--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I sit down to write a book, I do not…" description: "\"When I sit down to write a book, I do not say to myself, 'I am going to produce a work of art.' I write it because there is some lie that I want to exp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19a/george-orwell-57_art_when-i-sit-down-to-write-a-book-i-do-not_1318035.jpg" --- # When I sit down to write a book, I do not say to myself… ![“When I sit down to write a book, I do not say to myself, 'I am going to produce a work of art.' I write it because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing.” quote by George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19a/george-orwell-57_art_when-i-sit-down-to-write-a-book-i-do-not_1318035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19a/george-orwell-57_art_when-i-sit-down-to-write-a-book-i-do-not_1318035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19a/george-orwell-57_art_when-i-sit-down-to-write-a-book-i-do-not_1318035.jpg) > “When I sit down to write a book, I do not say to myself, 'I am going to produce a work of art.' I write it because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing.” [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Orwell writes to expose falsehoods and draw attention to truths, not to create art. **In simple terms:** He writes to reveal lies and highlight facts. Key Takeaway Focus on truth‑seeking in writing. Themes truth exposure writing purpose Mood reflective serious Type expository motivational When to use this quote - investigative journalism - political commentary - social activism Key Concepts journalism political critique literary intent Questions to Reflect On - What truth are you avoiding? - How does purpose shape your work? A Different Perspective Artistic ambition may limit investigative depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Works of art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-of-art/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Write against patterns. Go against the devils. Write what you never write. Lie. Validate what you don’t validate. Indulge what you don’t like. Wallow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deena-metzger/write-against-patterns-go-against-the-devils-write-what-you-never/) [Deena Metzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deena-metzger/) > [“Write me what you're wearing! Is it warm? Write me how you lie! Do you lie there softly? Write me how you look! Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/write-me-what-you-re-wearing-is-it-warm-write-me-how-you-lie-do-you/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [When I was a kid, I got in trouble for lying a lot, and I had a teacher say, 'Instead of lying, write it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/when-i-was-a-kid-i-got-in-trouble-for-lying-a-lot-and-i-had-a-teacher/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I can't write a lie; the world of imagination is no good. I objectively capture my own experiences and those of my friends. 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The lie you want to keep. \[2015, Whittier\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/prom-ise-pr-m-s-n-pl-es-1-the-lie-you-want-to-keep-2015-whittier/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) ## More by George Orwell > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-was-given-out-that-the-animals-there-practised-cannibalism/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“The actual writing would be easy. 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