--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I breathe because I must, but I write to…" description: "\"“I breathe because I must, but I write to take your breath away.”\" — J.M. Powers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/j-m-powers-244607_breath_i-breathe-because-i-must-but-i-write-to_726150.jpg" --- # I breathe because I must, but I write to take your breath… ![“I breathe because I must, but I write to take your breath away.” quote by J.M. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/j-m-powers-244607_breath_i-breathe-because-i-must-but-i-write-to_726150.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/j-m-powers-244607_breath_i-breathe-because-i-must-but-i-write-to_726150.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68f/j-m-powers-244607_breath_i-breathe-because-i-must-but-i-write-to_726150.jpg) > ““I breathe because I must, but I write to take your breath away.”” [J.M. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-powers/) ## 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 uses breath as a metaphor for artistic power that transcends basic survival. **In simple terms:** Writing can move others beyond mere existence. Key Takeaway Write to inspire awe. Themes creativity expression art impact inspiration Mood reflective passionate Type statement poetic literary When to use this quote - writing workshops - poetry readings - personal journals - public speaking Key Concepts metaphor artistic ambition emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - How does your work aim to affect others? - What does “breath away” mean to you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may feel hyperbolic to some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) [Breath Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath-away/) [Breathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe/) [Breathe Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe-write-2306849/) [Write Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-breath-4290626/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“I write to breath life back into memory to remind African-Americans of our rich and textured history. I also see myself as a "root,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-l-mcfadden/i-write-to-breath-life-back-into-memory-to-remind-african-americans/) [Bernice L. McFadden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-l-mcfadden/) > [“A quipu depends on the interaction of breath and thread, hand and voice. To write with breath is to see the body and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hemmings/a-quipu-depends-on-the-interaction-of-breath-and-thread-hand-and/) [Jessica Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hemmings/) > [Life isn't about the moments we breathe , but the moments that take our breath away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-isn-t-about-the-moments-we-breathe-but-the-moments-that-take-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Persevere. Plan. Strategize. Focus. Breathe. Write. Let go: relax. Forgive. All this failing: take a nap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/persevere-plan-strategize-focus-breathe-write-let-go-relax-forgive/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [What keeps me interested is that I have to do it. It's like people wake up and they have to breathe; I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-warren/what-keeps-me-interested-is-that-i-have-to-do-it-it-s-like-people/) [Diane Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-warren/) > [“To read is to breathe; to write is to live!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-thompson/to-read-is-to-breathe-to-write-is-to-live/) [Johan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-thompson/) > [Every time we meet you take my breath away and every time you kiss me, you give it back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-klinkhart/every-time-we-meet-you-take-my-breath-away-and-every-time-you-kiss-me/) [Glen Klinkhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-klinkhart/) > [I just need time to catch my breath before you take it away again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tawny-cypress/i-just-need-time-to-catch-my-breath-before-you-take-it-away-again/) [Tawny Cypress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tawny-cypress/) > [“Life is too short Be with someone who takes your breath away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-novic/life-is-too-short-be-with-someone-who-takes-your-breath-away/) [Mimi Novic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-novic/) > [No acting, no production, could take the place of that moment when you come out in the dark on to the stage and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/no-acting-no-production-could-take-the-place-of-that-moment-when-you/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [It seemed like my professional life would take a more scientific route. I guess that plan started to become undone when, at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnon-goldfinger/it-seemed-like-my-professional-life-would-take-a-more-scientific/) [Arnon Goldfinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnon-goldfinger/) > [“He takes my breath away and proves to me that I don't need it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malak-el-halabi/he-takes-my-breath-away-and-proves-to-me-that-i-don-t-need-it/) [Malak El Halabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malak-el-halabi/) > [See them together and you will feel a force that will take your breath away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/see-them-together-and-you-will-feel-a-force-that-will-take-your/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) ## More Breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [So we must do our very best Whatever life may bring And look beyond the winter chill To smell the breath of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-we-must-do-our-very-best-whatever-life-may-bring-and-look-beyond/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“He’s sitting so close, I can feel his breath on my cheek. My stomach flip-flops again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-sitting-so-close-i-can-feel-his-breath-on-my-cheek-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My life to yours. My breath beecome yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-life-to-yours-my-breath-beecome-yours/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Being able to be myself was like being able to exhale for the first time after holding my breath for years. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/404-ink/being-able-to-be-myself-was-like-being-able-to-exhale-for-the-first/) [404 Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/404-ink/) [Browse all 1,839 Breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I breathe because I must, but I write to take your breath away.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.M. 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