--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Listen closely. There’s a remote…" description: "\"Listen closely. There’s a remote possibility that you might learn something: First, I don’t give a damn if my work is commercial or not…I’m the writer...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/john-fante-6848_believe_listen-closely-there-s-a-remote-possibil_2705579.jpg" --- # Listen closely. There’s a remote possibility that you… ![“Listen closely. There’s a remote possibility that you might learn something: First, I don’t give a damn if my work is commercial or not…I’m the writer. If what I write is good, then people will read it. That’s why literature exists. An author puts his heart and guts on the page. For your…” quote by John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/john-fante-6848_believe_listen-closely-there-s-a-remote-possibil_2705579.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/john-fante-6848_believe_listen-closely-there-s-a-remote-possibil_2705579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/john-fante-6848_believe_listen-closely-there-s-a-remote-possibil_2705579.jpg) > “Listen closely. There’s a remote possibility that you might learn something: First, I don’t give a damn if my work is commercial or not…I’m the writer. If what I write is good, then people will read it. That’s why literature exists. An author puts his heart and guts on the page. For your information, a good novel can change the world. Keep that in mind before you attempt to sit down at a typewriter. Never waste time on something you don’t believe in yourself.” [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing should be authentic, driven by passion, not commercial concerns. **In simple terms:** Write from the heart. Key Takeaway Prioritize authenticity over marketability. Themes creativity authenticity passion Mood determined reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - starting a novel - overcoming writer’s block - publishing decisions - career planning - creative workshops Key Concepts literary purpose artistic integrity self‑belief Questions to Reflect On - What drives your creative purpose? - How do you balance art and livelihood? A Different Perspective Commercial success may not follow authentic work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe in you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-you/) [Believe in yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-yourself/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Changing the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-the-world/) [Commercial Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commercial-writer-593773/) [Don't believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-believe/) [Don't give a damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-give-a-damn/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [I don't give a damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-don-t-give-a-damn/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Information Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information-good-1502943/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Literature Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature-exists-1148892/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-change-2766502/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Typewriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriters/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Write Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-good/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [For your information, a good novel can change the world. Keep that in mind before you attempt to sit down at a typewriter. Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/for-your-information-a-good-novel-can-change-the-world-keep-that-in/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [Listen closely. Theres a remote possibility that you might learn something: First, I dont give a damn if my work is commercial or notIm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/listen-closely-theres-a-remote-possibility-that-you-might-learn/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [People can portray me anyway they want because I don’t give a damn… But don’t you analyze me and don’t you tell me what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-alzado/people-can-portray-me-anyway-they-want-because-i-don-t-give-a-damn/) [Lyle Alzado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-alzado/) > [If the producer doesn't like you, consequently he reads the script with a very negative view. But I wouldn't preoccupy myself with that, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/if-the-producer-doesn-t-like-you-consequently-he-reads-the-script/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [When I get my hands on painting materials I don't give a damn about other people's painting... every generation must start again afresh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-de-vlaminck/when-i-get-my-hands-on-painting-materials-i-don-t-give-a-damn-about/) [Maurice de Vlaminck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-de-vlaminck/) > [I believe in destiny...what's going to be is going to be. If I'm going to win, I'm going to win...I don't give a damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/i-believe-in-destiny-what-s-going-to-be-is-going-to-be-if-i-m-going/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [I don't give a damn if I go to hell. I love you Satan. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-don-t-give-a-damn-if-i-go-to-hell-i-love-you-satan-the-road-to-hell/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [A work of art has no importance whatever to society. It is only important to the individual, and only the individual reader is important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/a-work-of-art-has-no-importance-whatever-to-society-it-is-only/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [I don't give a damn what queers do, and don't give a damn what Christians do. Just get the hell out of my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-jones/i-don-t-give-a-damn-what-queers-do-and-don-t-give-a-damn-what/) [Alex Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-jones/) > [The problem of the world today is the people talk on and on about democracy, freedom, justice. But I don't give a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/the-problem-of-the-world-today-is-the-people-talk-on-and-on-about/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [The quandary of many liberals in America and elsewhere is that they have largely outgrown patriotism but are afraid to face this fact. