--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think by definition you need to have…" description: "\"I think by definition you need to have lived a little bit to write anything that's humanly true.\" — Richard K. Morgan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/richard-k-morgan-3983_definitions_i-think-by-definition-you-need-to-have-l_1186953.png" --- # I think by definition you need to have lived a little bit… ![“I think by definition you need to have lived a little bit to write anything that's humanly true.” quote by Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/richard-k-morgan-3983_definitions_i-think-by-definition-you-need-to-have-l_1186953.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/richard-k-morgan-3983_definitions_i-think-by-definition-you-need-to-have-l_1186953.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b85/richard-k-morgan-3983_definitions_i-think-by-definition-you-need-to-have-l_1186953.png) > “I think by definition you need to have lived a little bit to write anything that's humanly true.” [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True human insight comes from lived experience, not mere observation. **In simple terms:** Experience fuels authentic writing. Key Takeaway Live fully to write authentically. Themes experience authenticity writing Mood introspective inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - fiction - memoir Key Concepts human truth personal narrative creative process Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have shaped your worldview? - How do you translate experience into words? A Different Perspective Pure observation can also yield insight if deeply analyzed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Humanly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanly-699221/) [Humanly True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanly-true-3505328/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Lived Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-little-1248489/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Humanly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-humanly-3505327/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've lived so little that I tend to imagine I'm not going to die; it seems improbable that human existence can be reduced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-ve-lived-so-little-that-i-tend-to-imagine-i-m-not-going-to-die-it/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [Humanly speaking, nothing has much influence on your life than your temparament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/humanly-speaking-nothing-has-much-influence-on-your-life-than-your/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [In the Dominican Republic, my mom and I lived in this little tiny town called Cabarete, which is very poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maika-monroe/in-the-dominican-republic-my-mom-and-i-lived-in-this-little-tiny-town/) [Maika Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maika-monroe/) > [I would say I'm humanly engaged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-binoche/i-would-say-i-m-humanly-engaged/) [Juliette Binoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-binoche/) > [To live humanly, sanely, one has to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/to-live-humanly-sanely-one-has-to-change/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“He’d sworn off sex, remember? Not unless he could do it properly, humanly, heartfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-bentham/he-d-sworn-off-sex-remember-not-unless-he-could-do-it-properly/) [Dev Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-bentham/) > [I lived out my little rock'n'roll fantasy, I just wish I hadn't gotten into so much trouble for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/i-lived-out-my-little-rock-n-roll-fantasy-i-just-wish-i-hadn-t-gotten/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [Anything Humanly Possible is within your reach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livia-je-n-meth/anything-humanly-possible-is-within-your-reach/) [Livia JE Németh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livia-je-n-meth/) > [We do everything humanly possible, consistent with military necessity, taking many chances to avoid civilian casualties, at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/we-do-everything-humanly-possible-consistent-with-military-necessity/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Only as we live, think, feel, and work outside the home, do we become humanly developed, civilized, socialized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/only-as-we-live-think-feel-and-work-outside-the-home-do-we-become/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [Dying seems less sad than having lived too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dying-seems-less-sad-than-having-lived-too-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The utility of living consists not in the length of days, but in the use of time; a man may have lived long, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-utility-of-living-consists-not-in-the-length-of-days-but-in-the/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“We all know, intuitively, that if something is humanly possible, it is possible for ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/we-all-know-intuitively-that-if-something-is-humanly-possible-it-is/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [But comedy I'd love to do as much as humanly possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/but-comedy-i-d-love-to-do-as-much-as-humanly-possible/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [Be joyful because it is humanly possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/be-joyful-because-it-is-humanly-possible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More by Richard K. Morgan > [“Pull on the new flesh like borrowed gloves and burn your fingers once again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/pull-on-the-new-flesh-like-borrowed-gloves-and-burn-your-fingers-once/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [The way I see it, anyone who's proud of their country is either a thug or just hasn't read enough history yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-anyone-who-s-proud-of-their-country-is-either-a-thug/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“These are pious, clean-living men, worshipping at the temple of their own bodies.” “Hmm. Sounds distinctly erotic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/these-are-pious-clean-living-men-worshipping-at-the-temple-of-their/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [As to the differences between game work and novel writing, well, obviously the former is a lot less lonely - you're in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/as-to-the-differences-between-game-work-and-novel-writing-well/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“ Books — the warm, leather-skinned weight of them in your hands, the way they smelled when you lifted them close to your face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/books-the-warm-leather-skinned-weight-of-them-in-your-hands-the-way/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“In any agenda, political or otherwise, there is a cost to be borne. Always ask what it is, and who will be paying. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/in-any-agenda-political-or-otherwise-there-is-a-cost-to-be-borne/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“... it’s just business, it’s politics, it’s the way of the world, it’s a tough life and that it’s nothing personal. Well, fuck them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/it-s-just-business-it-s-politics-it-s-the-way-of-the-world-it-s-a/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [I've seen 'True Detective' end-to-end at least three times; I'll probably see it again. It is a work of dark brilliance. But if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/i-ve-seen-true-detective-end-to-end-at-least-three-times-i-ll/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“The human eye is a wonderful device,” I quoted from Poems and Other Prevarications absently. “With a little effort, it can fail to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-human-eye-is-a-wonderful-device-i-quoted-from-poems-and-other/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Overhead soft-bellied clouds panic toward the horizon like whales before the harpoon, and the wind runs addict's fingers through the trees that line the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/overhead-soft-bellied-clouds-panic-toward-the-horizon-like-whales/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [Certainly a decade and a half out in the real world, bashing my head against things, probably made me into a more textured writer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/certainly-a-decade-and-a-half-out-in-the-real-world-bashing-my-head/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [Take what is offered and that must sometimes be enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/take-what-is-offered-and-that-must-sometimes-be-enough/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [The human eye is a wonderful device. With a little effort, it can fail to see even the most glaring injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-human-eye-is-a-wonderful-device-with-a-little-effort-it-can-fail/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Well.” Ringil gave the Throne Eternal captain another brittle little smile. “You know, the thing about fucking is, it’s a lot less wear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/well-ringil-gave-the-throne-eternal-captain-another-brittle-little/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Men were like blades, they would all break sooner or later, you included. But you looked around at the men you led, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/men-were-like-blades-they-would-all-break-sooner-or-later-you/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) [Explore all 116 Richard K. Morgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) ## More Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My briefest ever definition of science fiction is 'Hubris clobbered by Nemesis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/my-briefest-ever-definition-of-science-fiction-is-hubris-clobbered-by/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. 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"To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [A design may be called organic when there is an harmonious organization of the parts within the whole, according to structure, material, and purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-noyes/a-design-may-be-called-organic-when-there-is-an-harmonious/) [Eliot Noyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-noyes/) > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) [Browse all 2,047 Definitions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think by definition you need to have lived a little bit to write anything that's humanly true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard K. 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