--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I nearly always write — just as I nearly…" description: "\"I nearly always write — just as I nearly always breathe.\" — John Steinbeck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/john-steinbeck-71_breathe_i-nearly-always-write-just-as-i-nearly-a_666234.jpg" --- # I nearly always write — just as I nearly always breathe. ![“I nearly always write — just as I nearly always breathe.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/john-steinbeck-71_breathe_i-nearly-always-write-just-as-i-nearly-a_666234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/john-steinbeck-71_breathe_i-nearly-always-write-just-as-i-nearly-a_666234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/john-steinbeck-71_breathe_i-nearly-always-write-just-as-i-nearly-a_666234.jpg) > “I nearly always write — just as I nearly always breathe.” [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is as essential to him as breathing, reflecting deep compulsion and identity tied to the craft. **In simple terms:** Writing feels as natural as breathing. Key Takeaway Treat writing as a vital daily habit. Themes creativity identity discipline Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - daily journaling - creative writing - professional work - personal reflection - teaching writing Key Concepts authorial compulsion self expression Questions to Reflect On - What drives your need to write daily? - How can you sustain this habit healthily? A Different Perspective May lead to burnout if not balanced with rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe/) [Nearly Breathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nearly-breathe-5062086/) [Nearly Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nearly-write-5062085/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-just-240256/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I nearly always write just as I nearly always breathe. - John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-nearly-always-write-just-as-i-nearly-always-breathe-john-steinbeck/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish. Lose track of the 400 pages and write just one page a day, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/abandon-the-idea-that-you-are-ever-going-to-finish-lose-track-of-the/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I think a lot of the writing, you know, I write is just kind of like that where, you know. I write exactly how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/i-think-a-lot-of-the-writing-you-know-i-write-is-just-kind-of-like/) [Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/) > [I'm a person who, when I set out to write, I write. It's just like when you set out to eat, you eat, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/i-m-a-person-who-when-i-set-out-to-write-i-write-it-s-just-like-when/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [All the best songs are, I think, the easiest write because they just come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/all-the-best-songs-are-i-think-the-easiest-write-because-they-just/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [I write almost everything on my albums, all the hooks etc, but I can't sing them as I hear them in my head. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illy/i-write-almost-everything-on-my-albums-all-the-hooks-etc-but-i-can-t/) [Illy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illy/) > [The secret is to write just anything, to dare to write just anything, because when you write just anything, you begin to say what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-green/the-secret-is-to-write-just-anything-to-dare-to-write-just-anything/) [Julien Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-green/) > [I write just because the fire of my emotion is burning. Had I not, I would not have been able to find peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ba-jin/i-write-just-because-the-fire-of-my-emotion-is-burning-had-i-not-i/) [Ba Jin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ba-jin/) > [The key to being a wonderful writer is not to write. You just get out of the way. Leave room for God to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/the-key-to-being-a-wonderful-writer-is-not-to-write-you-just-get-out/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [You can't be a writer if you don't write, it's just that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-can-t-be-a-writer-if-you-don-t-write-it-s-just-that-simple/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Too much to write... Just read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-much-to-write-just-read-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I write just knowing that I enjoy writing. But if I have to write, it seems like nothing comes. But when I go there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrae-crouch/i-write-just-knowing-that-i-enjoy-writing-but-if-i-have-to-write-it/) [Andrae Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrae-crouch/) > [Just write. It doesn't matter what you write. Just sit at your desk and write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/just-write-it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-write-just-sit-at-your-desk-and/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) ## More by John Steinbeck > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Prayer never brought in no side-meat. Takes a shoat to bring in pork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/prayer-never-brought-in-no-side-meat-takes-a-shoat-to-bring-in-pork/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/and-now-submarines-are-armed-with-mass-murder-our-silly-only-way-of/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“He was forever inventing a new way of doing an old thing and doing it better and quicker, but he never in his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/he-was-forever-inventing-a-new-way-of-doing-an-old-thing-and-doing-it/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“You come back a changed man. 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Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Who in his mind has not probe the dark water?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/who-in-his-mind-has-not-probe-the-dark-water/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [People like you to be something, preferably what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/people-like-you-to-be-something-preferably-what-they-are/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Suddenly he knew joy and sorrow felted into one fabric. Courage and fear were one thing too. He found that he had started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/suddenly-he-knew-joy-and-sorrow-felted-into-one-fabric-courage-and/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I am writing this from what we Americans call Yurrp. In Yurrp writers are taken as seriously as Lana Turner's legs are in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-am-writing-this-from-what-we-americans-call-yurrp-in-yurrp-writers/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I write because I like to write. I find joy in the texture and tone and rhythm of words. It is a satisfaction like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-write-because-i-like-to-write-i-find-joy-in-the-texture-and-tone/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Explore all 1,589 John Steinbeck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More Breathe quotes > [“Well come and stand a little bit closer, breathe in and get a bit higher. 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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/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [We need to be more conversant with it because science is in our lives. It's in everything. It's in the food we eat. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/we-need-to-be-more-conversant-with-it-because-science-is-in-our-lives/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [“Before we can make seismic professional, economic, and sociological changes, we have to squeeze out of our Spanx and remember how it feels to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hays-coomer/before-we-can-make-seismic-professional-economic-and-sociological/) [Sarah Hays Coomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hays-coomer/) > [Manchester United breathe football. 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