--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Isak Dinesen said that she wrote a little…" description: "\"Isak Dinesen said that she wrote a little every day, without hope and without despair. I like that.\" — Raymond Carver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/raymond-carver-2821_despair_isak-dinesen-said-that-she-wrote-a-littl_1589474.png" --- # Isak Dinesen said that she wrote a little every day… ![“Isak Dinesen said that she wrote a little every day, without hope and without despair. I like that.” quote by Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/raymond-carver-2821_despair_isak-dinesen-said-that-she-wrote-a-littl_1589474.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/raymond-carver-2821_despair_isak-dinesen-said-that-she-wrote-a-littl_1589474.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/raymond-carver-2821_despair_isak-dinesen-said-that-she-wrote-a-littl_1589474.png) > “Isak Dinesen said that she wrote a little every day, without hope and without despair. I like that.” [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing daily, regardless of emotions, builds habit and progress without relying on hope or despair. **In simple terms:** Write daily, no hope needed. Key Takeaway Write consistently. Themes habit creativity resilience Mood reflective steady Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - personal journaling - creative projects - skill development - mental health Key Concepts writing discipline mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you start a daily writing habit? - What benefits arise from writing without expectation? A Different Perspective May lack motivation if emotions are overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Without hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-hope/) ## Related quotes > [“Isak Dinesen said that life is no more than a process for turning healthy young puppies into mangy old dogs and man but an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-vine/isak-dinesen-said-that-life-is-no-more-than-a-process-for-turning/) [Barbara Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-vine/) > [Write a little every day, without hope, without despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/write-a-little-every-day-without-hope-without-despair/) [Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/) > [I wrote 'Little Fires Everywhere' and sold the book in 2015, still the Obama years. The possibility of a Trump presidency was not on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/i-wrote-little-fires-everywhere-and-sold-the-book-in-2015-still-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“From all we have said about plotting in general it should be evident that even in those modern plots in which events happen by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/from-all-we-have-said-about-plotting-in-general-it-should-be-evident/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [I always wrote little things when I was younger. My first opus was a book of poems put down in a spiral notebook at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/i-always-wrote-little-things-when-i-was-younger-my-first-opus-was-a/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [When I was nine I wrote my first little script and it was terrible and thank God none of us had a video camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-evans/when-i-was-nine-i-wrote-my-first-little-script-and-it-was-terrible/) [Gareth Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-evans/) > [In a way, you normalize your own childhood to yourself, so I never thought about how much I wrote as a kid. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/in-a-way-you-normalize-your-own-childhood-to-yourself-so-i-never/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I must confess I love female writers: Jane Austen, Isak Dinesen, Colette, Willa Cather, Dawn Powell, Joan Didion. I grew up on the Bronte…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/i-must-confess-i-love-female-writers-jane-austen-isak-dinesen-colette/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) > [I always wrote little songs, but they were really bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-always-wrote-little-songs-but-they-were-really-bad/) [Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/) > [I've wanted to write ever since I've gotten into comics. I wrote little things for myself when I was doing mini-comics and things, before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-bermejo/i-ve-wanted-to-write-ever-since-i-ve-gotten-into-comics-i-wrote/) [Lee Bermejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-bermejo/) > [“By the time I got to high school, I had learned to be more cautious about revealing my dreams. I was reading—and therefore writing—adventure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-a-obreht/by-the-time-i-got-to-high-school-i-had-learned-to-be-more-cautious/) [Téa Obreht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-a-obreht/) > [“What was it Isak Dinesen had said about salt as a cure? Tears, sweat, or the sea. She could use a cure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-post/what-was-it-isak-dinesen-had-said-about-salt-as-a-cure-tears-sweat-or/) [Nina Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-post/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I MISS YOU. A little too much. A little too often. A little more Every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-zhims/i-miss-you-a-little-too-much-a-little-too-often-a-little-more-every/) [Keren Zhims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-zhims/) > [I miss you a little, I guess you could say, a little too much, a little too often, and a little more each day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reina/i-miss-you-a-little-i-guess-you-could-say-a-little-too-much-a-little/) [Reina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reina/) ## More by Raymond Carver > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [My heart is broken,” she goes. “It’s turned to a piece of stone. I’m no good. That’s what’s as bad as anything, that I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/my-heart-is-broken-she-goes-it-s-turned-to-a-piece-of-stone-i-m-no/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [“You sound like a nice man,” the woman said. “Do I? Well, that’s nice of you to say.” He knew he should hang up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/you-sound-like-a-nice-man-the-woman-said-do-i-well-that-s-nice-of-you/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [Life and death matters, yes. And the question of how to behave in this world, how to go in the face of everything. Time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/life-and-death-matters-yes-and-the-question-of-how-to-behave-in-this/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [The places where water comes together with other water. Those places stand out in my mind like holy places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/the-places-where-water-comes-together-with-other-water-those-places/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [A man can go along obeying all the rules and then it don't matter a damn anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/a-man-can-go-along-obeying-all-the-rules-and-then-it-don-t-matter-a/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [“You see, this happened a few months ago, but it's still going on right now, and it ought to make us feel ashamed when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/you-see-this-happened-a-few-months-ago-but-it-s-still-going-on-right/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I've crossed some kind of invisible line. I feel as if I've come to a place I never thought I'd have to come to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/i-ve-crossed-some-kind-of-invisible-line-i-feel-as-if-i-ve-come-to-a/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [Art doesn't have to do anything. It just has to be there for the fierce pleasure we take in doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/art-doesn-t-have-to-do-anything-it-just-has-to-be-there-for-the/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [“But here is the thing. When he gets on me, I suddenly feel I am fat. I feel am terrifically fat, so fat that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/but-here-is-the-thing-when-he-gets-on-me-i-suddenly-feel-i-am-fat-i/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [There are significant moments in everyone's day that can make literature. That's what you ought to write about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/there-are-significant-moments-in-everyone-s-day-that-can-make/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [The fiction Im most interested in has lines of reference to the real world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/the-fiction-im-most-interested-in-has-lines-of-reference-to-the-real/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [Don’t complain, don’t explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/don-t-complain-don-t-explain/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [It's strange. You never start out life with the intention of becoming a bankrupt or an alcoholic or a cheat and a thief. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/it-s-strange-you-never-start-out-life-with-the-intention-of-becoming/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I am a cigarette with a body attached to it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/i-am-a-cigarette-with-a-body-attached-to-it/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) [Explore all 134 Raymond Carver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Isak Dinesen said that she wrote a little every day, without hope and without despair. 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