--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No writer need feel sorry for himself if…" description: "\"No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.\" — Irwin Shaw" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/irwin-shaw-11005_paid_no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if_1392077.jpg" --- # No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and… ![“No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.” quote by Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/irwin-shaw-11005_paid_no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if_1392077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/irwin-shaw-11005_paid_no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if_1392077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/irwin-shaw-11005_paid_no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if_1392077.jpg) > “No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.” [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. Writers should not feel self‑pity; writing for joy is enough, regardless of financial reward. **In simple terms:** Write for love, not money. Key Takeaway Create because it fulfills you. Themes creativity self‑worth artistic integrity Mood inspired thoughtful determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing hobby - career change - financial stress Key Concepts intrinsic motivation craft passion Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance passion with livelihood? - What non‑monetary rewards sustain you? A Different Perspective Financial needs may force compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys the writing, even if he doesn’t get paid for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if-he-writes-and-enjoys-the/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [You become a writer because you need to become a writer - nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/you-become-a-writer-because-you-need-to-become-a-writer-nothing-else/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [If you want to be a writer, all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil, and I had a manual typewriter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-janowitz/if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-all-you-need-is-a-piece-of-paper-and-a/) [Tama Janowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-janowitz/) > [I'm nomadic. 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K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [The hierarchy plays out in the writers room, and you, as a staff writer, need to know your place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-saracho/the-hierarchy-plays-out-in-the-writers-room-and-you-as-a-staff-writer/) [Tanya Saracho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-saracho/) > [As a writer, I need an enormous amount of time alone. 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And when it comes to writing, I've always had that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/as-a-writer-you-need-a-strong-sense-of-self-belief-and-when-it-comes/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) ## 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/) > [A writer is a human being. He has to live with a sense of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/a-writer-is-a-human-being-he-has-to-live-with-a-sense-of-honor/) [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/) [Explore all 62 Irwin Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) ## More Feel sorry quotes > [“People feel sorry for your pain, and pain just is. It doesn’t only happen when you’re worthy of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-butler/people-feel-sorry-for-your-pain-and-pain-just-is-it-doesn-t-only/) [Erin Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-butler/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [If it's me against 48, I feel sorry for the 48.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/if-it-s-me-against-48-i-feel-sorry-for-the-48/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [It's core to my beliefs now: Sometimes in being given a challenge, you're actually being given a real opportunity, and a lot of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/it-s-core-to-my-beliefs-now-sometimes-in-being-given-a-challenge-you/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Don't feel sorry because my life is over. Be happy that it happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-burns/don-t-feel-sorry-because-my-life-is-over-be-happy-that-it-happened/) [Pat Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-burns/) > [I really feel sorry for kids who aren't interested in history - recent history, either, because it is this that made us what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-really-feel-sorry-for-kids-who-aren-t-interested-in-history-recent/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I can and will say that I feel sorry for myself, however I'm just locking the truth behind me. I don't feel sorry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/i-can-and-will-say-that-i-feel-sorry-for-myself-however-i-m-just/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [For the first time in my life I actually feel sorry for Carol. I'm only seventeen years old, and I already know something she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-actually-feel-sorry-for-carol-i-m/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“You must first feel sorry for your sins, to seek the free gift of grace of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-must-first-feel-sorry-for-your-sins-to-seek-the-free-gift-of/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [You don't get there the easy way. If you feel sorry for yourself, and you let yourself go down, you will drown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/you-don-t-get-there-the-easy-way-if-you-feel-sorry-for-yourself-and/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [“Feel sorry for anyone who thinks what they think is right should be some universal law”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huntley-fitzpatrick/feel-sorry-for-anyone-who-thinks-what-they-think-is-right-should-be/) [Huntley Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huntley-fitzpatrick/) > [Ifelt today that… she is only for me but, em late she is not for me. I was for her when she was loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saami-saham/ifelt-today-that-she-is-only-for-me-but-em-late-she-is-not-for-me-i/) [Saami Saham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saami-saham/) > [So you're probably looking at this and making fun of my outfit, right? Anyway here's all you really need to know about today; if...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-davis/so-you-re-probably-looking-at-this-and-making-fun-of-my-outfit-right/) [Brooke Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-davis/) > [I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ings/i-don-t-want-anybody-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Danny Ings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-ings/) > [“Judge me if you must, but keep in mind how very little pleasure I could have possibly derived from a one-thrust sex session, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-madison/judge-me-if-you-must-but-keep-in-mind-how-very-little-pleasure-i/) [Kate Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-madison/) Browse all 434 Feel sorry quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irwin Shaw" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if-he-writes-and-enjoys-it-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feel sorry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if-he-writes-and-enjoys-it-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/irwin-shaw-11005_paid_no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if_1392077.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/irwin-shaw-11005_paid_no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if_1392077.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/irwin-shaw-11005_paid_no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if_1392077.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.” — 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": "No writer need feel sorry for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if-he-writes-and-enjoys-it-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if-he-writes-and-enjoys-it-even/#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 } } ] } ```