--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good writer wants from us — or has no…" description: "\"A good writer wants from us — or has no right to ask more than — intelligence, good faith and time.\" — John Jeremiah Sullivan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/john-jeremiah-sullivan-19344_asks_a-good-writer-wants-from-us-or-has-no-ri_1050143.jpg" --- # A good writer wants from us — or has no right to ask more… ![“A good writer wants from us — or has no right to ask more than — intelligence, good faith and time.” quote by John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/john-jeremiah-sullivan-19344_asks_a-good-writer-wants-from-us-or-has-no-ri_1050143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/john-jeremiah-sullivan-19344_asks_a-good-writer-wants-from-us-or-has-no-ri_1050143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaf/john-jeremiah-sullivan-19344_asks_a-good-writer-wants-from-us-or-has-no-ri_1050143.jpg) > “A good writer wants from us — or has no right to ask more than — intelligence, good faith and time.” [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer’s demand for intelligence, good faith, and time is a reasonable expectation of respect. **In simple terms:** Writers ask for respect and patience. Key Takeaway Give writers space and trust. Themes creativity respect collaboration Mood contemplative respectful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - publishing contracts - workshop feedback - reading groups Key Concepts literary criticism author‑reader dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What does respect look like in creative work? - How can readers support writers? A Different Perspective Time constraints often limit deep engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-faith/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [No man likes to have his intelligence or good faith questioned, especially if he has doubts about it himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-man-likes-to-have-his-intelligence-or-good-faith-questioned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Good writers are those who keep the language efficient. That is to say, keep it accurate, keep it clear. 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Only from oneself has one the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/you-must-not-expect-anything-from-others-it-s-you-of-yourself-of-whom/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, Why did this happen to me? unless we ask the same question for every moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-no-right-to-ask-when-sorrow-comes-why-did-this-happen-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you do something right once, someone will ask you to do it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/if-you-do-something-right-once-someone-will-ask-you-to-do-it-again/) Azgraybebly Joslan ## More by John Jeremiah Sullivan > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“If we put aside the self-awareness standard -- and really, how arbitrary and arrogant is that, to take the attribute of consciousness we happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/if-we-put-aside-the-self-awareness-standard-and-really-how-arbitrary/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [I'm just saying, take courage. 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