--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing is not necessarily something to…" description: "\"Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.\" — Robert A. Heinlein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/robert-a-heinlein-209_ashamed_writing-is-not-necessarily-something-to_195507.jpg" --- # Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but… ![“Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.” quote by Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/robert-a-heinlein-209_ashamed_writing-is-not-necessarily-something-to_195507.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/robert-a-heinlein-209_ashamed_writing-is-not-necessarily-something-to_195507.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/robert-a-heinlein-209_ashamed_writing-is-not-necessarily-something-to_195507.jpg) > “Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.” [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing can be a private act; keep it secret and treat it like a personal hygiene routine. **In simple terms:** Write privately and then let it go. Key Takeaway Separate creation from public scrutiny. Themes privacy creativity self‑discipline Mood reflective introspective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - journaling - drafting novels - personal essays Key Concepts introversion self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How does privacy affect your writing quality? - Can secrecy protect artistic integrity? A Different Perspective public criticism;overexposure ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Writing hasn’t changed a thing; when the writer puts down the pen, no matter how lucid or brutally honest his insights may have been,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/writing-hasn-t-changed-a-thing-when-the-writer-puts-down-the-pen-no/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [Writing songs is really about writing. It's not about necessarily focusing on one particular style or making it one particular thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jann-klose/writing-songs-is-really-about-writing-it-s-not-about-necessarily/) [Jann Klose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jann-klose/) > [I'm not writing necessarily for an audience. I think about the audience at the end, once I have a complete book. But, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-hana-kim/i-m-not-writing-necessarily-for-an-audience-i-think-about-the/) [Crystal Hana Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-hana-kim/) > [My two secrets to staying healthy: wash your hands all the time. And, if you can't, use Purell or one of the sanitizers. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/my-two-secrets-to-staying-healthy-wash-your-hands-all-the-time-and-if/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [A man who lived on the banks of the Niger should not wash his hands with spittle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/a-man-who-lived-on-the-banks-of-the-niger-should-not-wash-his-hands/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [The scrub sink...is the place where doctors wash their hands after they operate so that they won't get flecks of your vital organs on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-scrub-sink-is-the-place-where-doctors-wash-their-hands-after-they/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/remember-that-it-is-nothing-to-do-your-duty-that-is-demanded-of-you/) [W. 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You can either wash your hands of it or embrace it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-niccol/you-have-two-choices-when-someone-changes-your-work-you-can-either/) [Andrew Niccol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-niccol/) > [Every nurse ought to be careful to wash her hands very frequently during the day. If her face, too, so much the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/every-nurse-ought-to-be-careful-to-wash-her-hands-very-frequently/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [“Giving up giving up—it’s good for your health. Make love like you just stole it. And remember, always wash your hands after you after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/giving-up-giving-up-it-s-good-for-your-health-make-love-like-you-just/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Robert A. Heinlein > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ninety percent of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ninety-percent-of-all-human-wisdom-is-the-ability-to-mind-your-own/) [Robert A. 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Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/no-statement-should-be-believed-because-it-is-made-by-an-authority/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“The instinct to survive is human nature itself, and every aspect of our personalities derives from it. Anything that conflicts with the survival instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-instinct-to-survive-is-human-nature-itself-and-every-aspect-of/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“I tried to dig out of the computer a call directory for Luna. But it was still sulking. I could not get it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-tried-to-dig-out-of-the-computer-a-call-directory-for-luna-but-it/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“this has more aspects than a cat has hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/this-has-more-aspects-than-a-cat-has-hair/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Never own more than you can carry in both hands at a dead run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-own-more-than-you-can-carry-in-both-hands-at-a-dead-run/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“In Wilson's scale of evaluations breakfast rated just after life itself and ahead of the chance of immortality." ~ By His Bootstraps / Robert A. Heinlein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/in-wilson-s-scale-of-evaluations-breakfast-rated-just-after-life/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ignorance is curable, stupid is forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ignorance-is-curable-stupid-is-forever/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) [Explore all 888 Robert A. Heinlein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) Stacy Green > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) Vernon Johns > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert A. 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