--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You take what you're given, whether it's…" description: "\"“You take what you're given, whether it's the cornfields of the Midwest or the coal mines of West Virginia, and you make your fiction out of it. It's a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/larry-brown-11253_west-virginia_you-take-what-you-re-given-whether-it-s_2555688.jpg" --- # You take what you're given, whether it's the cornfields of… ![“You take what you're given, whether it's the cornfields of the Midwest or the coal mines of West Virginia, and you make your fiction out of it. It's all you have. And somehow, wherever you are, it always seems to be enough.” quote by Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/larry-brown-11253_west-virginia_you-take-what-you-re-given-whether-it-s_2555688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/larry-brown-11253_west-virginia_you-take-what-you-re-given-whether-it-s_2555688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/larry-brown-11253_west-virginia_you-take-what-you-re-given-whether-it-s_2555688.jpg) > ““You take what you're given, whether it's the cornfields of the Midwest or the coal mines of West Virginia, and you make your fiction out of it. It's all you have. And somehow, wherever you are, it always seems to be enough.”” [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers must use their immediate environment as material, turning any circumstance into compelling stories. **In simple terms:** Use your surroundings as story material. Key Takeaway Write from what you know. Themes writing environment creativity Mood inspirational practical Type creative motivational When to use this quote - rural life - industrial work - urban settings - travel experiences Key Concepts narrative craft authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What story can you tell from your current setting? - How does environment shape character? A Different Perspective Limited resources may constrain narrative scope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [West virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-virginia/) ## Related quotes > [I was born here in West Virginia, though I spent a little time in North Carolina when my step-dad got laid off from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-jean-swearengin/i-was-born-here-in-west-virginia-though-i-spent-a-little-time-in/) [Paula Jean Swearengin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-jean-swearengin/) > [I've worked cornfields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/i-ve-worked-cornfields/) [Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/) > [I'm just a poor boy from the cornfields of Richmond, Virginia. I'm proud because I loved baseball and played with the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dandridge/i-m-just-a-poor-boy-from-the-cornfields-of-richmond-virginia-i-m/) Ray Dandridge > [“Scattered with poppies, the golden-green waves of the cornfields faded. The red sun seemed to tip one end of a pair of scales below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/scattered-with-poppies-the-golden-green-waves-of-the-cornfields-faded/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [“She told me about rolling hills covered with cornfields and treeless miles of land without water. I dreamt of cornfields dotted with yellow rosebushes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lafaye/she-told-me-about-rolling-hills-covered-with-cornfields-and-treeless/) A. LaFaye > [We hope that all coal mines will learn from the bitter lessons these accidents have taught and will strengthen their safety precautions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-yizhong/we-hope-that-all-coal-mines-will-learn-from-the-bitter-lessons-these/) Li Yizhong > [“The owner of the coal mines, Baron Takaharu Mitsui (1900–1983), a graduate of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and world famous as a philatelist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weller/the-owner-of-the-coal-mines-baron-takaharu-mitsui-1900-1983-a/) George Weller > [Well, I'll tell you, one of things I'm proud of is for someone from Southern California, who didn't grow up around coal mines, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-solis/well-i-ll-tell-you-one-of-things-i-m-proud-of-is-for-someone-from/) [Hilda Solis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-solis/) > [“1914, the coal mines in Wales employed more than a quarter of a million people and supplied approximately one third of the world's coal exports.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/1914-the-coal-mines-in-wales-employed-more-than-a-quarter-of-a/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“But she could not reduce her vision to words, since it was no single shape coloured upon the dark, but rather a general excitement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/but-she-could-not-reduce-her-vision-to-words-since-it-was-no-single/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Bred with just the right amount of fresh air, roughhousing, and ignorance, these primitive blondes set out from the cornfields looking like starlight with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/bred-with-just-the-right-amount-of-fresh-air-roughhousing-and/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [This is a very practical discussion about the fact that one of the largest coal companies in the world, Adani, wants to build one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brandis/this-is-a-very-practical-discussion-about-the-fact-that-one-of-the/) [George Brandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brandis/) > [“Aliens loved cornfields.  They were drawn to them like toddlers to coloring books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-harmon/aliens-loved-cornfields-they-were-drawn-to-them-like-toddlers-to/) [Brian Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-harmon/) > [“About sixty percent of Shin’s class was assigned to the coal mines, where accidental death from cave-ins, explosions, and gas poisonings was common. Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaine-harden/about-sixty-percent-of-shin-s-class-was-assigned-to-the-coal-mines/) [Blaine Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaine-harden/) > [My house is surrounded on three sides by cornfields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-cruikshank/my-house-is-surrounded-on-three-sides-by-cornfields/) [Lucas Cruikshank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-cruikshank/) ## More by Larry Brown > [I've grown up playing for some incredible coaches, and I don't think anybody's ever been as fortunate as I have in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-ve-grown-up-playing-for-some-incredible-coaches-and-i-don-t-think/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [One place had a winning record that I went to, and that was Detroit. Rick Carlisle laid a foundation that gave us a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/one-place-had-a-winning-record-that-i-went-to-and-that-was-detroit/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [“Details...details...details...