--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [On writing:] What a difficult kind of…" description: "\"[On writing:] What a difficult kind of work to choose! But of course one did not choose it. There was no choice.\" — Ivy Compton-Burnett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/ivy-compton-burnett-10491_choice_on-writing-what-a-difficult-kind-of-work_2881842.jpg" --- # \[On writing:\] What a difficult kind of work to choose! But… ![“[On writing:] What a difficult kind of work to choose! But of course one did not choose it. There was no choice.” quote by Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/ivy-compton-burnett-10491_choice_on-writing-what-a-difficult-kind-of-work_2881842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/ivy-compton-burnett-10491_choice_on-writing-what-a-difficult-kind-of-work_2881842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/ivy-compton-burnett-10491_choice_on-writing-what-a-difficult-kind-of-work_2881842.jpg) > “\[On writing:\] What a difficult kind of work to choose! But of course one did not choose it. There was no choice.” [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer describes writing as a difficult, almost involuntary vocation, suggesting a lack of choice in pursuing it. **In simple terms:** Writing feels like a forced, difficult vocation. Key Takeaway Acknowledge the challenges of creative work. Themes writing vocation choice difficulty Mood introspective melancholic Type literary personal When to use this quote - authorial process - creative blocks - career decisions Key Concepts literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - Is choice essential for creativity? - How to cope with unwanted work? A Different Perspective Passion may be necessary to sustain effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-kind-851939/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Work Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-choose-1446505/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-difficult/) ## Related quotes > [I find it difficult enough as it is to keep some kind of normality in my life. I enjoy this experience, but I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-find-it-difficult-enough-as-it-is-to-keep-some-kind-of-normality-in/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [Life is so very difficult. How can we be anything but kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/life-is-so-very-difficult-how-can-we-be-anything-but-kind/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind-the humorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-are-several-kinds-of-stories-but-only-one-difficult-kind-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I think, like, Twitter is somewhat difficult sometimes, and it can be kind of negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/i-think-like-twitter-is-somewhat-difficult-sometimes-and-it-can-be/) [Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/) > [It's very difficult to have any kind of romantic feelings for a movie where you know exactly what's going to happen in the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-swanberg/it-s-very-difficult-to-have-any-kind-of-romantic-feelings-for-a-movie/) [Joe Swanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-swanberg/) > [The theater's much the most difficult kind of writing for me, the most naked kind, you're so entirely restricted… I find myself stuck with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/the-theater-s-much-the-most-difficult-kind-of-writing-for-me-the-most/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Modeling is really what I do during my free time. It's fun for me, so it doesn't feel like work. I choose to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaia-gerber/modeling-is-really-what-i-do-during-my-free-time-it-s-fun-for-me-so/) [Kaia Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaia-gerber/) > [You can't choose who you love, and it takes more than love to make it work, but you can choose who to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rico/you-can-t-choose-who-you-love-and-it-takes-more-than-love-to-make-it/) [Adrienne Rico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rico/) > [In Mexico, I used to work to work - but in the U.S., I choose projects I'm devastatingly passionate about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/in-mexico-i-used-to-work-to-work-but-in-the-u-s-i-choose-projects-i-m/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [When I want any, good head work done; I always choose a man, if possible with a long nose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-i-want-any-good-head-work-done-i-always-choose-a-man-if-possible/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The best organizations are filled with people who have a wealth of choices as to what work they choose to do. We need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/the-best-organizations-are-filled-with-people-who-have-a-wealth-of/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [“Starting today, instead of saying "I have to" when discussing your actions or goals, substitute the words "I choose to." Now the phrase "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-spangle/starting-today-instead-of-saying-i-have-to-when-discussing-your/) [Linda Spangle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-spangle/) > [Make sure you are doing something you love to do when working out. Nobody likes to work, so when you do choose a workout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miesha-tate/make-sure-you-are-doing-something-you-love-to-do-when-working-out/) [Miesha Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miesha-tate/) > [When I do work, I choose to see every job as an opportunity to grow, as an actor and as a person. My favourite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/when-i-do-work-i-choose-to-see-every-job-as-an-opportunity-to-grow-as/) [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/) > [“You can't always choose the people you work with, but you can choose to learn how to deal with them. They are all different."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-speedwell/you-can-t-always-choose-the-people-you-work-with-but-you-can-choose/) [Rowan Speedwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-speedwell/) ## More by Ivy Compton-Burnett > [Our desires have a way of getting bigger with our incomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/our-desires-have-a-way-of-getting-bigger-with-our-incomes/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [I never know why self-sacrifice is noble. Why is it better to sacrifice oneself than someone else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/i-never-know-why-self-sacrifice-is-noble-why-is-it-better-to/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [My youth is escaping without giving me anything it owes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/my-youth-is-escaping-without-giving-me-anything-it-owes-me/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [It will be a beautiful family talk, mean and worried and full of sorrow and spite and excitement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/it-will-be-a-beautiful-family-talk-mean-and-worried-and-full-of/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [“People do not like to lose their lives. That is the reason why they should not take other people's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/people-do-not-like-to-lose-their-lives-that-is-the-reason-why-they/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [Never is a long word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/never-is-a-long-word/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [A person who can really be called an unselfish person, has no place in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/a-person-who-can-really-be-called-an-unselfish-person-has-no-place-in/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [We do not discuss the members of our family to their faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/we-do-not-discuss-the-members-of-our-family-to-their-faces/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [The plot is not very important to me, though a novel must have one, of course. It's just a line to hang the washing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/the-plot-is-not-very-important-to-me-though-a-novel-must-have-one-of/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [Time is not a great healer. It is an indifferent and perfunctory one. Sometimes it does not heal at all. And sometimes when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/time-is-not-a-great-healer-it-is-an-indifferent-and-perfunctory-one/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [There are different kinds of wrong. The people sinned against are not always the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/there-are-different-kinds-of-wrong-the-people-sinned-against-are-not/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [Pushing forty? She's hanging on for dear life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/pushing-forty-she-s-hanging-on-for-dear-life/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [Well, Buttermere, this is a day that is good to live and breathe in, that makes a man feel in his prime. Standing here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/well-buttermere-this-is-a-day-that-is-good-to-live-and-breathe-in/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [Civilized life exacts its toll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/civilized-life-exacts-its-toll/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [We none of us talk to people as we do behind their backs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/we-none-of-us-talk-to-people-as-we-do-behind-their-backs/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) [Explore all 65 Ivy Compton-Burnett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[On writing:] What a difficult kind of work to choose! 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