--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no taste for either poverty or…" description: "\"I have no taste for either poverty or honest labor, so writing is the only recourse left for me\" — Hunter S. Thompson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/hunter-s-thompson-278_epic_i-have-no-taste-for-either-poverty-or-ho_411961.jpg" --- # I have no taste for either poverty or honest labor, so… ![“I have no taste for either poverty or honest labor, so writing is the only recourse left for me” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/hunter-s-thompson-278_epic_i-have-no-taste-for-either-poverty-or-ho_411961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/hunter-s-thompson-278_epic_i-have-no-taste-for-either-poverty-or-ho_411961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/hunter-s-thompson-278_epic_i-have-no-taste-for-either-poverty-or-ho_411961.jpg) > “I have no taste for either poverty or honest labor, so writing is the only recourse left for me” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He rejects both poverty and honest work, seeing writing as his sole viable path. **In simple terms:** He sees writing as his only option. Key Takeaway Embrace writing as a creative outlet. Themes discontent creativity survival Mood defiant reflective Type literary personal When to use this quote - career choice - financial hardship - personal identity - creative expression Key Concepts existentialism artistic necessity Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to choose a creative path over conventional work? - Can writing truly replace other forms of livelihood? A Different Perspective Writing may not solve material needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Epic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epic/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-labor-246562/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Labor Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor-writing-3671404/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Recourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recourse/) [Recourse Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recourse-left-3148498/) [Taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taste/) [Taste Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taste-poverty-3671405/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Recourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-recourse-3671403/) ## Related quotes > [If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/if-the-representatives-of-the-people-betray-their-constituents-there/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“Our civilization overflows with charity—which is simply willingness to hand back to labor as generous gracious alms a small part of the loot from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graham-phillips/our-civilization-overflows-with-charity-which-is-simply-willingness/) [David Graham Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graham-phillips/) > [My theory of self-made men is, then, simply this; that they are men of work. Whether or not such men have acquired material, moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/my-theory-of-self-made-men-is-then-simply-this-that-they-are-men-of/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I'm in this business because I despise honest labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-robbins/i-m-in-this-business-because-i-despise-honest-labor/) [Marty Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-robbins/) > [All honest labor becomes easy; it only becomes hard when done with unwillingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/all-honest-labor-becomes-easy-it-only-becomes-hard-when-done-with/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Honest labor bears a lovely face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dekker/honest-labor-bears-a-lovely-face/) [Thomas Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dekker/) > [“For the first six months, all whe wanted was honest labor, finely crafted novels, and surf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/for-the-first-six-months-all-whe-wanted-was-honest-labor-finely/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Clamorous pauperism feastest While honest Labor, pining, hideth his sharp ribs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/clamorous-pauperism-feastest-while-honest-labor-pining-hideth-his/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [“Farming is backbreaking work, but at least it is honest labor. This killing isn’t honest. It is thievery… the thievery of men’s lives, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/farming-is-backbreaking-work-but-at-least-it-is-honest-labor-this/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [The lottery of honest labor, drawn by time, is the only one whose prizes are worth taking up and carrying home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/the-lottery-of-honest-labor-drawn-by-time-is-the-only-one-whose/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [Teaching children the joy of honest labor is one of the greatest of all gifts you can bestow upon them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/teaching-children-the-joy-of-honest-labor-is-one-of-the-greatest-of/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Teaching children the joy of honest labor is one of the greatest of all gifts you can bestow upon them. Let us also teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/teaching-children-the-joy-of-honest-labor-is-one-of-the-greatest-of-2/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [The United States Supreme Court, once a reliable if ultimate recourse for progressive and even revolutionary grievances, has become a retrograde wellspring for enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-united-states-supreme-court-once-a-reliable-if-ultimate-recourse/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Oh Mary, star of the sea, once again we recourse to thee, to find refuge and sernity, to implore your protection and help. Mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/oh-mary-star-of-the-sea-once-again-we-recourse-to-thee-to-find-refuge/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Those who have had none of the cares of this life to harass and disturb them, have been obliged to have recourse to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/those-who-have-had-none-of-the-cares-of-this-life-to-harass-and/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Epic quotes > [Would you like a side of epic with that fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabi/would-you-like-a-side-of-epic-with-that-fail/) [Gabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabi/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > ['Forever Evil' is my love letter to DC super villains. It's my chance to take all of the villains I've worked with and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/forever-evil-is-my-love-letter-to-dc-super-villains-it-s-my-chance-to/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [The epic disappeared along with the age of personal heroism; there can be no epic with artillery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/the-epic-disappeared-along-with-the-age-of-personal-heroism-there-can/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [“Stop waiting for permission to be epic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/stop-waiting-for-permission-to-be-epic/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [The epic poet has behind him a tradition of matter and a tradition of style; and that is what every other poet has behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lascelles-abercrombie/the-epic-poet-has-behind-him-a-tradition-of-matter-and-a-tradition-of/) [Lascelles Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lascelles-abercrombie/) > [“An epic without a focus - without a single action, a coherent plot, a single terrible point to make - was just a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/an-epic-without-a-focus-without-a-single-action-a-coherent-plot-a/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [To realise belatedly that there are Swahili epic poems which rival their European equivalents for sweep and power has been exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-foden/to-realise-belatedly-that-there-are-swahili-epic-poems-which-rival/) [Giles Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-foden/) > [The richly cadenced prose is hypnotic, the research prodigious, the analysis acute, the mood spellbinding, and the cast of characters mythic in scale. 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Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [When you think about it, some people don't like certain things, but when it comes to music, no matter who you are, where you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/when-you-think-about-it-some-people-don-t-like-certain-things-but/) [Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/) > [As you know, I describe Shirat ha-Yam as part of an epic story that has qualities of history and which also has qualities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/as-you-know-i-describe-shirat-ha-yam-as-part-of-an-epic-story-that/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Evolution isn't just a take-it-or-leave-it story about where we came from. It's an epic at the centre of life itself. It tells us we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/evolution-isn-t-just-a-take-it-or-leave-it-story-about-where-we-came/) [Kenneth R. 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