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/details-details-details/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [I want to do anything where people feel I can help make their franchise better and make a contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-want-to-do-anything-where-people-feel-i-can-help-make-their/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [“I didn't want to see anything worse than me befall her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-didn-t-want-to-see-anything-worse-than-me-befall-her/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [You look at the NBA: there's all these young kids that are drafted on potential. They go to bad teams, they're in bad locker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/you-look-at-the-nba-there-s-all-these-young-kids-that-are-drafted-on/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [I can't figure out how you can draft players for a coach that you know coaches a certain a style, and was successful doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-can-t-figure-out-how-you-can-draft-players-for-a-coach-that-you/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [College kids want to be coached. They want to be taught. They might resist it a little bit early on, but the more you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/college-kids-want-to-be-coached-they-want-to-be-taught-they-might/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [I think, with every kid I coach, I'm trying to get them to do the right thing all the time. I always feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-think-with-every-kid-i-coach-i-m-trying-to-get-them-to-do-the-right/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [“We know You love us. We love You, too. I mean, six, seven thousand years from now . . . won't make no difference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/we-know-you-love-us-we-love-you-too-i-mean-six-seven-thousand-years/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [Everyone wants to psychoanalyze me. I don't know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/everyone-wants-to-psychoanalyze-me-i-don-t-know-why/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/you-have-to-do-something-in-your-life-that-is-honorable-and-not/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [“I told him. We got a library here. Got plenty of good books, too. -Larry Brown, Dirty Work”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-told-him-we-got-a-library-here-got-plenty-of-good-books-too-larry/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [As long as I feel like I'm helping kids get better, I don't see why I should stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/as-long-as-i-feel-like-i-m-helping-kids-get-better-i-don-t-see-why-i/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [Why would you want to do something and not be special and want the best?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/why-would-you-want-to-do-something-and-not-be-special-and-want-the/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) [Explore all 60 Larry Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) ## More West virginia quotes > [In West Virginia, the most vulnerable people we have are people who get up every morning and go to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/in-west-virginia-the-most-vulnerable-people-we-have-are-people-who/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [“That’s what’s called a ‘valley fill.’ What they fill it with the coal companies call ‘overburden.’ That’s basically everything they tore off the land:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/that-s-what-s-called-a-valley-fill-what-they-fill-it-with-the-coal/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [Imposing excessive new regulations, or closing coal-fired power plants, would produce few health or environmental benefits. But it would exact huge costs on society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-driessen/imposing-excessive-new-regulations-or-closing-coal-fired-power-plants/) [Paul Driessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-driessen/) > [“Wyoming got an Algonquian name from Pennsylvania meaning “large prairie,” but the adoption came only after a long fight. Decades before the settling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/wyoming-got-an-algonquian-name-from-pennsylvania-meaning-large/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [I've been surrounded by good people at West Virginia. That helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-grier/i-ve-been-surrounded-by-good-people-at-west-virginia-that-helped-me-a/) [Will Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-grier/) > [“Our 182-passenger Boeing Classic this morning is under the able command of Captain Hiram Slatt, discharged from service in the United States Air Force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/our-182-passenger-boeing-classic-this-morning-is-under-the-able/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [All I want is greatness for West Virginia, and I'll work with anyone who is ready to help me turn this state around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-justice/all-i-want-is-greatness-for-west-virginia-and-i-ll-work-with-anyone/) [Jim Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-justice/) > [History will always regard Florida as the state that decided the Bush-Gore contest, but if Gore had carried Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, West Virginia or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/history-will-always-regard-florida-as-the-state-that-decided-the-bush/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [“Anyone who studies the history of American commerce or warfare should be interested in Burning Springs, nicknamed "Oiltown." This was the site of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-johnson/anyone-who-studies-the-history-of-american-commerce-or-warfare-should/) [Clint Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-johnson/) > [I hated baseball. I really didn't like baseball at all until someone decided they were going to pay me... Every year I played in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kruk/i-hated-baseball-i-really-didn-t-like-baseball-at-all-until-someone/) [John Kruk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kruk/) > [Whoever is president, my first priority is the same - as always. I look for what's best for West Virginia and the nation as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/whoever-is-president-my-first-priority-is-the-same-as-always-i-look/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [My father was in the coal business in West Virginia. Both dad and mother were, however, originally from Massachusetts; New England, to them, meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/my-father-was-in-the-coal-business-in-west-virginia-both-dad-and/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [When the human race neglects its weaker members, when the family neglects its weakest one - it's the first blow in a suicidal movement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/when-the-human-race-neglects-its-weaker-members-when-the-family-2/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [In Southern West Virginia we live in a war zone. Three and one-half million pounds of explosives are being used every day to blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-bonds/in-southern-west-virginia-we-live-in-a-war-zone-three-and-one-half/) Judy Bonds > [I was born here in West Virginia, though I spent a little time in North Carolina when my step-dad got laid off from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-jean-swearengin/i-was-born-here-in-west-virginia-though-i-spent-a-little-time-in/) [Paula Jean Swearengin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-jean-swearengin/) [Browse all 187 West virginia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-virginia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You take what you're given, whether it's the cornfields of the Midwest or the coal mines of West Virginia, and you make your fiction out of it. It's all you have. 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