--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A writer, or any man, must believe that…" description: "\"A writer, or any man, must believe that whatever happens to him is an instrument; everything has been given for an end. This is even stronger in the ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/jorge-luis-borges-275_accepting_a-writer-or-any-man-must-believe-that-wh_299890.jpg" --- # A writer, or any man, must believe that whatever happens… ![“A writer, or any man, must believe that whatever happens to him is an instrument; everything has been given for an end. This is even stronger in the case of the artist. Everything that happens, including humiliations, embarrassments, misfortunes, all has been given like clay, like material for…” quote by Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/jorge-luis-borges-275_accepting_a-writer-or-any-man-must-believe-that-wh_299890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/jorge-luis-borges-275_accepting_a-writer-or-any-man-must-believe-that-wh_299890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/jorge-luis-borges-275_accepting_a-writer-or-any-man-must-believe-that-wh_299890.jpg) > “A writer, or any man, must believe that whatever happens to him is an instrument; everything has been given for an end. This is even stronger in the case of the artist. Everything that happens, including humiliations, embarrassments, misfortunes, all has been given like clay, like material for one's art. One must accept it.” [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer should view all experiences, even painful ones, as raw material to shape his work toward a purpose. **In simple terms:** Treat every event as material for art. Key Takeaway Use all life events creatively. Themes creativity resilience purpose Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - writing - visual arts - music composition - personal therapy - public speaking Key Concepts existentialism artistic process materialism Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform a setback into artistic inspiration? - What limits does your medium impose on using personal pain? A Different Perspective Not all events are equally useful; some may hinder rather than help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Embarrassment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassment/) [Humiliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“A writer, or any man, must believe that whatever happens to him is an instrument; everything has been given for an end. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/a-writer-or-any-man-must-believe-that-whatever-happens-to-him-is-an-2/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The greatest musical instrument given to a human being is the voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayananda-saraswati/the-greatest-musical-instrument-given-to-a-human-being-is-the-voice/) [Dayananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayananda-saraswati/) > [“Everything that happens, including humiliations, embarrassments, misfortunes, all has been given like clay, like material for one’s art. One must accept it. For this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/everything-that-happens-including-humiliations-embarrassments/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm an artist who happens to be gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-freedia/i-m-an-artist-who-happens-to-be-gay/) [Big Freedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-freedia/) > [Nobody knows what makes good art. As an artist, when it happens, you're grateful, and then you get on with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-neel/nobody-knows-what-makes-good-art-as-an-artist-when-it-happens-you-re/) [Alice Neel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-neel/) > [I see myself as an artist who happens to do cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-oliphant/i-see-myself-as-an-artist-who-happens-to-do-cartoons/) [Pat Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-oliphant/) > [ \[The internet\] ought to be like clay, rather than a sculpture that you observe from a distance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/the-internet-ought-to-be-like-clay-rather-than-a-sculpture-that-you/) [Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/) > [“Water doesn’t shape like clay when you move it with your hands. I've spent a lot of time swimming, and none of my motion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/water-doesn-t-shape-like-clay-when-you-move-it-with-your-hands-i-ve/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I like the clay courts more, everyone knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-bertens/i-like-the-clay-courts-more-everyone-knows-that/) [Kiki Bertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-bertens/) > [I feel like I can move well on the clay. So if I need to get into a longer rally, I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/i-feel-like-i-can-move-well-on-the-clay-so-if-i-need-to-get-into-a/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [“Words are like clay. You can have them however you want and mould them whichever way you like, but let your words be filled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/words-are-like-clay-you-can-have-them-however-you-want-and-mould-them/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [The original lists were probably carved in stone and represented longer periods of time. They contained things like 'Get More Clay. Make Better Oven.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/the-original-lists-were-probably-carved-in-stone-and-represented/) [David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/) > [One has to be able to twist and change and distort characters, play with them like clay, so everything fits together. Real people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-carey/one-has-to-be-able-to-twist-and-change-and-distort-characters-play/) [Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/) > [“There's a unique substance in each one of us. A raw matter known as the child, pure and impressionable, flexible enough to be molded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zohreh-ghahremani/there-s-a-unique-substance-in-each-one-of-us-a-raw-matter-known-as/) [Zohreh Ghahremani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zohreh-ghahremani/) > [“Truth was like clay. Whoever had their hands on the clay could shape it however he wanted. My hands were nowhere near the clay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-zunker/truth-was-like-clay-whoever-had-their-hands-on-the-clay-could-shape/) Chad Zunker ## More by Jorge Luis Borges > [“No hables a menos que puedas mejorar el silencio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/no-hables-a-menos-que-puedas-mejorar-el-silencio/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [How can we manage to illuminate the pathos of our lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/how-can-we-manage-to-illuminate-the-pathos-of-our-lives/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Loneliness does not worry me; life is difficult enough, putting up with yourself and with your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/loneliness-does-not-worry-me-life-is-difficult-enough-putting-up-with/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-fact-is-that-all-writers-create-their-precursors-their-work/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge-but-i-like-to-keep-an-open/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The web of time - the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect, or ignore each other through the centuries - embraces "every"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-web-of-time-the-strands-of-which-approach-one-another-bifurcate/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“My memory, sir, is like a garbage disposal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/my-memory-sir-is-like-a-garbage-disposal/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [When I write, I do it urged by an intimate necessity. I don't have in mind an exclusive public, or a public of multitudes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-write-i-do-it-urged-by-an-intimate-necessity-i-don-t-have-in/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The mind was dreaming. The world was its dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-mind-was-dreaming-the-world-was-its-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-i-could-live-again-i-will-travel-light-if-i-could-live-again-i-ll/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Every man should be capable of all ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/every-man-should-be-capable-of-all-ideas/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Writing is only a guided dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/writing-is-only-a-guided-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) [Explore all 558 Jorge Luis Borges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A writer, or any man, must believe that whatever happens to him is an instrument; everything has been given for an end. This is even stronger in the case of the artist. Everything that happens, including humiliations, embarrassments, misfortunes, all has been given like clay, like material for one's art. 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