--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The wastepaper basket is the writer’s…" description: "\"“The wastepaper basket is the writer’s best friend. ”\" — Isaac Bashevis Singer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_basket_the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-be_3161389.jpg" --- # The wastepaper basket is the writer’s best friend. ![“The wastepaper basket is the writer’s best friend.” quote by Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_basket_the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-be_3161389.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_basket_the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-be_3161389.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_basket_the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-be_3161389.jpg) > ““The wastepaper basket is the writer’s best friend. ”” [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers often find unexpected value in discarded drafts, turning waste into insight. **In simple terms:** Even rejected material can inspire better work. Key Takeaway Keep and reviewing discarded notes for ideas. Themes writing resourcefulness revision Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - draft editing - idea generation - creative workshops Key Concepts literary craft creative recycling Questions to Reflect On - What discarded piece could you revisit? - How do you differentiate junk from potential? A Different Perspective Not all waste is useful; discernment needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The waste basket is the writer's best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-waste-basket-is-the-writer-s-best-friend/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [The wastebasket is a writer's best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-wastebasket-is-a-writer-s-best-friend/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [The quality of a man's mind can generally be judged by the size of his wastepaper basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-bergam-n/the-quality-of-a-man-s-mind-can-generally-be-judged-by-the-size-of/) [Jose Bergamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-bergam-n/) > [good call. A second drag and your next stop's the wastepaper basket - and not to toss your kleenex, true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/good-call-a-second-drag-and-your-next-stop-s-the-wastepaper-basket/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [One of the most important pieces of equipment, for the photographer who really wants to improve, is a great big wastepaper basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/one-of-the-most-important-pieces-of-equipment-for-the-photographer/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [“Every one should keep a mental wastepaper basket and the older he grows the more things he will consign to it - torn up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/every-one-should-keep-a-mental-wastepaper-basket-and-the-older-he/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [At the end of a miserable day, instead of grieving my virtual nothing, I can always look at my loaded wastepaper basket and tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/at-the-end-of-a-miserable-day-instead-of-grieving-my-virtual-nothing/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I always say being a writer is the best gig around. I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-serle/i-always-say-being-a-writer-is-the-best-gig-around-i-love-it/) [Rebecca Serle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-serle/) > [A creative writer can do his best only with what lies within the range and character of his deepest sympathies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/a-creative-writer-can-do-his-best-only-with-what-lies-within-the/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [If you want to be a good writer, be the best writer in the world. That's what I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-you-want-to-be-a-good-writer-be-the-best-writer-in-the-world-that/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [As a writer, the best mindset is to be unafraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/as-a-writer-the-best-mindset-is-to-be-unafraid/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I do truly believe that the smallest stories can wind up being the biggest because it's through the specific that a writer can best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/i-do-truly-believe-that-the-smallest-stories-can-wind-up-being-the/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [I've always thought that, as a romance writer, I had the best job in the world. I sit around all day making up emotion-drenched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-glick/i-ve-always-thought-that-as-a-romance-writer-i-had-the-best-job-in/) [Ruth Glick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-glick/) > [The best thing about being a best-selling writer is being a best-selling writer. More seriously, today I can write full time and pay the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lee-burke/the-best-thing-about-being-a-best-selling-writer-is-being-a-best/) [James Lee Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lee-burke/) > [The best writing is not about the writer, the best writing is absolutely not about the writer, it's about us, it's about the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/the-best-writing-is-not-about-the-writer-the-best-writing-is/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) ## More by Isaac Bashevis Singer > [Every body resisted (the slaughterer) in its own fashion, tried to escape and seemed to argue with the Creator to its last breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/every-body-resisted-the-slaughterer-in-its-own-fashion-tried-to/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/people-often-say-that-humans-have-always-eaten-animals-as-if-this-is/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/as-long-as-people-will-shed-the-blood-of-innocent-creatures-there-can/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [There must be a way for man to attain all possible pleasures, all the powers and knowledge that nature can grant him, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/there-must-be-a-way-for-man-to-attain-all-possible-pleasures-all-the/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [What nature creates has eternity in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/what-nature-creates-has-eternity-in-it/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [“The rabbi thought he saw an expression of perplexity in the golem's eyes. It seemed to the rabbi that his eyes were asking, Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-rabbi-thought-he-saw-an-expression-of-perplexity-in-the-golem-s/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [“If you hear I'm dead, don't come to my funeral.