--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't pass up a blank book when I see…" description: "\"I can't pass up a blank book when I see it in a bookstore. And I write a sentence in it, and then I put it away.\" — John Larroquette" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/john-larroquette-19366_blank_i-can-t-pass-up-a-blank-book-when-i-see_858056.png" --- # I can't pass up a blank book when I see it in a bookstore… ![“I can't pass up a blank book when I see it in a bookstore. And I write a sentence in it, and then I put it away.” quote by John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/john-larroquette-19366_blank_i-can-t-pass-up-a-blank-book-when-i-see_858056.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/john-larroquette-19366_blank_i-can-t-pass-up-a-blank-book-when-i-see_858056.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/john-larroquette-19366_blank_i-can-t-pass-up-a-blank-book-when-i-see_858056.png) > “I can't pass up a blank book when I see it in a bookstore. And I write a sentence in it, and then I put it away.” [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing an empty notebook inspires a spontaneous urge to write, then the writer puts it aside. **In simple terms:** Empty notebooks spark a writing impulse that is later set aside. Key Takeaway Capture the impulse, then decide its value. Themes creativity impulse writing Mood contemplative curious playful Type personal observational When to use this quote - bookstore browsing - journaling - creative blocks Key Concepts spontaneous expression self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - Do you keep the written sentences? - How does this habit affect your productivity? A Different Perspective The habit may become a distraction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Bookstore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookstore/) [Bookstores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookstores/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's easy to get a book in a bookstore. I think it's just damn near impossible to get a book out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winget/i-think-it-s-easy-to-get-a-book-in-a-bookstore-i-think-it-s-just-damn/) [Larry Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winget/) > [“But you're kind of like a great book…you know, you pick up a book at the bookstore because it has a beautiful cover…but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kenneally/but-you-re-kind-of-like-a-great-book-you-know-you-pick-up-a-book-at/) [Miranda Kenneally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kenneally/) > [I think that every book that's in a bookstore should entertain in some way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-think-that-every-book-that-s-in-a-bookstore-should-entertain-in/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Here is the treasure chest of the world - the public library, or a bookstore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-is-the-treasure-chest-of-the-world-the-public-library-or-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We were just a one-room bookstore; we didn't have any money for lawyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/we-were-just-a-one-room-bookstore-we-didn-t-have-any-money-for-lawyers/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [A lot of the ways of advertising a book - the cover, whether somebody sees it on a subway or sees it in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/a-lot-of-the-ways-of-advertising-a-book-the-cover-whether-somebody/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [An honest bookstore would post the following sign above its 'self-help' section: 'For true self-help, please visit our philosophy, literature, history and science sections,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/an-honest-bookstore-would-post-the-following-sign-above-its-self-help/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [If the college you visit has a bookstore filled with t-shirts rather than books, find another college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-college-you-visit-has-a-bookstore-filled-with-t-shirts-rather/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's an unwritten compact between you and the reader. If someone enters a bookstore and sets down hard earned money (energy) for your book,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/there-s-an-unwritten-compact-between-you-and-the-reader-if-someone/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The first thing I do in any town I come to is ask if it has a bookstore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-first-thing-i-do-in-any-town-i-come-to-is-ask-if-it-has-a/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [To walk into a modern-day bookstore is a little bit like studying a single photograph out of the infinite number of photographs that cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/to-walk-into-a-modern-day-bookstore-is-a-little-bit-like-studying-a/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Reality doesn’t always give us the life that we desire, but we can always find what we desire between the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelise-m-cullens/reality-doesn-t-always-give-us-the-life-that-we-desire-but-we-can/) Adelise M. Cullens > [The only bookstore I had was the paperback rack at the drugstore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/the-only-bookstore-i-had-was-the-paperback-rack-at-the-drugstore/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [If Im in the bookstore, and I see a 700-page novel, my first thought is, Ooh, how could you cut this down to size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/if-im-in-the-bookstore-and-i-see-a-700-page-novel-my-first-thought-is/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) > [My main interest was finding boyfriends. I'd park myself in the bookstore and read with one eye on everyone coming in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/my-main-interest-was-finding-boyfriends-i-d-park-myself-in-the/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) ## More by John Larroquette > [When actors get pigeonholed, that's their own doing to a large degree. Because if you do something that people like, obviously they're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/when-actors-get-pigeonholed-that-s-their-own-doing-to-a-large-degree/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) > [I certainly don't take life lightly. To respect the product that you're using, I think, is very important. I think it does connect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/i-certainly-don-t-take-life-lightly-to-respect-the-product-that-you/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) > [I love working with Gary Sinise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/i-love-working-with-gary-sinise/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) > [I do think that the imagination you create yourself when you're reading, to create the tone and the accent of the world, is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/i-do-think-that-the-imagination-you-create-yourself-when-you-re/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) > [I'd like to be doing quality acting in a quality role and making as many people as possible happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/i-d-like-to-be-doing-quality-acting-in-a-quality-role-and-making-as/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) > [I don't celebrate birthdays much, except for decade-wise. 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There are things that go bump in the night. Actually, there are things that go 'Give me your wallet or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/be-careful-out-there-there-are-things-that-go-bump-in-the-night/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) > [It's amazing being a member of perhaps the last analog generation - being born in the late '40s, growing up in the '50s and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/it-s-amazing-being-a-member-of-perhaps-the-last-analog-generation/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) > [I don't have anything against audiobooks. I actually did a couple of them - but not many. 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It seems to me that any way we get good literature in our brain is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/i-certainly-don-t-condemn-anyone-who-listens-to-audiobooks-it-seems/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) [Explore all 33 John Larroquette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) ## More Blank quotes > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" 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He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. In acting class they teach you about the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-higgins-clark/the-acting-background-helped-a-lot-when-i-started-writing-i-was/) [Carol Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-higgins-clark/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [“As I stare at the blank page, I am at once awash inwords but unable to find the ones I want to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/as-i-stare-at-the-blank-page-i-am-at-once-awash-inwords-but-unable-to/) [Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [Bullies enjoy dark happiness; these are the blank parts that eventually fill their minds with nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-shanks/bullies-enjoy-dark-happiness-these-are-the-blank-parts-that/) Emily Shanks > [History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/history-is-full-of-blank-spaces-but-good-stories-invariably-are-not/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [If men's minds were like dominoes, surely his would be the double blank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/if-men-s-minds-were-like-dominoes-surely-his-would-be-the-double-blank/) [P. 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