--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What reader wants to be told what…" description: "\"What reader wants to be told what attitude to strike?\" — Ian Mcewan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/ian-mcewan-494_attitude_what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitu_1207142.png" --- # What reader wants to be told what attitude to strike? ![“What reader wants to be told what attitude to strike?” quote by Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/ian-mcewan-494_attitude_what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitu_1207142.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/ian-mcewan-494_attitude_what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitu_1207142.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/ian-mcewan-494_attitude_what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitu_1207142.png) > “What reader wants to be told what attitude to strike?” [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions who dictates the attitude we should adopt, implying that attitudes are personal choices rather than prescribed. **In simple terms:** Attitudes are personal choices. Key Takeaway Choose your own stance. Themes autonomy attitude choice individuality Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - decision making - leadership - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophical agency self‑determination critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - Who influences your attitudes most? - What values guide your stance? A Different Perspective External expectations can be persuasive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) ## Related quotes > [Someone told me I have an attitude, I smiled and answered that actually I have that kind of personality which cannot be handled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/someone-told-me-i-have-an-attitude-i-smiled-and-answered-that/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“A story only wants to be told. Don't stand in its way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleks-canard/a-story-only-wants-to-be-told-don-t-stand-in-its-way/) Aleks Canard > [You ask ‘for what’ God wants you. Isn’t the primary answer that He wants you. We’re not told that the lost sheep was sought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/you-ask-for-what-god-wants-you-isn-t-the-primary-answer-that-he-wants/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Man wants but little here below Nor wants that little long, 'Tis not with me exactly so; But 'tis so in the song. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/man-wants-but-little-here-below-nor-wants-that-little-long-tis-not/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The public always wants to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-lefevre/the-public-always-wants-to-be-told/) [Edwin Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-lefevre/) > [“ It's because she wants it told he thought so that people whom she will never see and whose names she will never hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-s-because-she-wants-it-told-he-thought-so-that-people-whom-she/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Long books, when read, are usually overpraised, because the reader wants to convince others and himself that he has not wasted his time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/long-books-when-read-are-usually-overpraised-because-the-reader-wants/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“The inexperienced reader wants the essentially familiar combined with superficial novelty. Each story must have a slightly new setting or twist or "gimmick," though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-perrine/the-inexperienced-reader-wants-the-essentially-familiar-combined-with/) Laurence Perrine > [“The reader wants to be able to see the book as if they are watching a movie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laquita-cameron/the-reader-wants-to-be-able-to-see-the-book-as-if-they-are-watching-a/) LaQuita Cameron > [No reader wants to sit through the same scene four times in a row, unless they're radically different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/no-reader-wants-to-sit-through-the-same-scene-four-times-in-a-row/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [You have very short travel blogs, and I think there's a split among travel writers: the service-oriented writers will say, 'Well, the reader wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cahill/you-have-very-short-travel-blogs-and-i-think-there-s-a-split-among/) [Tim Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cahill/) > [The reader wants to see something happen between pages one and four hundred, and nothing happens if the characters don't change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/the-reader-wants-to-see-something-happen-between-pages-one-and-four/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) > [The only pressure I feel is to write good books. And to not replicate the previous book. Whether you have a thousand readers or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/the-only-pressure-i-feel-is-to-write-good-books-and-to-not-replicate/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [That's why editors and publishers will never be obsolete: a reader wants someone with taste and authority to point them in the direction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/that-s-why-editors-and-publishers-will-never-be-obsolete-a-reader/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [“That brings me to the real reason for the title: Where does that which happens during reading a book take place? (...) Does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/that-brings-me-to-the-real-reason-for-the-title-where-does-that-which/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) ## More by Ian Mcewan > [“As you will see, we do not believe that artists have an obligation to strike up attitudes to the war. Indeed, they are wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/as-you-will-see-we-do-not-believe-that-artists-have-an-obligation-to/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [You could say that all novels are spy novels and all novelists are spy masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/you-could-say-that-all-novels-are-spy-novels-and-all-novelists-are/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-ve-never-had-a-moment-s-doubt-i-love-you-i-believe-in-you/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“It is shaming sometimes, how the body will not, or cannot, lie about emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-is-shaming-sometimes-how-the-body-will-not-or-cannot-lie-about/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“While my friends struggled and calculated, I reached a solution by a set of floating steps that were partly visual, partly just a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/while-my-friends-struggled-and-calculated-i-reached-a-solution-by-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Perhaps it's one of those cases of a microcosm giving you the whole world. Like a spode dinner plate. Or a single cell. Or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/perhaps-it-s-one-of-those-cases-of-a-microcosm-giving-you-the-whole/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [Who you get, and how it works out- there's so much luck involved, as well as the million branching consequences of your conscious choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/who-you-get-and-how-it-works-out-there-s-so-much-luck-involved-as/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“On Chesil Beach he could have called out to Florence, he could have gone after her. He did not know, or would not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/on-chesil-beach-he-could-have-called-out-to-florence-he-could-have/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [It was always the view of my parents...that hot weather encouraged loose morals among young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-was-always-the-view-of-my-parents-that-hot-weather-encouraged/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I apologize for being obvious, but every time I watch the curtain come down on even a halfway decent production of a Shakespeare play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-apologize-for-being-obvious-but-every-time-i-watch-the-curtain-come/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I would rather be physically disabled obviously than mentally. I would rather be paraplegic than nuts. And it is a terrifying prospect and actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-would-rather-be-physically-disabled-obviously-than-mentally-i-would/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Words, as I'm beginning to appreciate, can make things true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/words-as-i-m-beginning-to-appreciate-can-make-things-true/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I couldn't think about novels at all. It seemed the only writing that was appropriate to that horrendous event was journalism, reportage. And, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-couldn-t-think-about-novels-at-all-it-seemed-the-only-writing-that/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I did not kill my father, but I sometimes felt I had helped him on his way. And but for the fact that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-did-not-kill-my-father-but-i-sometimes-felt-i-had-helped-him-on-his/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) [Explore all 496 Ian Mcewan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What reader wants to be told what attitude to strike?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ian Mcewan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitude-to-strike/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitude-to-strike/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/ian-mcewan-494_attitude_what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitu_1207142.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/ian-mcewan-494_attitude_what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitu_1207142.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/ian-mcewan-494_attitude_what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitu_1207142.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What reader wants to be told what attitude to strike?” — Ian Mcewan", "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": "Ian Mcewan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What reader wants to be told...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitude-to-strike/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/what-reader-wants-to-be-told-what-attitude-to-strike/#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 } } ] } ```