--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been writing for 50 years and…" description: "\"I have been writing for 50 years and readers still read my first book from when I was in the Marine Corps.\" — Leon Uris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/leon-uris-7821_book_i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-rea_2232417.jpg" --- # I have been writing for 50 years and readers still read my… ![“I have been writing for 50 years and readers still read my first book from when I was in the Marine Corps.” quote by Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/leon-uris-7821_book_i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-rea_2232417.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/leon-uris-7821_book_i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-rea_2232417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/leon-uris-7821_book_i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-rea_2232417.jpg) > “I have been writing for 50 years and readers still read my first book from when I was in the Marine Corps.” [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Longevity of a writer’s early work can outlast decades, showing that authentic stories endure across time. **In simple terms:** Early work can stay popular for years. Key Takeaway Value timeless storytelling. Themes legacy authenticity endurance Mood proud reflective Type literary historical When to use this quote - marketing campaigns - book reissues - author retrospectives - library collections Key Concepts Literary persistence reader loyalty Questions to Reflect On - How does early success shape later writing? - What makes a debut novel timeless? A Different Perspective May not reflect current style or relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [50 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/50-years/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Marine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-marine-5027230/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Marine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marine/) [Marine Corp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marine-corp/) [Marine corps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marine-corps/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Readers Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers-read-900651/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing 50](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-50-4969878/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-readers-3379715/) ## Related quotes > [God flourished my ministry and my career of creative thinking, communicating and writing back 50 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/god-flourished-my-ministry-and-my-career-of-creative-thinking/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [I want to write books that can be read a hundred years from now, and readers wouldn't be bogged down by irrelevant details.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/i-want-to-write-books-that-can-be-read-a-hundred-years-from-now-and/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [I have drawn inspiration from the Marine Corps, the Jewish struggle in Palestine and Israel, and the Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/i-have-drawn-inspiration-from-the-marine-corps-the-jewish-struggle-in/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [If you ask 20 different readers why they read, they will all be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/if-you-ask-20-different-readers-why-they-read-they-will-all-be-right/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [“I'd love for readers to read what books are about so that if they are expecting happy endings in dark horror novels, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-gill/i-d-love-for-readers-to-read-what-books-are-about-so-that-if-they-are/) [Carole Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-gill/) > [First, there are some of my readers who only read Hap and Leonard, not the other stuff, and some who don't read Hap and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/first-there-are-some-of-my-readers-who-only-read-hap-and-leonard-not/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [Certain readers will read my book not because they are interested in Iraq, but because they read crime fiction. I did want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/certain-readers-will-read-my-book-not-because-they-are-interested-in/) [Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/) > [I hope readers will do what I do when I read a novel I like: talk in ways that will illuminate their own lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-hope-readers-will-do-what-i-do-when-i-read-a-novel-i-like-talk-in/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Readers read to escape from the world, Author's write to never have to go back to it again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chami-rupasinghe/readers-read-to-escape-from-the-world-author-s-write-to-never-have-to/) [Chami Rupasinghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chami-rupasinghe/) > [I have this belief that children become readers before they can read. They become hooked on books because they were read aloud to as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-wilson/i-have-this-belief-that-children-become-readers-before-they-can-read/) [Jacqueline Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-wilson/) > [The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. It is said that leaders are readers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-man-who-doesn-t-read-good-books-has-no-advantage-over-the-man-who/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Real readers re-read good books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-bain/real-readers-re-read-good-books/) [Darrell Bain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-bain/) > [There are some readers who have never read an essay on taste; and if they take my advice they never will, for they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/there-are-some-readers-who-have-never-read-an-essay-on-taste-and-if/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The sun shines. Readers read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderick-townley/the-sun-shines-readers-read/) [Roderick Townley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderick-townley/) > [“If it is true that there are books written to escape from the present moment, and its meanness and its sordidity, it is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/if-it-is-true-that-there-are-books-written-to-escape-from-the-present/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More by Leon Uris > [Usually a good part of the people trying it end up not making it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/usually-a-good-part-of-the-people-trying-it-end-up-not-making-it/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [It all begins and ends in the same place, doesn't it? Conor and me in Ballyutogue. We all come home eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/it-all-begins-and-ends-in-the-same-place-doesn-t-it-conor-and-me-in/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [“God figured out when he separated us from the rest of the creatures that if we have the power to reason and justify and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/god-figured-out-when-he-separated-us-from-the-rest-of-the-creatures/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [“In God's scheme what is a few billion years here and there. Perhaps there have come and gone a dozen human civilizations in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/in-god-s-scheme-what-is-a-few-billion-years-here-and-there-perhaps/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [“Nordstrom.” “Would you care for some tea or a brandy?” “No … Nicole, I know”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/nordstrom-would-you-care-for-some-tea-or-a-brandy-no-nicole-i-know/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [“And that is where I have failed you, Ari. You see, I would have crawled to your mother a million times. I would crawl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/and-that-is-where-i-have-failed-you-ari-you-see-i-would-have-crawled/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [Anyone who goes into writing has to find out somewhere along the line, he's either naive or insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/anyone-who-goes-into-writing-has-to-find-out-somewhere-along-the-line/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [“From there Ari took her to the church which marked the place of the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/from-there-ari-took-her-to-the-church-which-marked-the-place-of-the/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [I was tough. I used everything to my advantage. I could be very ruthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/i-was-tough-i-used-everything-to-my-advantage-i-could-be-very-ruthless/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [My first book was rejected nine times. It turned out to be a best seller, Battle Cry? in 1953.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/my-first-book-was-rejected-nine-times-it-turned-out-to-be-a-best/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [Life hinges on many factors we cannot control. Two of the most important factors, we can control. We can manage our relationships-and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/life-hinges-on-many-factors-we-cannot-control-two-of-the-most/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [I do not write for an audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/i-do-not-write-for-an-audience/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [“But once you allow yourself to think that there are some people, because of their race, their color, or religion, who are really not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/but-once-you-allow-yourself-to-think-that-there-are-some-people/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [I essentially write for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/i-essentially-write-for-myself/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [“Karen Hansen Clement sank deep in melancholy. She heard till she could hear no more. She saw until she could see no more. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/karen-hansen-clement-sank-deep-in-melancholy-she-heard-till-she-could/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) [Explore all 83 Leon Uris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) ## 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! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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": "I have been writing for 50 years and readers still read my first book from when I was in the Marine Corps.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leon Uris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-readers-still-read-my-first-book/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-readers-still-read-my-first-book/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/leon-uris-7821_book_i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-rea_2232417.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/leon-uris-7821_book_i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-rea_2232417.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/leon-uris-7821_book_i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-rea_2232417.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have been writing for 50 years and readers still read my first book from when I was in the Marine Corps.” — Leon Uris", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leon Uris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have been writing for 50...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-readers-still-read-my-first-book/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/i-have-been-writing-for-50-years-and-readers-still-read-my-first-book/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```