--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Philip Larkin didn't write for several…" description: "\"Philip Larkin didn't write for several years before his life ended. And when he was asked why he didn't write, he said the muse deserted him. And when ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/445/paul-simon-1703_assuming_philip-larkin-didn-t-write-for-several-y_1987127.jpg" --- # Philip Larkin didn't write for several years before his… ![“Philip Larkin didn't write for several years before his life ended. And when he was asked why he didn't write, he said the muse deserted him. And when I read that, it really had a profound effect upon me, sort of scared me. So that's why I think I have no right to assume that some thought is going…” quote by Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/445/paul-simon-1703_assuming_philip-larkin-didn-t-write-for-several-y_1987127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/445/paul-simon-1703_assuming_philip-larkin-didn-t-write-for-several-y_1987127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/445/paul-simon-1703_assuming_philip-larkin-didn-t-write-for-several-y_1987127.jpg) > “Philip Larkin didn't write for several years before his life ended. And when he was asked why he didn't write, he said the muse deserted him. And when I read that, it really had a profound effect upon me, sort of scared me. So that's why I think I have no right to assume that some thought is going to come... But I think, in my imagination, if it is it, there will probably be something else I'm interested in.” [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative blocks can feel like abandonment, yet they may lead to new interests. **In simple terms:** Muse absence can spark fresh curiosity. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty as a chance to explore. Themes creativity fear growth Mood introspective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing retreats - career transitions - personal crises - creative workshops Key Concepts artistic inspiration existential doubt Questions to Reflect On - What new pursuits emerge when old ones fade? - How can you nurture creativity without a muse? A Different Perspective Waiting for inspiration may stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Deserted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserted/) [Didn Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-write/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imagination Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination-probably-3054889/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muse/) [Muse Deserted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muse-deserted-3425255/) [My imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-imagination/) [Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philip/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philip-larkin-1219840/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I remember coming upon Philip Larkin in my 20s in the early '60s and when Sylvia Plath's "Ariel" came out it knocked me off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/i-remember-coming-upon-philip-larkin-in-my-20s-in-the-early-60s-and/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [The best books of our times have included the three mature volumes of Philip Larkin. They're very short books of poems, and very carefully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/the-best-books-of-our-times-have-included-the-three-mature-volumes-of/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [Philip Larkin used to cheer himself up by looking in the mirror and saying the line from Rebecca, 'I am Mrs de Winter now!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/philip-larkin-used-to-cheer-himself-up-by-looking-in-the-mirror-and/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [ Speaking of \[Philip\] Larkin, in his poem about the First World War he wrote something like, "Never such innocence, before or since, that turned… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/speaking-of-philip-larkin-in-his-poem-about-the-first-world-war-he/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [Since the majority of me Rejects the majority of you, Debating ends forthwith, and we Divide.'' Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/since-the-majority-of-me-rejects-the-majority-of-you-debating-ends-2/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [I did a load of medicine cabinets a long time ago and I named them after Sex Pistols songs. I suppose I must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/i-did-a-load-of-medicine-cabinets-a-long-time-ago-and-i-named-them/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [I like Philip Larkin an awful lot; I really like his view on life, and I really connect to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-like-philip-larkin-an-awful-lot-i-really-like-his-view-on-life-and/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [Philip Larkin has a tough honesty and sense of humor that I find irresistible, as a contemporary poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/philip-larkin-has-a-tough-honesty-and-sense-of-humor-that-i-find/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [It's unthinkable not to love -you'd have a severe nervous breakdown. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Philip Larkin didn't write for several years before his life ended. And when he was asked why he didn't write, he said the muse deserted him. And when I read that, it really had a profound effect upon me, sort of scared me. So that's why I think I have no right to assume that some thought is going to come... 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