--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you have committed enough words to…" description: "\"When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the wind. But when you stop writing, you find that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/hilary-mantel-440_committed_when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to_41453.jpg" --- # When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel… ![“When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the wind. But when you stop writing, you find that's all you are - a spine, a row of rattling vertebrae, dried out like an old quill pen.” quote by Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/hilary-mantel-440_committed_when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to_41453.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/hilary-mantel-440_committed_when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to_41453.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/hilary-mantel-440_committed_when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to_41453.jpg) > “When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the wind. But when you stop writing, you find that's all you are - a spine, a row of rattling vertebrae, dried out like an old quill pen.” [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing gives a sense of purpose and identity; without it, one feels hollow, reduced to mere structure without vitality. **In simple terms:** Writing sustains self‑worth. Key Takeaway Creative work fuels meaning. Themes Creativity Identity Purpose Vulnerability Metaphor Mood Melancholy Resolute Type Philosophical Metaphorical When to use this quote - Facing writer's block - Transitioning between projects - Reflecting on artistic purpose Key Concepts Self‑expression Discipline Existential fulfillment Practical Applications - Use as a motivational reminder for writers - Incorporate in workshops on creative discipline Questions to Reflect On - How does routine affect your sense of self? - What sustains you when creative output wanes? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Much of a man's character will be found betokened in his backbone. I would rather feel your spine than your skull, whoever you are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/much-of-a-man-s-character-will-be-found-betokened-in-his-backbone-i/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Don't say it doesn't make sense then tell me you feel your spine curve and chill humps rise all over your skin. That's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-lee/don-t-say-it-doesn-t-make-sense-then-tell-me-you-feel-your-spine/) [Melody Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-lee/) > [My whole family is in orthotics and prosthetics, so I grew up having to check for scoliosis every week. 'Come over. Let me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-lerman/my-whole-family-is-in-orthotics-and-prosthetics-so-i-grew-up-having/) [Logan Lerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-lerman/) > [“I believe that much of a man's character will be found betokened in his backbone. I would rather feel your spine than your skull,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-believe-that-much-of-a-man-s-character-will-be-found-betokened-in/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I don't use a pen. I write with a goose quill dipped in venom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-use-a-pen-i-write-with-a-goose-quill-dipped-in-venom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The word processor is a better tool than a quill pen because you can do so much more with it, but on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-murch/the-word-processor-is-a-better-tool-than-a-quill-pen-because-you-can/) [Walter Murch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-murch/) > [GOOSE, n. A bird that supplies quills for writing. These, by some occult process of nature, are penetrated and suffused with various degrees of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/goose-n-a-bird-that-supplies-quills-for-writing-these-by-some-occult/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [But the way to wealth through the quill seems long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-charles/but-the-way-to-wealth-through-the-quill-seems-long/) [Elizabeth Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-charles/) > [I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, Make thy two eyes like stars start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-could-a-tale-unfold-whose-lightest-word-would-harrow-up-thy-soul/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [You know, it's hard work to write a book. I can't tell you how many times I really get going on an idea, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/you-know-it-s-hard-work-to-write-a-book-i-can-t-tell-you-how-many/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Moon, worn thin to the width of a quill,/ In the dawn clouds flying,/ How good to go, light into light, and still/ Giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/moon-worn-thin-to-the-width-of-a-quill-in-the-dawn-clouds-flying-how/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [Feathers shall raise men even as they do birds towards heaven :- That is by letters written with their quills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/feathers-shall-raise-men-even-as-they-do-birds-towards-heaven-that-is/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [He writes so well he makes me feel like putting my quill back in my goose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/he-writes-so-well-he-makes-me-feel-like-putting-my-quill-back-in-my/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [Thoth, Hermes, the stylus, the palette, the pen, the quill endure, though our books are a floor of smouldering ash under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-doolittle/thoth-hermes-the-stylus-the-palette-the-pen-the-quill-endure-though/) [Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-doolittle/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) ## More by Hilary Mantel > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“The hunter is among the most innocent of men; living in the moment makes him feel pure. When he returns in the evening, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/the-hunter-is-among-the-most-innocent-of-men-living-in-the-moment/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“But what would happen … I mean, what would be so awful … if they did meet up?” “Why, it would be like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-what-would-happen-i-mean-what-would-be-so-awful-if-they-did-meet/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [At New Year's he had given Anne a present of silver forks with handles of rock crystal. He hopes she will use them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/at-new-year-s-he-had-given-anne-a-present-of-silver-forks-with/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“The story of my own childhood is a complicated sentence that I am always trying to finish, to finish and put behind me. