and some are Nonfiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-are-like-books-some-are-fiction-and-some-are-nonfiction/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [One of the fantastic things about books, fiction or non-fiction, is the way they give you a chance to look into different lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-cross/one-of-the-fantastic-things-about-books-fiction-or-non-fiction-is-the/)

[Gillian Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-cross/)

> [“My boy? he is even better than books. -fiction has nothing on you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lovelace/my-boy-he-is-even-better-than-books-fiction-has-nothing-on-you/)

[Amanda Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lovelace/)

> [“You might think of the barrier between fiction and reality as being a bit like a blood-brain barrier, which allows only some kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-carlson/you-might-think-of-the-barrier-between-fiction-and-reality-as-being-a/)

[Greg Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-carlson/)

> [There is poetry in fiction. If you cannot see it and feel it when you write, you need to step back and examine what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/there-is-poetry-in-fiction-if-you-cannot-see-it-and-feel-it-when-you/)

[Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/)

> [I like dramas because there's a big overlap between film and fiction, so I feel relatively qualified to talk about plot and characterisation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/i-like-dramas-because-there-s-a-big-overlap-between-film-and-fiction/)

[Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/)

> [Mostly the natural landscapes work as a sounding board for my characters, so they can understand themselves, and it acts as a mirror in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/mostly-the-natural-landscapes-work-as-a-sounding-board-for-my/)

[Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/)

> [Even in fiction, I feel rigorous honesty applies. It doesn't apply to facts; it applies to what I think of as not telling emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/even-in-fiction-i-feel-rigorous-honesty-applies-it-doesn-t-apply-to/)

[Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/)

> [I'm reluctant to get involved in science fiction, because I feel like I've done it and done it well, so unless something comes along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bamber/i-m-reluctant-to-get-involved-in-science-fiction-because-i-feel-like/)

[Jamie Bamber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bamber/)

> [It's true that I don't rearrange that much in the fiction, but I feel if you change even one name or the order of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/it-s-true-that-i-don-t-rearrange-that-much-in-the-fiction-but-i-feel/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

> [As a teenager, I didn't read a ton of teen fiction, and now I feel like I wish that I had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-andrews/as-a-teenager-i-didn-t-read-a-ton-of-teen-fiction-and-now-i-feel-like/)

[Jesse Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-andrews/)

> [I want my fiction to feel real most of the time, so it makes sense to pay attention to life and to how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-earls/i-want-my-fiction-to-feel-real-most-of-the-time-so-it-makes-sense-to/)

[Nick Earls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-earls/)

> [But I think writing should be a bit of a struggle. We're not writing things that are going to change the world in big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evie-wyld/but-i-think-writing-should-be-a-bit-of-a-struggle-we-re-not-writing/)

[Evie Wyld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evie-wyld/)

## More by George Murray

> [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [I think the main influence has been living in New York City. Aside from all the crap around 9/11, I find it very demanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-think-the-main-influence-has-been-living-in-new-york-city-aside/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [In my opinion, Al Moritz may be the best poet of his generation in Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/in-my-opinion-al-moritz-may-be-the-best-poet-of-his-generation-in/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [The poetry community here has been extraordinarily welcoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/the-poetry-community-here-has-been-extraordinarily-welcoming/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [I think, for me, humour needs to be used like a strong spice - sparingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-think-for-me-humour-needs-to-be-used-like-a-strong-spice-sparingly/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [I guess there is also an element of deliberate change involved. Each of my books has been, at least from my point of view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-guess-there-is-also-an-element-of-deliberate-change-involved-each/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [My self-editing process is intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/my-self-editing-process-is-intense/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [I am certainly suffering from a modicum of performance anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-am-certainly-suffering-from-a-modicum-of-performance-anxiety/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [I do try to let what is obviously unintended yet naturally good stay in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-do-try-to-let-what-is-obviously-unintended-yet-naturally-good-stay/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [I've often entertained paranoid suspicions about my fridge and what it's been doing to my poetry when I'm not looking, but I never even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-ve-often-entertained-paranoid-suspicions-about-my-fridge-and-what/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [With 'Carousel' I had an idea and it all came out quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/with-carousel-i-had-an-idea-and-it-all-came-out-quickly/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [I no longer feel pressure to produce fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-no-longer-feel-pressure-to-produce-fiction/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [It's a bit of a crapshoot out there with young writers right now anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/it-s-a-bit-of-a-crapshoot-out-there-with-young-writers-right-now/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [A sequence works in a way a collection never can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/a-sequence-works-in-a-way-a-collection-never-can/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

> [I suppress the vast majority of what I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-suppress-the-vast-majority-of-what-i-write/)

[George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

[Explore all 28 George Murray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Even the people who have had success and made money writing these books of fiction seem to feel the need to pretend it's no big deal, or part of a natural progression from poetry to fiction, but often it's really just about the money, the perceived prestige.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Murray"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and-made-money-writing-these/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and-made-money-writing-these/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/george-murray-21733_about_even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and_589257.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/george-murray-21733_about_even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and_589257.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/george-murray-21733_about_even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and_589257.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even the people who have had success and made money writing these books of fiction seem to feel the need to…” — George Murray",
                "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": "George Murray",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Even the people who have had...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and-made-money-writing-these/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/even-the-people-who-have-had-success-and-made-money-writing-these/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