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/if-you-hear-i-m-dead-don-t-come-to-my-funeral/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [If you keep saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/if-you-keep-saying-things-are-going-to-be-bad-you-have-a-good-chance/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [Men want all women to lie down as whores and get up as virgins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/men-want-all-women-to-lie-down-as-whores-and-get-up-as-virgins/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise... Because this is how life is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/a-story-to-me-means-a-plot-where-there-is-some-surprise-because-this/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [Night is a time of rigor, but also of mercy. There are truths which one can see only when it’s dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/night-is-a-time-of-rigor-but-also-of-mercy-there-are-truths-which-one/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [No doubt the world is entirely an imaginary world, but it is only once removed from the true world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/no-doubt-the-world-is-entirely-an-imaginary-world-but-it-is-only-once/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [It is a general rule that when the grain of truth cannot be found, men will swallow great helpings of falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/it-is-a-general-rule-that-when-the-grain-of-truth-cannot-be-found-men/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [As often as Herman had witnessed the slaughter of animals and fish, he always had the same thought: in their behaviour towards creatures, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/as-often-as-herman-had-witnessed-the-slaughter-of-animals-and-fish-he/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [Sometimes love is stronger than a man's convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/sometimes-love-is-stronger-than-a-man-s-convictions/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) [Explore all 169 Isaac Bashevis Singer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) ## More Basket quotes > [“into the cell, put the basket down upon the magistrate’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccammon/into-the-cell-put-the-basket-down-upon-the-magistrate-s/) [Robert McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccammon/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I can play with my back to the basket, but I can face up as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahlil-okafor/i-can-play-with-my-back-to-the-basket-but-i-can-face-up-as-well/) [Jahlil Okafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jahlil-okafor/) > [“Don't ever, ever give up. Moses was once a basket case.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilde/don-t-ever-ever-give-up-moses-was-once-a-basket-case/) Larry Wilde > [The basket looked like an ocean, and I was just throwing rocks in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/the-basket-looked-like-an-ocean-and-i-was-just-throwing-rocks-in/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) > [You must write for the waste basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mercer/you-must-write-for-the-waste-basket/) [Johnny Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mercer/) > [“Just tell me what's so irritating."(katsu) That's none of your damn business!"(kyok) Maybe not. But I'm curious."(katsu) It's EVERYTHING you prick! God, you're annoying!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/just-tell-me-what-s-so-irritating-katsu-that-s-none-of-your-damn/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [Our belief is that it is a basket of well-diversified companies that are playing the Internet, but are not direct Internet companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zimmerman/our-belief-is-that-it-is-a-basket-of-well-diversified-companies-that/) [John Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zimmerman/) > [To put all of your eggs in one basket is silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/to-put-all-of-your-eggs-in-one-basket-is-silly/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [Characters develop as the book progresses, but any that start to bore me end up in the wastepaper basket. In real life, we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-graham/characters-develop-as-the-book-progresses-but-any-that-start-to-bore/) [Laurie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-graham/) > [You can't play Around the World in the NBA, you've gotta go to the basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-play-around-the-world-in-the-nba-you-ve-gotta-go-to-the/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [Why is it so hard to find an exercise bike with a nice little basket where I can put my nachos?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-alderson/why-is-it-so-hard-to-find-an-exercise-bike-with-a-nice-little-basket/) Ron Alderson > [I heave the basketball; I know it sails in a parabola, exhibiting perfect symmetry, which is interrupted by the basket. It's funny, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-heave-the-basketball-i-know-it-sails-in-a-parabola-exhibiting/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I was really a basket case. I admit that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delorean/i-was-really-a-basket-case-i-admit-that/) [John DeLorean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delorean/) > [When it's late in a game and things are tough and you need a basket, someone has to step up. That player has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/when-it-s-late-in-a-game-and-things-are-tough-and-you-need-a-basket/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) Browse all 95 Basket quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The wastepaper basket is the writer’s best friend. ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isaac Bashevis Singer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-best-friend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basket" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-best-friend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_basket_the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-be_3161389.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_basket_the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-be_3161389.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_basket_the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-be_3161389.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The wastepaper basket is the writer’s best friend.” — Isaac Bashevis Singer", "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": "Isaac Bashevis Singer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The wastepaper basket is the writer’s...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-best-friend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-wastepaper-basket-is-the-writer-s-best-friend/#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 } } ] } ```