--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've finished my war book now. The next…" description: "\"“I've finished my war book now. The next one I write is going to be fun. This one is a failure, and had to be, since it was written by a pillar of salt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/kurt-vonnegut-41_billy-pilgrim_i-ve-finished-my-war-book-now-the-next-o_302193.jpg" --- # I've finished my war book now. The next one I write is… ![“I've finished my war book now. The next one I write is going to be fun. This one is a failure, and had to be, since it was written by a pillar of salt. It begins like this: Listen: Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time. It ends like this: Poo-tee-weet?” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/kurt-vonnegut-41_billy-pilgrim_i-ve-finished-my-war-book-now-the-next-o_302193.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/kurt-vonnegut-41_billy-pilgrim_i-ve-finished-my-war-book-now-the-next-o_302193.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/kurt-vonnegut-41_billy-pilgrim_i-ve-finished-my-war-book-now-the-next-o_302193.jpg) > ““I've finished my war book now. The next one I write is going to be fun. This one is a failure, and had to be, since it was written by a pillar of salt. It begins like this: Listen: Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time. It ends like this: Poo-tee-weet?”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator reflects on a failed work and anticipates a more enjoyable future, using absurd imagery to critique his own process. **In simple terms:** A failed project can lead to better work later. Key Takeaway Embrace failure, aim for fun next. Themes creativity failure humor Mood reflective wry Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - publishing - creative blocks - career transitions Key Concepts existentialism satire self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What lessons does failure teach you? - How can humor reshape a setback? A Different Perspective Success may still be hindered by self‑doubt or external criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billy pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy-pilgrim/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“People aren't supposed to look back. I'm certainly not going to do it anymore. I've finished my war book now. The next one I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back-i-m-certainly-not-going-to-do-it/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“This one is a failure, and had to be, since it was written by a pillar of salt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/this-one-is-a-failure-and-had-to-be-since-it-was-written-by-a-pillar/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Is it an anti-war book?” “Yes,” I said. “I guess.” “You know what I say to people when I hear they’re writing anti-war books?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/is-it-an-anti-war-book-yes-i-said-i-guess-you-know-what-i-say-to/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Terror cannot be finished by one war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/terror-cannot-be-finished-by-one-war/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [“Billy Pilgrim has become unstuck in time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/billy-pilgrim-has-become-unstuck-in-time/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“HERE IS HOW Billy Pilgrim lost his wife, Valencia. He was unconscious in the hospital in Vermont, after the airplane crashed on Sugarbush Mountain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/here-is-how-billy-pilgrim-lost-his-wife-valencia-he-was-unconscious/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Dresden was destroyed on the night of February 13, 1945,” Billy Pilgrim began. “We came out of our shelter the next day.” He told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/dresden-was-destroyed-on-the-night-of-february-13-1945-billy-pilgrim/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The American fliers turned in their uniforms, became high school kids. And Hitler turned into a baby, Billy Pilgrim supposed. That wasn't in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-american-fliers-turned-in-their-uniforms-became-high-school-kids/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Billy had a framed prayer on his office wall which expressed his method for keeping going, even though he was unenthusiastic about living. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/billy-had-a-framed-prayer-on-his-office-wall-which-expressed-his/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Billy Pilgrim: "You guys go on without me. I'll be alright." Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/billy-pilgrim-you-guys-go-on-without-me-i-ll-be-alright/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And then they saw bearded Billy Pilgrim in his blue toga and silver shoes, with his hands in a muff. He looked at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-then-they-saw-bearded-billy-pilgrim-in-his-blue-toga-and-silver/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Those boots were almost all he owned in this world. They were his home. An anecdote: One time a recruit was watching him bone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/those-boots-were-almost-all-he-owned-in-this-world-they-were-his-home/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Billy Pilgrim says that the Universe does not look like a lot of bright little dots to the creatures from Tralfamadore. The creatures