--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The silver lining of those years when I…" description: "\"The silver lining of those years when I was trying to get 'Tinkers' published but couldn't were the years when I had to decide, Why do I want to be a w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/paul-harding-11330_art_the-silver-lining-of-those-years-when-i_533261.jpg" --- # The silver lining of those years when I was trying to get… ![“The silver lining of those years when I was trying to get 'Tinkers' published but couldn't were the years when I had to decide, Why do I want to be a writer? I realized that writing is the thing itself; writing is not a means to publication, writing is not a predicate of publication, so I spent…” quote by Paul Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/paul-harding-11330_art_the-silver-lining-of-those-years-when-i_533261.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/paul-harding-11330_art_the-silver-lining-of-those-years-when-i_533261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/170/paul-harding-11330_art_the-silver-lining-of-those-years-when-i_533261.jpg) > “The silver lining of those years when I was trying to get 'Tinkers' published but couldn't were the years when I had to decide, Why do I want to be a writer? I realized that writing is the thing itself; writing is not a means to publication, writing is not a predicate of publication, so I spent years making art for art's sake.” [Paul Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized writing is an end in itself, not a means to publication, focusing on art for art’s sake. **In simple terms:** Writing for its own sake. Key Takeaway Write for art, not fame. Themes artistic integrity self‑discovery process Mood reflective inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - journaling - creative retreats Key Concepts creative purpose intrinsic motivation literary craft Questions to Reflect On - Why do you write? - How do you balance art and market demands? A Different Perspective Commercial pressures may conflict with pure artistic intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Making Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-art/) [Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver/) [Silver Lining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver-lining/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You really don't understand the first thing about writing...for one thing, early in the morning is the worst possible time. the brain is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/you-really-don-t-understand-the-first-thing-about-writing-for-one/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [In the beginning, I tried to be a more cosmopolitan writer, but I realized that I was a country boy, and I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/in-the-beginning-i-tried-to-be-a-more-cosmopolitan-writer-but-i/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [“My youthful dream of becoming a writer has been realized. 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