--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to…" description: "\"Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and [do] what they want you to do, to make it for a million do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/john-waters-751_book_maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to_139629.jpg" --- # Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another… ![“Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and [do] what they want you to do, to make it for a million dollars. I did that. I don't need a lot, but I need what I used to get, and they don't give you that anymore.” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/john-waters-751_book_maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to_139629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/john-waters-751_book_maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to_139629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/john-waters-751_book_maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to_139629.jpg) > “Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you to do, to make it for a million dollars. I did that. I don't need a lot, but I need what I used to get, and they don't give you that anymore.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire to create art on personal terms clashes with commercial pressures, leading to frustration over lost creative freedom. **In simple terms:** Artistic freedom vs. commercial demands creates tension. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic creative expression. Themes art industry freedom Mood frustrated determined Type artistic practical When to use this quote - filmmaking - writing - publishing Key Concepts creative autonomy financial constraints Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are acceptable for artistic integrity? - How can creators sustain independence? A Different Perspective Financial realities may limit independence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Million dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-dollars/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [They all want you to make a movie for under a million dollars, which I don't want to. I don't want to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/they-all-want-you-to-make-a-movie-for-under-a-million-dollars-which-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The way to make a million dollars is to start a religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-way-to-make-a-million-dollars-is-to-start-a-religion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man wants to make a million dollars, the the best way would be to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/writing-for-a-penny-a-word-is-ridiculous-if-a-man-wants-to-make-a/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [I'd rather make one righteous dollar on my level Than make a million dollars spittin' rhymes for the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-d-rather-make-one-righteous-dollar-on-my-level-than-make-a-million/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I get to sit at home with the dogs on the sofa, record in a closet in the office, send them off and, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-get-to-sit-at-home-with-the-dogs-on-the-sofa-record-in-a-closet-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can be sure of being right only 55 percent of the time, you can go down to Wall Street and make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-can-be-sure-of-being-right-only-55-percent-of-the-time-you-can/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [ Michael \[Marcus\] taught me one thing that was incredibly important... He taught me that you could make a million dollars. He showed me that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-kovner/michael-marcus-taught-me-one-thing-that-was-incredibly-important-he/) [Bruce Kovner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-kovner/) > [The only reason to make a million dollars in this business is to tell some fat producer to go to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphrey-bogart/the-only-reason-to-make-a-million-dollars-in-this-business-is-to-tell/) [Humphrey Bogart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphrey-bogart/) > [A doctor could make a million dollars if he could figure out a way to bring a boy into the world without a trigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/a-doctor-could-make-a-million-dollars-if-he-could-figure-out-a-way-to/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [This is Wall Street, and today is important. Because tomorrow, July 4th, I intended to make my first million dollars--an excitingday in a man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-polonsky/this-is-wall-street-and-today-is-important-because-tomorrow-july-4th/) [Abraham Polonsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-polonsky/) > [Why give a million dollars to someone if they have not proved that they can make a million dollars?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-busquets/why-give-a-million-dollars-to-someone-if-they-have-not-proved-that/) [Carmen Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-busquets/) > [CNN stands to make a hundred million dollars more than it's expected lift for the election cycle, due to the phenomenon that is Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-folkenflik/cnn-stands-to-make-a-hundred-million-dollars-more-than-it-s-expected/) [David Folkenflik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-folkenflik/) > [Money comes and goes. I may make a million dollars, then get a divorce and damn near lose all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashad-evans/money-comes-and-goes-i-may-make-a-million-dollars-then-get-a-divorce/) [Rashad Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashad-evans/) > [How to make a million dollars: First, get a million dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-to-make-a-million-dollars-first-get-a-million-dollars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can walk with your head in the clouds and keep your feet on the ground, you can make a million dollars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-dornhoefer/if-you-can-walk-with-your-head-in-the-clouds-and-keep-your-feet-on/) Gary Dornhoefer ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The rudest possible gift is a gift card. It means you think the person is stupid and has no interests. The only good gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-rudest-possible-gift-is-a-gift-card-it-means-you-think-the-person/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and [do] what they want you to do, to make it for a million dollars. I did that. 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