--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dollars damn me; and the malicious Devil…" description: "\"Dollars damn me; and the malicious Devil is forever grinning in upon me, holding the door ajar. ... What I feel most moved to write, that is banned - i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/herman-melville-162_banned_dollars-damn-me-and-the-malicious-devil_1347703.jpg" --- # Dollars damn me; and the malicious Devil is forever… ![“Dollars damn me; and the malicious Devil is forever grinning in upon me, holding the door ajar. ... What I feel most moved to write, that is banned - it will not pay. Yet, altogether, write the other way I cannot. So the product is a final hash, and all my books are botches.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/herman-melville-162_banned_dollars-damn-me-and-the-malicious-devil_1347703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/herman-melville-162_banned_dollars-damn-me-and-the-malicious-devil_1347703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/herman-melville-162_banned_dollars-damn-me-and-the-malicious-devil_1347703.jpg) > “Dollars damn me; and the malicious Devil is forever grinning in upon me, holding the door ajar. ... What I feel most moved to write, that is banned - it will not pay. Yet, altogether, write the other way I cannot. So the product is a final hash, and all my books are botches.” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer feels cursed by financial hardship and creative blockage, yet feels compelled to write despite the cost. **In simple terms:** Financial strain hampers creativity, but the urge to write persists. Key Takeaway Persist in creative work despite obstacles. Themes creativity struggle artistic expression Mood melancholic resolute Type literary reflective When to use this quote - writing projects - publishing - artist residencies - grant applications Key Concepts financial pressure artistic integrity self‑censorship Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your creative drive? - How can artists sustain themselves financially? A Different Perspective Economic constraints can limit artistic output and distribution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm really just trying to hash out the next two weeks of my life...so, something that is potentially four months down the road is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/i-m-really-just-trying-to-hash-out-the-next-two-weeks-of-my-life-so/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) > [What the Black lives matter movement is doing is they are making it personal. 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You're not just serving up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/sometimes-when-the-material-is-really-good-you-put-expectations-on/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [As a man, if you got a problem with somebody, you sit down face to face and you talk to them eye to eye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/as-a-man-if-you-got-a-problem-with-somebody-you-sit-down-face-to-face/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [Sash that hash then thrash that gash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kissy-bang-bang/sash-that-hash-then-thrash-that-gash/) Kissy Bang Bang > [First comes the cash, then comes the ass, then come big blunts with chunks of hash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/first-comes-the-cash-then-comes-the-ass-then-come-big-blunts-with/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [“Hash tag” is a game in which participants run around blowing the smoke of a combustible opiate in one another’s face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/hash-tag-is-a-game-in-which-participants-run-around-blowing-the-smoke/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [HASH: There is no definition for this word - nobody knows what hash is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hash-there-is-no-definition-for-this-word-nobody-knows-what-hash-is/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A waft of sweet hash drifted by, and I wanted to float after it like Wimpy levitating at the scent of a hamburger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stahl/a-waft-of-sweet-hash-drifted-by-and-i-wanted-to-float-after-it-like/) [Jerry Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stahl/) > [All Kings, and all their favorites, All glory of honors, beauties, wits, The sun itself, which makes times, as they pass, Is elder by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/all-kings-and-all-their-favorites-all-glory-of-honors-beauties-wits/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Hash browns are my favorite breakfast food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-bilson/hash-browns-are-my-favorite-breakfast-food/) [Rachel Bilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-bilson/) > [Love, like a chicken salad or restaurant hash, must be taken with blind faith or it loses its flavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/love-like-a-chicken-salad-or-restaurant-hash-must-be-taken-with-blind/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [It's not a bad idea to call this Cthulhuism & Yog-Sothothery of mine "The Mythology of Hastur" - although it was really from Machen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/it-s-not-a-bad-idea-to-call-this-cthulhuism-yog-sothothery-of-mine/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [Isabelle glanced back at them. "They're staring at you. Maybe their master died and they're looking for another vampire to own them. You could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/isabelle-glanced-back-at-them-they-re-staring-at-you-maybe-their/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Banned quotes > [Former social media user who got sick of it all when I was banned at Digg in 2007. Now Im back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/former-social-media-user-who-got-sick-of-it-all-when-i-was-banned-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Political correctness is a major defect of the western ethos. Some Western countries have even passed blasphemy laws that would put you in legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/political-correctness-is-a-major-defect-of-the-western-ethos-some/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [Our main agenda is to have all guns banned of course. We must use whatever means possible. 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J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Few things in life seem more sexy than a banned book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/few-things-in-life-seem-more-sexy-than-a-banned-book/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I wanted to live with the \*\*\*\*ing manta rays, but they banned me from Sea World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-wanted-to-live-with-the-ing-manta-rays-but-they-banned-me-from-sea/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [The referee will now keep track of the time on the field and the shootouts have finally been banned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobi-jones/the-referee-will-now-keep-track-of-the-time-on-the-field-and-the/) [Cobi Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobi-jones/) > [As an author, you go into the school, it gets written about in the paper. It sucks that your book was banned, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-de-la-pena/as-an-author-you-go-into-the-school-it-gets-written-about-in-the/) [Matt de la Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-de-la-pena/) > [It's impossible to make a movie out of 'Naked Lunch.' A literal translation just wouldn't work. 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