--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't be a writer; it's a terrible way to…" description: "\"Don't be a writer; it's a terrible way to live your life. There's nothing to be gained from it but poverty and obscurity and solitude. So if you have a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/paul-auster-351_ahead_don-t-be-a-writer-it-s-a-terrible-way-to_1343866.jpg" --- # Don't be a writer; it's a terrible way to live your life… ![“Don't be a writer; it's a terrible way to live your life. There's nothing to be gained from it but poverty and obscurity and solitude. So if you have a taste for all those things, which means that you really are burning to do it, then go ahead and do it. But don't expect anything from anybody.” quote by Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/paul-auster-351_ahead_don-t-be-a-writer-it-s-a-terrible-way-to_1343866.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/paul-auster-351_ahead_don-t-be-a-writer-it-s-a-terrible-way-to_1343866.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/paul-auster-351_ahead_don-t-be-a-writer-it-s-a-terrible-way-to_1343866.jpg) > “Don't be a writer; it's a terrible way to live your life. There's nothing to be gained from it but poverty and obscurity and solitude. So if you have a taste for all those things, which means that you really are burning to do it, then go ahead and do it. But don't expect anything from anybody.” [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is portrayed as a bleak, solitary pursuit offering little material reward, yet it may fulfill a deep personal drive. **In simple terms:** Writing is hard, lonely, and unrewarding, but can satisfy a burning passion. Key Takeaway Accept the hardship, but keep expectations realistic. Themes solitude poverty passion realism artistic drive Mood melancholic reflective Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - career choice - artistic pursuit - personal fulfillment - financial planning Key Concepts existentialism creative sacrifice self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - Do you value the process over external rewards? - How might you balance artistic drive with practical needs? A Different Perspective The quote romanticizes suffering, ignoring possible joy or community in writing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-life/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Obscurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscurity/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Don't be a writer, it's a terrible way to live your life, there's nothing to be gained from it but poverty and obscurity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/don-t-be-a-writer-it-s-a-terrible-way-to-live-your-life-there-s-2/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [I don't call myself a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-boxleitner/i-don-t-call-myself-a-writer/) [Bruce Boxleitner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-boxleitner/) > [Don't be discouraged if you think you're not a great writer because terrible writers are successful in Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seltzer/don-t-be-discouraged-if-you-think-you-re-not-a-great-writer-because/) [David Seltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seltzer/) > [“Everyone around me was allowed, permitted to fall apart; yet I had to think twice. 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