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/the-story-of-my-own-childhood-is-a-complicated-sentence-that-i-am/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“He wants to say, because Anne is not a carnal being, she is a calculating being, with a cold slick brain at work behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/he-wants-to-say-because-anne-is-not-a-carnal-being-she-is-a/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Come to that, don't pay out good money for horoscopes. If things are going to go badly for you, is that what you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/come-to-that-don-t-pay-out-good-money-for-horoscopes-if-things-are/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“But my sins are my strength, he thinks; the sins I have done, that others have not even found the opportunity of committing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-my-sins-are-my-strength-he-thinks-the-sins-i-have-done-that/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Feminism hasn't failed, it's just never been tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/feminism-hasn-t-failed-it-s-just-never-been-tried/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Mirabeau: “If you have been told to clear us from this hall, you must ask for orders to use force. We shall leave our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/mirabeau-if-you-have-been-told-to-clear-us-from-this-hall-you-must/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Cardinal Campeggio has implored Katherine to bow to the king's will, accept that her marriage is invalid and retire to a convent. Certainly, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/cardinal-campeggio-has-implored-katherine-to-bow-to-the-king-s-will/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Sion calls Anne an eel, he calls her a slippery dipper from the slime, and he remembers what the cardinal had called her: my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/sion-calls-anne-an-eel-he-calls-her-a-slippery-dipper-from-the-slime/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I spend a great deal of time on research, on finding all the available accounts of a scene or incident, finding out all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-spend-a-great-deal-of-time-on-research-on-finding-all-the-available/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“At the front, people die for their mistakes. Why should politicians be more gently treated? They made the war. They deserve a dozen deaths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/at-the-front-people-die-for-their-mistakes-why-should-politicians-be/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [My first two novels were very black comedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/my-first-two-novels-were-very-black-comedies/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) [Explore all 559 Hilary Mantel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## More Committed quotes > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. They know that I have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-ve-been-around-in-public-life-for-a-long-time-i-think-people-know/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [One lesson to learn is that the press and the broadcasters are not neutral. And it seems we have to learn it each time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/one-lesson-to-learn-is-that-the-press-and-the-broadcasters-are-not/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [There is no breach of European rules committed by companies from Romania or on Romanian territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-ponta/there-is-no-breach-of-european-rules-committed-by-companies-from/) [Victor Ponta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-ponta/) > [We all have that desire for something special, something committed. We all want to be The One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/we-all-have-that-desire-for-something-special-something-committed-we/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [Sitting in your garden is a feat to be worked at with unflagging determination and single-mindedness. . . . I am deeply committed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirabel-osler/sitting-in-your-garden-is-a-feat-to-be-worked-at-with-unflagging/) [Mirabel Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirabel-osler/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [There is no secret formula--only a life committed to a close walk with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/there-is-no-secret-formula-only-a-life-committed-to-a-close-walk-with/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Dancing with death meant being committed to killing, committed with your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/dancing-with-death-meant-being-committed-to-killing-committed-with/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [I have sometimes thought that the laws ought not to punish those actions of evil which are committed when the senses are steeped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-laws-ought-not-to-punish-those/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) Browse all 2,539 Committed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the wind. But when you stop writing, you find that's all you are - a spine, a row of rattling vertebrae, dried out like an old quill pen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hilary Mantel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to-paper-you-feel-you-have-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Committed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to-paper-you-feel-you-have-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/hilary-mantel-440_committed_when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to_41453.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/hilary-mantel-440_committed_when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to_41453.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/hilary-mantel-440_committed_when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to_41453.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the…” — Hilary Mantel", "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": "Hilary Mantel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you have committed enough words...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to-paper-you-feel-you-have-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to-paper-you-feel-you-have-a/#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 } } ] } ```