Every morning Quote by Richard Matheson
““Maybe I can do some writing then. The phrase made him sick. It had no meaning anymore. Like a word that is repeated until it becomes gibberish that sentence, for him, had been used to extinction. It sounded silly; like some bit of cliché from a soap opera. Hero saying in dramatic tones – Now, by God, maybe I can do some writing. Senseless. For a moment, though, he wondered if it was true. Now that she was leaving could he forget about her and really get some work done? Quit his job? Go somewhere and hold up in a cheap furnished room and write? You have $123.89 in the bank, his mind informed him. He pretended it was the only thing that kept him from it. But, far back in his mind, he wondered if he could write anything. Often the question threw itself at him when he was least expecting it. You have four hours every morning, the statement would rise like a menacing wraith. You have time to write many thousands of words. Why don't you? And the answer was always lost in a tangle of becauses and wells and endless reasons that he clung to like a drowning man at straws.(“Mad House”)””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Mad House by Richard Matheson, 1975
A writer wrestles with self‑doubt, financial pressure, and the paralysis of endless excuses that prevent him from creating.
In simple terms: He feels stuck, questioning his ability and motivation to write.
Identify and confront the excuses that block your work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing routine
- budget constraints
- career change
- personal crisis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What concrete habit could break the cycle of excuses?
- How does financial anxiety shape creative decisions?
The narrative may romanticize struggle, ignoring practical steps to overcome it.