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fm-2030/the-quandary-of-many-liberals-in-america-and-elsewhere-is-that-they/) [FM-2030](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fm-2030/) > [I don't give a damn about the stock market. But I do care about jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-voinovich/i-don-t-give-a-damn-about-the-stock-market-but-i-do-care-about-jobs/) [George Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-voinovich/) > [Thanks to guys like Boss Tweed, famous for saying, 'I don't give a damn who does the voting, as long as I do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/thanks-to-guys-like-boss-tweed-famous-for-saying-i-don-t-give-a-damn/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [For all my desire to be interesting, I have to confess that for most things and people I don't give a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/for-all-my-desire-to-be-interesting-i-have-to-confess-that-for-most/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [If he wants to blow his head off, let him. I don't give a damn about Jim Bakker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/if-he-wants-to-blow-his-head-off-let-him-i-don-t-give-a-damn-about/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) ## More by John Fante > [“    Breakfast was ready. He could hear his father asking for coffee. Why did his father have to yell all the time? Couldn't he talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/breakfast-was-ready-he-could-hear-his-father-asking-for-coffee-why/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“Jesus, these Protestants! In my church we didn't sing cheap hymns. With us it was Handel and Palestrina.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/jesus-these-protestants-in-my-church-we-didn-t-sing-cheap-hymns-with/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [If there is work there is warmth, that when a man has freedom of movement it is enough, for then his blood is hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/if-there-is-work-there-is-warmth-that-when-a-man-has-freedom-of/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“I have seen them stagger out of their movie palaces and blink their empty eyes in the face of reality once more, and stagger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/i-have-seen-them-stagger-out-of-their-movie-palaces-and-blink-their/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“My advice to all young writers is quite simple. I would caution them never to evade a new experience. I would urge them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/my-advice-to-all-young-writers-is-quite-simple-i-would-caution-them/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“Then it happened. One night as the rain beat on the slanted kitchen roof a great spirit slipped forever into my life. I held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/then-it-happened-one-night-as-the-rain-beat-on-the-slanted-kitchen/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [Well, this is good for me, this is experience, I am here for a reason, these moments run into pages, the seamy side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/well-this-is-good-for-me-this-is-experience-i-am-here-for-a-reason/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“She was a hunchback with a sweet smile. She smiled sweetly at anything; she couldn't help it; the trees, me, the grass, anything. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/she-was-a-hunchback-with-a-sweet-smile-she-smiled-sweetly-at-anything/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [I tossed my shoulders and swaggered away, whistling with pleasure. In the gutter I saw a long cigaret butt. I picked it up without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/i-tossed-my-shoulders-and-swaggered-away-whistling-with-pleasure-in/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“Careful, Arturo Bandini: don't strain your eyesight, remember what happened to Tarkington, remember what happened to James Joyce.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/careful-arturo-bandini-don-t-strain-your-eyesight-remember-what/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“Nor did he give a damn for the world either, or the universe, or heaven or hell. But he liked women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/nor-did-he-give-a-damn-for-the-world-either-or-the-universe-or-heaven/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [The bible is a source of great inspiration to me. It is a textbook of metaphysics. Within the bible are keys to personal growth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/the-bible-is-a-source-of-great-inspiration-to-me-it-is-a-textbook-of/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [One night I was sitting on the bed in my hotel room on Buker Hill, down in the middle of Los Angeles. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/one-night-i-was-sitting-on-the-bed-in-my-hotel-room-on-buker-hill/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“All that was good in me thrilled in my heart at that moment, all that I hoped for in the profound, obscure meaning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/all-that-was-good-in-me-thrilled-in-my-heart-at-that-moment-all-that/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [(...) I let go, crying and unable to stop because God was such a dirty crook, contemptible skunk, that's what he was for doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/i-let-go-crying-and-unable-to-stop-because-god-was-such-a-dirty-crook/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) [Explore all 80 John Fante quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Listen closely. There’s a remote possibility that you might learn something: First, I don’t give a damn if my work is commercial or not…I’m the writer. If what I write is good, then people will read it. That’s why literature exists. An author puts his heart and guts on the page. For your information, a good novel can change the world. Keep that in mind before you attempt to sit down at a typewriter. 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