can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/billy-pilgrim-says-that-the-universe-does-not-look-like-a-lot-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “I’m going to lose weight for you,” she \[Valencia Merble\] said. “What?” “I’m going to go on a diet. I’m going to become beautiful… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-m-going-to-lose-weight-for-you-she-valencia-merble-said-what-i-m/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [If what Billy Pilgrim learned from the Tralfamadorians is true, that we will all live forever, no matter how dead we may sometimes seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-what-billy-pilgrim-learned-from-the-tralfamadorians-is-true-that/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Billy pilgrim quotes > [If what Billy Pilgrim learned from the Tralfamadorians is true, that we will all live forever, no matter how dead we may sometimes seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-what-billy-pilgrim-learned-from-the-tralfamadorians-is-true-that/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “I’m going to lose weight for you,” she \[Valencia Merble\] said. “What?” “I’m going to go on a diet. I’m going to become beautiful… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-m-going-to-lose-weight-for-you-she-valencia-merble-said-what-i-m/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Billy Pilgrim says that the Universe does not look like a lot of bright little dots to the creatures from Tralfamadore. The creatures can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/billy-pilgrim-says-that-the-universe-does-not-look-like-a-lot-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Those boots were almost all he owned in this world. They were his home. An anecdote: One time a recruit was watching him bone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/those-boots-were-almost-all-he-owned-in-this-world-they-were-his-home/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And then they saw bearded Billy Pilgrim in his blue toga and silver shoes, with his hands in a muff. He looked at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-then-they-saw-bearded-billy-pilgrim-in-his-blue-toga-and-silver/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Billy Pilgrim: "You guys go on without me. I'll be alright." Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/billy-pilgrim-you-guys-go-on-without-me-i-ll-be-alright/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You sound to me as though you don't be leave in the free will,' said Billy Pilgrim. 'If I hadn't spent so much time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vonnegut-kurt/you-sound-to-me-as-though-you-don-t-be-leave-in-the-free-will-said/) Vonnegut, Kurt > [Billy had a framed prayer on his office wall which expressed his method for keeping going, even though he was unenthusiastic about living. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/billy-had-a-framed-prayer-on-his-office-wall-which-expressed-his/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Billy Pilgrim wasn't weak, she decided, as he drifted back to sleep—he was broken. The whole system was broken. Sending young men to war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/billy-pilgrim-wasn-t-weak-she-decided-as-he-drifted-back-to-sleep-he/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“The American fliers turned in their uniforms, became high school kids. And Hitler turned into a baby, Billy Pilgrim supposed. That wasn't in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-american-fliers-turned-in-their-uniforms-became-high-school-kids/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Dresden was destroyed on the night of February 13, 1945,” Billy Pilgrim began. “We came out of our shelter the next day.” He told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/dresden-was-destroyed-on-the-night-of-february-13-1945-billy-pilgrim/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Listen - on the tenth night the peg was pulled out of the hasp on Billy's boxcar door, and the door was opened. Billy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/listen-on-the-tenth-night-the-peg-was-pulled-out-of-the-hasp-on-billy/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [“They went Indian file. First came the scouts, clever, graceful, quiet. They had rifles. Next came the antitank gunner, clumsy and dense, warning Germans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/they-went-indian-file-first-came-the-scouts-clever-graceful-quiet/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [“It had to be done,” Rumfoord told Billy, speaking of the destruction of Dresden. “I know,” said Billy. “That’s war.” “I know. I’m not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/it-had-to-be-done-rumfoord-told-billy-speaking-of-the-destruction-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [“HERE IS HOW Billy Pilgrim lost his wife, Valencia. He was unconscious in the hospital in Vermont, after the airplane crashed on Sugarbush Mountain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/here-is-how-billy-pilgrim-lost-his-wife-valencia-he-was-unconscious/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Browse all 33 Billy pilgrim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy-pilgrim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I've finished my war book now. The next one I write is going to be fun. This one is a failure, and had to be, since it was written by a pillar of salt. It begins like this: Listen: Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time. 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