--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I refuse to do anything easy. I'm writing…" description: "\"I refuse to do anything easy. I'm writing for the smartest person out there. I'm not equating myself with the smartest person out there, but hopefully ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/larry-gelbart-21506_easy_i-refuse-to-do-anything-easy-i-m-writing_1272164.jpg" --- # I refuse to do anything easy. I'm writing for the smartest… ![“I refuse to do anything easy. I'm writing for the smartest person out there. I'm not equating myself with the smartest person out there, but hopefully I'm writing to say you're not alone. I'm not alone. We're not alone.” quote by Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/larry-gelbart-21506_easy_i-refuse-to-do-anything-easy-i-m-writing_1272164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/larry-gelbart-21506_easy_i-refuse-to-do-anything-easy-i-m-writing_1272164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d59/larry-gelbart-21506_easy_i-refuse-to-do-anything-easy-i-m-writing_1272164.jpg) > “I refuse to do anything easy. I'm writing for the smartest person out there. I'm not equating myself with the smartest person out there, but hopefully I'm writing to say you're not alone. I'm not alone. We're not alone.” [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author seeks to challenge himself by aiming for high intellectual standards, acknowledging shared struggle and solidarity with other thinkers. **In simple terms:** He pushes for difficult work and feels connected to others. Key Takeaway Embrace challenging work and seek community. Themes ambition solitude intellectualism Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - academic writing - creative projects - personal development - support groups Key Concepts self‑efficacy existential connection Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance difficulty with accessibility? - What community supports your intellectual growth? A Different Perspective Risk of isolation when focusing solely on elite audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Not alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-alone/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Major writing is to say that which has been seen, so that it need never be said again; so that which has been seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/major-writing-is-to-say-that-which-has-been-seen-so-that-it-need/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [Too indolent to bear the toil of writing; I mean of writing well; I say nothing about quantity. \[Lat., Piger scribendi ferre laborem; Scribendi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/too-indolent-to-bear-the-toil-of-writing-i-mean-of-writing-well-i-say/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [The secret of good writing is to say an old thing in a new way or to say a new thing in an old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-harding-davis/the-secret-of-good-writing-is-to-say-an-old-thing-in-a-new-way-or-to/) [Richard Harding Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-harding-davis/) > [I don't want them to read what I'm writing and say, 'I think that's right,' and agree with me. I want them to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/i-don-t-want-them-to-read-what-i-m-writing-and-say-i-think-that-s/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [I've simplified much more in my writing. I say what I've got to say, not in metaphor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-faithfull/i-ve-simplified-much-more-in-my-writing-i-say-what-i-ve-got-to-say/) [Marianne Faithfull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-faithfull/) > [So, then, what is style? There are two chief aspects of any piece of writing: 1) what you say and 2) how you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/so-then-what-is-style-there-are-two-chief-aspects-of-any-piece-of/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“The secret of good writing is to say an old thing in a new way or a new thing in an old way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-harding-davis/the-secret-of-good-writing-is-to-say-an-old-thing-in-a-new-way-or-a/) [Richard Harding Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-harding-davis/) > [“Because it is idiotic. Writing when there's nothing to say...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/because-it-is-idiotic-writing-when-there-s-nothing-to-say/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Major writing is to say what has been seen, so that it need never be said again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/major-writing-is-to-say-what-has-been-seen-so-that-it-need-never-be/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [As an actor, we always want people to write about us and talk about us. And when they are actually writing, then we say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranbir-kapoor/as-an-actor-we-always-want-people-to-write-about-us-and-talk-about-us/) [Ranbir Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranbir-kapoor/) > [There are millions of ways to not be writing. You say you're not in the mood, you'll pick it up tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/there-are-millions-of-ways-to-not-be-writing-you-say-you-re-not-in/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [Sometimes I'll be writing something, and I say to myself, 'Okay, that's definitely DTB,' or, 'It's definitely Strapping.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-townsend/sometimes-i-ll-be-writing-something-and-i-say-to-myself-okay-that-s/) [Devin Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-townsend/) > [“What is the essence of the art of writing? Part One: Have something to say. Part Two: Say it well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/what-is-the-essence-of-the-art-of-writing-part-one-have-something-to/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [So if you feel as if you feel too much, well then you are not alone. May these words find you like a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-tworkowski/so-if-you-feel-as-if-you-feel-too-much-well-then-you-are-not-alone/) [Jamie Tworkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-tworkowski/) > [I'm not alone, but I am lonely without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-alone-but-i-am-lonely-without-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Larry Gelbart > [I think the greatest imagination we can exercise is one that imagines how someone else feels. Because you know how you feel, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-the-greatest-imagination-we-can-exercise-is-one-that-imagines/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [I am on sort of a diet in terms of the Internet. It's the sheer quantity. It's the Niagara of opinion, of information. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-am-on-sort-of-a-diet-in-terms-of-the-internet-it-s-the-sheer/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [If vaudeville had died, television was the box they put it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/if-vaudeville-had-died-television-was-the-box-they-put-it-in/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [A war is like when it rains in New York and everybody crowds into doorways. They all get chummy together perfect strangers. The only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/a-war-is-like-when-it-rains-in-new-york-and-everybody-crowds-into/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [Television is a weapon of mass distractrion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/television-is-a-weapon-of-mass-distractrion/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [The subtle differences in language and humor that get lost in translation, for example, make it almost impossible for big companies to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/the-subtle-differences-in-language-and-humor-that-get-lost-in/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [Today's audience knows more about what's on television than what's in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/today-s-audience-knows-more-about-what-s-on-television-than-what-s-in/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [I don't think you can name a good picture where the production or the possible promotion isn't "cast-contingent." That means the film needs not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-don-t-think-you-can-name-a-good-picture-where-the-production-or-the/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [I write what I write and I honestly don't care if it gets on or not. I'm writing to see if I can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-write-what-i-write-and-i-honestly-don-t-care-if-it-gets-on-or-not-i/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [I think technology is such that we can reach new heights but we need some of the basics of the pre-technological age. It's counter-productive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-technology-is-such-that-we-can-reach-new-heights-but-we-need/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [I never watched Friends, maybe because it was written by people straight out of college…The only way to avoid age discrimination in Hollywood is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-never-watched-friends-maybe-because-it-was-written-by-people/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [Reality television is less honest than YouTube. YouTube is the real reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/reality-television-is-less-honest-than-youtube-youtube-is-the-real/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [One doesn't have a sense of humor. It has you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/one-doesn-t-have-a-sense-of-humor-it-has-you/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [You can write something that has continuity, but it makes happy endings all the more ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/you-can-write-something-that-has-continuity-but-it-makes-happy/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [I'm a recovering optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-m-a-recovering-optimist/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) [Explore all 29 Larry Gelbart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) ## More Easy quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. 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So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Sometimes life can suck and not be fair ,but we have to deal with it,because we feel we cant do anything but,we can.We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-can-suck-and-not-be-fair-but-we-have-to-deal-with-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [I don't know why, but I'm an easy target. And I don't do anything to dispel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mcginley/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-m-an-easy-target-and-i-don-t-do-anything-to/) [Ted McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mcginley/) > [I know that I'm going to have to work hard, keep working hard, and not because of this victory think, "I'm back." 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