--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think you can't write with anger. I…" description: "\"I think you can't write with anger. I think it always has to be with a wink. There always has to be an element of hope in what you write. Otherwise you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/mark-russell-17701_anger_i-think-you-can-t-write-with-anger-i-thi_2386798.png" --- # I think you can't write with anger. I think it always has… ![“I think you can't write with anger. I think it always has to be with a wink. There always has to be an element of hope in what you write. Otherwise you're just getting mad and it's not going to be fun for anybody.” quote by Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/mark-russell-17701_anger_i-think-you-can-t-write-with-anger-i-thi_2386798.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/mark-russell-17701_anger_i-think-you-can-t-write-with-anger-i-thi_2386798.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/mark-russell-17701_anger_i-think-you-can-t-write-with-anger-i-thi_2386798.png) > “I think you can't write with anger. I think it always has to be with a wink. There always has to be an element of hope in what you write. Otherwise you're just getting mad and it's not going to be fun for anybody.” [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing should blend humor with hope; anger alone makes it unpleasant. **In simple terms:** Mix humor and hope, avoid pure anger. Key Takeaway Add wit and optimism to writing. Themes creativity humor hope emotion writing Mood lighthearted inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - Comedy writing - personal essays - motivational speeches - blog posts Key Concepts Satire positive psychology literary tone Questions to Reflect On - How does humor change the impact of a serious message? - What hope can you embed in a critique? A Different Perspective Pure anger can alienate readers and stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Getting Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-mad/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The best emotions to write out of are anger and fear or dread. The least energizing emotion to write out of is admiration. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-best-emotions-to-write-out-of-are-anger-and-fear-or-dread-the/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“I didn't hit other people or hit purposefully, I just hit. Some object would be at fault. My anger was at myself, every time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/i-didn-t-hit-other-people-or-hit-purposefully-i-just-hit-some-object/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [“Some of us, I imagine, write out of anger; some out of pain; some write out of prejudice or loss, some out of passion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-ellory/some-of-us-i-imagine-write-out-of-anger-some-out-of-pain-some-write/) [R.J. Ellory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-ellory/) > [No, you can't go getting mad at people because they're shitty. Life will get mad at them, don't worry..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/no-you-can-t-go-getting-mad-at-people-because-they-re-shitty-life/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [I used to be really snobby about music. I'm not as snobby as I used to be, though. I have this great bit about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-braunohler/i-used-to-be-really-snobby-about-music-i-m-not-as-snobby-as-i-used-to/) [Kurt Braunohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-braunohler/) > [I believe in sometimes getting mad and always getting even.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-rollins/i-believe-in-sometimes-getting-mad-and-always-getting-even/) [Ed Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-rollins/) > [You have to be able to be a good loser. You have to be okay knowing you're going to fail every day in something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/you-have-to-be-able-to-be-a-good-loser-you-have-to-be-okay-knowing/) [Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/) > [I don't believe in getting mad if a guy misses a block and I get hit. I don't yell at the players. Everybody gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-don-t-believe-in-getting-mad-if-a-guy-misses-a-block-and-i-get-hit/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [If you can say something to people that's maybe a little bit insulting, but they're kind of giggling as they are hearing it, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-critch/if-you-can-say-something-to-people-that-s-maybe-a-little-bit/) [Mark Critch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-critch/) > [If the character is getting mad, getting upset or getting turned on, you're getting to see that in the facial tones and the skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rooker/if-the-character-is-getting-mad-getting-upset-or-getting-turned-on/) [Michael Rooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rooker/) > [“I cannot go through all my thoughts, so as to make them clear to you, nor have I ever dwelt on things, to shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-blackmore/i-cannot-go-through-all-my-thoughts-so-as-to-make-them-clear-to-you/) [R.D. Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-blackmore/) > [Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something's wrong. He's not right in the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/generally-speaking-if-a-human-being-never-shows-anger-then-i-think/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Martha: Oh, I like your anger. I think that's what I like about you most. Your anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/martha-oh-i-like-your-anger-i-think-that-s-what-i-like-about-you-most/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [On top of trying to find my way in this business and losing my mother and trying to figure out what family meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tyree-henry/on-top-of-trying-to-find-my-way-in-this-business-and-losing-my-mother/) [Brian Tyree Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tyree-henry/) > [I use vulgar language in my writing. Or for people I don't like, but I have never had an outburst of anger and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-use-vulgar-language-in-my-writing-or-for-people-i-don-t-like-but-i/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) ## More by Mark Russell > [“When the spies got inside Jericho’s wall, they made a beeline past the apartments and the wall-marts to the whorehouse, where they were taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/when-the-spies-got-inside-jericho-s-wall-they-made-a-beeline-past-the/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [Rush has done some top-notch quality work, and we're very, very pleased with them. We really enjoy working with them. They are on time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/rush-has-done-some-top-notch-quality-work-and-we-re-very-very-pleased/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [A Consultant is a guy who knows 125 different ways to make love, but who doesn't know any women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/a-consultant-is-a-guy-who-knows-125-different-ways-to-make-love-but/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [“We are a species hungry for illusion. A powerful illusion not only convinces us it’s real, it becomes more meaningful to us than reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/we-are-a-species-hungry-for-illusion-a-powerful-illusion-not-only/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [You have the establishment and then you have the hippies revolting against the establishment, and what you end up getting are like accountants with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/you-have-the-establishment-and-then-you-have-the-hippies-revolting/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [I believe that Bill Clinton's second term will be good for business... my business!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/i-believe-that-bill-clinton-s-second-term-will-be-good-for-business/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [You know when Jerry Ford gets the best joke, you know you're in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/you-know-when-jerry-ford-gets-the-best-joke-you-know-you-re-in-trouble/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [I think even the characters that are fundamentally evil and wrong, I want people to really love them. I think that's important to writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/i-think-even-the-characters-that-are-fundamentally-evil-and-wrong-i/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [Believe me when I say that Bill Clinton's second term will be good for business. My business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/believe-me-when-i-say-that-bill-clinton-s-second-term-will-be-good/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [The thing that you're faulted on today is not that you are too tough, or not that you aren't careful. It's that you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/the-thing-that-you-re-faulted-on-today-is-not-that-you-are-too-tough/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [People are not in a good mood when any politician's face appears on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/people-are-not-in-a-good-mood-when-any-politician-s-face-appears-on/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [“When he arrived at the town of Bethel, he was teased by a group of boys who called him “baldy.” Elisha responded to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/when-he-arrived-at-the-town-of-bethel-he-was-teased-by-a-group-of/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [I'll keep doing it until I die or the audiences die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/i-ll-keep-doing-it-until-i-die-or-the-audiences-die/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [If you call your opponent a politician, it's grounds for libel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/if-you-call-your-opponent-a-politician-it-s-grounds-for-libel/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) > [The way money goes so fast these days, they should paint racing stripes on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-russell/the-way-money-goes-so-fast-these-days-they-should-paint-racing/) [Mark Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) [Explore all 36 Mark Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-russell/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think you can't write with anger. I think it always has to be with a wink. There always has to be an element of hope in what you write. 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