--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A writer is a human being. He has to live…" description: "\"A writer is a human being. He has to live with a sense of honor.\" — Irwin Shaw" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/irwin-shaw-11005_honor_a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live_746129.jpg" --- # A writer is a human being. He has to live with a sense of… ![“A writer is a human being. He has to live with a sense of honor.” quote by Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/irwin-shaw-11005_honor_a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live_746129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/irwin-shaw-11005_honor_a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live_746129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/irwin-shaw-11005_honor_a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live_746129.jpg) > “A writer is a human being. He has to live with a sense of honor.” [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer must uphold personal integrity and live honorably through their work. **In simple terms:** Writers need honor and integrity. Key Takeaway Write with honesty and moral responsibility. Themes honor integrity writing Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - authoring a book - journalism - public speaking - creative expression Key Concepts ethics personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What does honor mean in your writing? - How do you balance truth and audience expectations? A Different Perspective Honesty can conflict with market pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A writer has to live with a sense of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-writer-has-to-live-with-a-sense-of-honor/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [Everybody has to share something. This is one of the most important laws of the human condition, is the necessity to share. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/everybody-has-to-share-something-this-is-one-of-the-most-important/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [As a writer and as a human being, Susan Dworkin has always had the ability to draw us into new dreams of justice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/as-a-writer-and-as-a-human-being-susan-dworkin-has-always-had-the/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I've learned so much as both a writer and a human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-ve-learned-so-much-as-both-a-writer-and-a-human/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [Libraries made me - as a reader, as a writer, and as a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-r-king/libraries-made-me-as-a-reader-as-a-writer-and-as-a-human-being/) [Laurie R. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-r-king/) > [I've matured as a writer and human being. I've got some wisdom under my belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-carter/i-ve-matured-as-a-writer-and-human-being-i-ve-got-some-wisdom-under/) [Carlene Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-carter/) > [“but the human will to live is primal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-schoenberger/but-the-human-will-to-live-is-primal/) [Susan Schoenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-schoenberger/) > [In this world we are human that we live in,everything is temporary and we use them in a fullest way..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carina-b/in-this-world-we-are-human-that-we-live-in-everything-is-temporary/) =carina B= > [A human has to live her life, or live to repent not having lived it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-human-has-to-live-her-life-or-live-to-repent-not-having-lived-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Youre only human. You live once and life is wonderful, so eat the damned red velvet cupcake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/youre-only-human-you-live-once-and-life-is-wonderful-so-eat-the/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [The proper function of a human being is to live, not to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-proper-function-of-a-human-being-is-to-live-not-to-exist/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“You're only human. You live once and life is wonderful so eat the damn red velvet cupcake!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stones/you-re-only-human-you-live-once-and-life-is-wonderful-so-eat-the-damn/) Emma Stones > [Whoever you are, you are human. Wherever you are, you live in the world, which is just waiting for you to notice the holiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/whoever-you-are-you-are-human-wherever-you-are-you-live-in-the-world/) [Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/) > [Scientists all over the world are wondering how long a human being can live without brain. Please tell them your right age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scientists-all-over-the-world-are-wondering-how-long-a-human-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're only human. You live once and life is wonderful, so eat the damned red velvet cupcake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/you-re-only-human-you-live-once-and-life-is-wonderful-so-eat-the/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) ## More by Irwin Shaw > [“The world," said Pavone, "will swing to the left. The whole world except America. The world will swing, not because people read Karl Marx,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/the-world-said-pavone-will-swing-to-the-left-the-whole-world-except/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [A writer has to live with a sense of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-writer-has-to-live-with-a-sense-of-honor/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [Special-interest magazines are dangerous places for writers to start out in because the writing quickly falls into a routine and people are likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/special-interest-magazines-are-dangerous-places-for-writers-to-start/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [It's those damn critics again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/it-s-those-damn-critics-again/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I haven't stuck to any formula. Most great writers stick to the same style, but I wanted to be more various](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/i-haven-t-stuck-to-any-formula-most-great-writers-stick-to-the-same/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [Writing is like a contact sport, like football. Why do kids play football? They can get hurt on any play, can't they? Yet they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/writing-is-like-a-contact-sport-like-football-why-do-kids-play/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [At the height of the McCarthy period, writers were being hounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/at-the-height-of-the-mccarthy-period-writers-were-being-hounded/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [“This time it is not a simple, understandable war, within the same culture. This time it is an assault of the animal world upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/this-time-it-is-not-a-simple-understandable-war-within-the-same/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [A good editor understands what you're talking and writing about and doesn't meddle too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-good-editor-understands-what-you-re-talking-and-writing-about-and/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [Writing is like a contact sport, like football. You can get hurt, but you enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/writing-is-like-a-contact-sport-like-football-you-can-get-hurt-but/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [“The abuse of alcohol,” Mr. Parrish said in a solemn, preacher-like voice, as he reached for his glass, “is the one thing that puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/the-abuse-of-alcohol-mr-parrish-said-in-a-solemn-preacher-like-voice/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [Ernest Hemingway did a great deal toward making the writer an acceptable public figure; obviously, he was no sissy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/ernest-hemingway-did-a-great-deal-toward-making-the-writer-an/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I never show anything to anybody until I've finished it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/i-never-show-anything-to-anybody-until-i-ve-finished-it/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I imagine that my characters have become much more complicated than when I first began, which would be normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/i-imagine-that-my-characters-have-become-much-more-complicated-than/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) [Explore all 62 Irwin Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) ## More Honor quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [This is what I say about the scorn of the media elite: I wear their scorn as a badge of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/this-is-what-i-say-about-the-scorn-of-the-media-elite-i-wear-their/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Just being in a video game is an honor, and being on the cover, I can't really describe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-judge/just-being-in-a-video-game-is-an-honor-and-being-on-the-cover-i-can-t/) [Aaron Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-judge/) > [Spade! Thou art a tool of honor in my hands. I press thee, through a yielding soil, with pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/spade-thou-art-a-tool-of-honor-in-my-hands-i-press-thee-through-a/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [“He put his forehead against hers. “Alannah, my heart is yours.” He said softly. “And yet, I must hand it over to someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-morin/he-put-his-forehead-against-hers-alannah-my-heart-is-yours-he-said/) [B.C. Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-morin/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I know my idea of beauty isn't what most people's is, and the fact that I'm getting the opportunity to show my beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-know-my-idea-of-beauty-isn-t-what-most-people-s-is-and-the-fact/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) [Browse all 5,016 Honor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A writer is a human being. He has to live with a sense of honor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irwin Shaw" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live-with-a-sense-of-honor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Honor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live-with-a-sense-of-honor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/irwin-shaw-11005_honor_a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live_746129.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/irwin-shaw-11005_honor_a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live_746129.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/irwin-shaw-11005_honor_a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live_746129.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A writer is a human being. He has to live with a sense of honor.” — Irwin Shaw", "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": "Irwin Shaw", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A writer is a human being....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live-with-a-sense-of-honor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live-with-a-sense-of-honor/#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 } } ] } ```