--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My writing has developed drastically…" description: "\"My writing has developed drastically . The Return of the Prodigal Son is the most important thing I've done, and my most mature book.\" — Henri Nouwen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henri-nouwen-600_book_my-writing-has-developed-drastically-the_1330736.png" --- # My writing has developed drastically . The Return of the… ![“My writing has developed drastically . The Return of the Prodigal Son is the most important thing I've done, and my most mature book.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henri-nouwen-600_book_my-writing-has-developed-drastically-the_1330736.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henri-nouwen-600_book_my-writing-has-developed-drastically-the_1330736.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/henri-nouwen-600_book_my-writing-has-developed-drastically-the_1330736.png) > “My writing has developed drastically . The Return of the Prodigal Son is the most important thing I've done, and my most mature book.” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author sees this work as a pivotal, mature expression of his spiritual journey. **In simple terms:** A major, mature book marks personal growth. Key Takeaway Embrace projects that reflect deep personal evolution. Themes spiritual growth authorship self‑realization Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - writing retreats - spiritual counseling - publishing a memoir Key Concepts maturity reflection creative breakthrough Questions to Reflect On - What does this book reveal about your inner transformation? - How can you share its insights with others? A Different Perspective May overlook collaborative input or external critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Developed Drastically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developed-drastically-4464036/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Mature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mature/) [Mature Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mature-book-4464035/) [Prodigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigal/) [Prodigal son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigal-son/) [Prodigals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prodigals/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Developed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-developed-4464034/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a prodigal son. The black sheep of a white flock. I shall die on the gallows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-drake/i-m-a-prodigal-son-the-black-sheep-of-a-white-flock-i-shall-die-on/) [William A. Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-drake/) > [One of the hardest things in the world is to stop being the prodigal son without turning into the elder brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-is-to-stop-being-the-prodigal/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The Prodigal Son story is, I think, the greatest short-story ever written. It has such drama in it, such great characters, it's so clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-prodigal-son-story-is-i-think-the-greatest-short-story-ever/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Mankind are always found prodigal both of blood and treasure in the maintenance of public justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/mankind-are-always-found-prodigal-both-of-blood-and-treasure-in-the/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [If a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/if-a-man-is-prodigal-he-cannot-be-truly-generous/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [The great man is sparing in words but prodigal in deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-great-man-is-sparing-in-words-but-prodigal-in-deeds/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Bankrupt of life, yet prodigal of ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/bankrupt-of-life-yet-prodigal-of-ease/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [I am that prodigal son who wasted all the portion entrusted to me by my father. But I have not yet fallen at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/i-am-that-prodigal-son-who-wasted-all-the-portion-entrusted-to-me-by/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > ['Prodigal Son' actually came along a lot quicker than I was expecting my next job to come. I was prepared to take a while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/prodigal-son-actually-came-along-a-lot-quicker-than-i-was-expecting/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [The severe household has no fierce slaves, while it is the affectionate mother who has the prodigal son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/the-severe-household-has-no-fierce-slaves-while-it-is-the/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [You may be more prodigal of time than of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/you-may-be-more-prodigal-of-time-than-of-money/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [“The back door beckons to a prodigal son.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davidow/the-back-door-beckons-to-a-prodigal-son/) [Michael Davidow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davidow/) > [I did 'Prodigal Son' at Manhattan Theatre Club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothee-chalamet/i-did-prodigal-son-at-manhattan-theatre-club/) [Timothee Chalamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothee-chalamet/) > [If a man is miser, he will certainly have a prodigal son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-a-man-is-miser-he-will-certainly-have-a-prodigal-son/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“ The Prodigal Son They gave the deep end of their heart--a hue of crimson red, They whispered their desire and offered up their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-prodigal-son-they-gave-the-deep-end-of-their-heart-a-hue-of/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“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/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My writing has developed drastically . 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