--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The things that make you a functional…" description: "\"The things that make you a functional citizen in society - manners, discretion, cordiality - don't necessarily make you a good writer. Writing needs ra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/natalie-goldberg-1741_citizens_the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-ci_276548.png" --- # The things that make you a functional citizen in society… ![“The things that make you a functional citizen in society - manners, discretion, cordiality - don't necessarily make you a good writer. Writing needs raw truth, wants your suffering and darkness on the table, revels in a cutting mind that takes no prisoners...” quote by Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/natalie-goldberg-1741_citizens_the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-ci_276548.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/natalie-goldberg-1741_citizens_the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-ci_276548.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/natalie-goldberg-1741_citizens_the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-ci_276548.png) > “The things that make you a functional citizen in society - manners, discretion, cordiality - don't necessarily make you a good writer. Writing needs raw truth, wants your suffering and darkness on the table, revels in a cutting mind that takes no prisoners...” [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good writing requires raw honesty and willingness to expose suffering, unlike polite social behavior. **In simple terms:** Writing needs truth and rawness. Key Takeaway Write with unfiltered honesty. Themes creativity authenticity expression Mood introspective serious Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - journaling - creative workshops Key Concepts literary craft vulnerability candidness Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you holding back? - How does vulnerability affect communication? A Different Perspective Raw truth can alienate readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cordiality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cordiality/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If I really think about what drove me from the beginning to become a designer, it is really the idea of trying to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christophe-lemaire/if-i-really-think-about-what-drove-me-from-the-beginning-to-become-a/) [Christophe Lemaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christophe-lemaire/) > [The great thing about dealing with people about whom we have historical resources, is that if the writing needs work, there's everywhere to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/the-great-thing-about-dealing-with-people-about-whom-we-have/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [“The skill of writing needs much patience, practicing, and time. There is no good writing from a quick effort, or a confused writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryam-abdullah-alnaymi/the-skill-of-writing-needs-much-patience-practicing-and-time-there-is/) [Maryam Abdullah Alnaymi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryam-abdullah-alnaymi/) > [Something about writing needs a sort of distance not to be involved as a writer - just something that makes it easier to write.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-andersson/something-about-writing-needs-a-sort-of-distance-not-to-be-involved/) [Lena Andersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-andersson/) > [Writing needs to be practiced; there is a limit to how much can be gleaned from a teacher or a manual. The true essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/writing-needs-to-be-practiced-there-is-a-limit-to-how-much-can-be/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [The public takes from a writer, or a writing, what it needs and lets the remainder go. but what they take is usually what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-public-takes-from-a-writer-or-a-writing-what-it-needs-and-lets/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [The well-mannered man never puts out his hand in greeting until a lady extends hers. This is a test of good breeding that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/the-well-mannered-man-never-puts-out-his-hand-in-greeting-until-a/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [Preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling briar-roses and may-blossoms - bright enough to the eye, and outwardly soft to the touch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-like-handling-briar-roses-and/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“Avoid conflicts, Embrace cordiality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/avoid-conflicts-embrace-cordiality/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [The Forsytes were resentful of something, not individually, but as a family; this resentment expressed itself in an added perfection of raiment, an exuberance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/the-forsytes-were-resentful-of-something-not-individually-but-as-a/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [Misanthropes have some admirable if paradoxical virtues. It is no exaggeration to say that we are among the nicest people you are likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/misanthropes-have-some-admirable-if-paradoxical-virtues-it-is-no/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [the relationship between the two men was something of a miracle in itself. It was a cordiality based, apparently, on complete non-comprehension cemented by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-allingham/the-relationship-between-the-two-men-was-something-of-a-miracle-in/) [Margery Allingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-allingham/) > [The truth is that we should live with less envy and more cordiality and empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-bonucci/the-truth-is-that-we-should-live-with-less-envy-and-more-cordiality/) [Leonardo Bonucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-bonucci/) > [The way to make a true friend is to be one. Friendship implies loyalty, esteem, cordiality, sympathy, affection, readiness to aid, to help, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-way-to-make-a-true-friend-is-to-be-one-friendship-implies-loyalty/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-greatest-danger-to-christianity-is-i-contend-not-heresies-not/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## More by Natalie Goldberg > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. There is the branch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/we-heard-about-people-who-go-back-to-their-roots-that-is-good-but-don/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Over and over, we have to go back to the beginning. We should not be ashamed of this. It is good. It's like drinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/over-and-over-we-have-to-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-should-not-be/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I feel very rich when I have time to write and very poor when I get a regular paycheck and no time at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-feel-very-rich-when-i-have-time-to-write-and-very-poor-when-i-get-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Actually, when I look at my old notebooks, I think I have been a bit self-indulgent and have given myself too much time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/actually-when-i-look-at-my-old-notebooks-i-think-i-have-been-a-bit/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Our bodies are garbage heaps: we collect experience, and from the decomposition of the thrown-out eggshells, spinach leaves, coffee grinds, and old steak bones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/our-bodies-are-garbage-heaps-we-collect-experience-and-from-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Know that you will eventually have to leave everything behind; the writing will demand it of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/know-that-you-will-eventually-have-to-leave-everything-behind-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [To encounter a fine book and have time to read it is a wonderful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/to-encounter-a-fine-book-and-have-time-to-read-it-is-a-wonderful-thing/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [In the past few years I've assigned books to be read before a student attends one of my weeklong seminars. I have been astonished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-books-to-be-read-before-a-student/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“When you draw and pay attention to what is, it's a form of being present. This inspires the mind, makes it happy, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/when-you-draw-and-pay-attention-to-what-is-it-s-a-form-of-being/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Poetry is a dumb Buddha who thinks a donkey is as important as a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/poetry-is-a-dumb-buddha-who-thinks-a-donkey-is-as-important-as-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I told all kinds of stories about going to Japan, about playing ball with my father... I wanted to record my life in case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-told-all-kinds-of-stories-about-going-to-japan-about-playing-ball/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“No matter what a person does to cover up and conceal themselves, when we write and lose control, I can spot a person from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/no-matter-what-a-person-does-to-cover-up-and-conceal-themselves-when/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [To stay close and intimate with experience is to stay close to the mind; the nitty gritty mind of the way things really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/to-stay-close-and-intimate-with-experience-is-to-stay-close-to-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I read Eve Ensler and thought it was fabulous. Not only that, but it was really the only thing I could relate to about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-read-eve-ensler-and-thought-it-was-fabulous-not-only-that-but-it/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [If you feel bored or uncomfortable as you're writing, ask yourself what's bothering you and write about that. Sometimes your creative energy is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/if-you-feel-bored-or-uncomfortable-as-you-re-writing-ask-yourself/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Explore all 212 Natalie Goldberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) ## More Citizens quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The things that make you a functional citizen in society - manners, discretion, cordiality - don't necessarily make you a good writer. 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