--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I see myself as the literary equivalent…" description: "\"I see myself as the literary equivalent of a skilled lathe-operator, or a basket-weaver; a potter, maybe: I make mildly diverting objects that people w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/robert-harris-2039_buy_i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent_1684000.png" --- # I see myself as the literary equivalent of a skilled… ![“I see myself as the literary equivalent of a skilled lathe-operator, or a basket-weaver; a potter, maybe: I make mildly diverting objects that people want to buy.” quote by Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/robert-harris-2039_buy_i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent_1684000.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/robert-harris-2039_buy_i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent_1684000.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/robert-harris-2039_buy_i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent_1684000.png) > “I see myself as the literary equivalent of a skilled lathe-operator, or a basket-weaver; a potter, maybe: I make mildly diverting objects that people want to buy.” [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author likens his writing to craft work, producing enjoyable, marketable pieces rather than high art. **In simple terms:** He sees his work as skilled, functional craft. Key Takeaway Focus on creating useful, appealing work. Themes craft writing marketability humor self-awareness Mood witty self-deprecating reflective Type literary humorous pragmatic When to use this quote - selling books - writing for audience - balancing art and commerce - producing entertaining content - maintaining livelihood Key Concepts artisan mindset creative production consumer appeal Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize craft or artistic ambition? - How does market demand shape your creative choices? A Different Perspective May sacrifice depth for broader appeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basket Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basket-weaver-986467/) [Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buy/) [Equivalent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equivalent/) [Equivalent Skilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equivalent-skilled-986468/) [I see](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-see/) [Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary/) [Literary Equivalent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-equivalent-933204/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Mildly Diverting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mildly-diverting-986466/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potter/) [Potter Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potter-maybe-986465/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Skilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skilled/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [There can be no literary equivalent to truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-riding/there-can-be-no-literary-equivalent-to-truth/) [Laura Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-riding/) > [Running was a part of my hardwiring, and that's what I wanted to do. So this is what I tell people who talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-karnazes/running-was-a-part-of-my-hardwiring-and-that-s-what-i-wanted-to-do-so/) [Dean Karnazes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-karnazes/) > [“They never understood what Harry Potter was about. Or maybe they didn't want to understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asmara-w-m/they-never-understood-what-harry-potter-was-about-or-maybe-they-didn/) [Asmara W.M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asmara-w-m/) > [Harry Potter isn’t real? Oh no! Wait, wait, what do you mean by real? Is this video blog real? Am I real if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/harry-potter-isn-t-real-oh-no-wait-wait-what-do-you-mean-by-real-is/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Harry Potter isnt real? Oh no! Wait, wait, what do you mean by real? Is this video blog real? Am I real if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/harry-potter-isnt-real-oh-no-wait-wait-what-do-you-mean-by-real-is/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [To your generation, I must represent the literary equivalent of tufted furniture and gas chandeliers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/to-your-generation-i-must-represent-the-literary-equivalent-of-tufted/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [The short story is not as restrictive as the sonnet, but, of all the literary forms, it is possibly the most single-minded. ...at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-menand/the-short-story-is-not-as-restrictive-as-the-sonnet-but-of-all-the/) [Louis Menand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-menand/) > [If what you write is true, it will not be so because of what you are as a writer but because of what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-riding/if-what-you-write-is-true-it-will-not-be-so-because-of-what-you-are/) [Laura Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-riding/) > [“I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries. ~ Stephen King - If King is this then I guess I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sb-knight/i-am-the-literary-equivalent-of-a-big-mac-and-fries-stephen-king-if/) [SB Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sb-knight/) > [ \[Comics\] were viewed as the literary equivalent of bubblegum cards, meant to be poked into the spokes of a young mind where they would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/comics-were-viewed-as-the-literary-equivalent-of-bubblegum-cards/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-fuller/writing-without-revising-is-the-literary-equivalent-of-waltzing-gaily/) [Patricia Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-fuller/) > [“I describe Soldiers And Sisterhood as the literary equivalent of a chocolte biscuit - all the fun and and none of the calories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nicholson/i-describe-soldiers-and-sisterhood-as-the-literary-equivalent-of-a/) [Andrew Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-nicholson/) > [I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-am-the-literary-equivalent-of-a-big-mac-and-fries/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [They are the literary equivalent of sequins on an evening dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kanfer/they-are-the-literary-equivalent-of-sequins-on-an-evening-dress/) [Stefan Kanfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kanfer/) > [My dad was a Marine. He was one of the Montford Point Marines. Those are the equivalent of the Tuskegee Airmen for Marines. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-elder/my-dad-was-a-marine-he-was-one-of-the-montford-point-marines-those/) [Larry Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-elder/) ## More by Robert Harris > [“Men mistook measurement for understanding. And they always had to put themselves at the center of everything. That was their greatest conceit. The earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/men-mistook-measurement-for-understanding-and-they-always-had-to-put/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [If one first gives himself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/if-one-first-gives-himself-to-the-lord-all-other-giving-is-easy/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“He felt more human with his boots on. A man can face the world with something on his feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-felt-more-human-with-his-boots-on-a-man-can-face-the-world-with/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Cicero most reminds me of Harold Wilson. Both men knew how to keep the show on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/cicero-most-reminds-me-of-harold-wilson-both-men-knew-how-to-keep-the/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [The financial world is at the cutting edge of high technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-financial-world-is-at-the-cutting-edge-of-high-technology/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“To choose one's victims, to prepare one's plans minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed ... there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/to-choose-one-s-victims-to-prepare-one-s-plans-minutely-to-slake-an/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“Nature has granted man no better gift than the shortness of life. The senses grow dull, the limbs are numb, sight, bearing, gait, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/nature-has-granted-man-no-better-gift-than-the-shortness-of-life-the/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“A crock of shit,” Rick had called it. But actually this was worse. Shit, to quote Gore Vidal, has its own integrity. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/a-crock-of-shit-rick-had-called-it-but-actually-this-was-worse-shit/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“... unfortunately, freedom alone is not enough, by far. If there is a shortage of bread, a shortage of butter and fats, a shortage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/unfortunately-freedom-alone-is-not-enough-by-far-if-there-is-a/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [It is perseverance, and not genius that takes a man to the top. Rome is full of unrecognized geniuses. Only perseverance enables you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/it-is-perseverance-and-not-genius-that-takes-a-man-to-the-top-rome-is/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“No one can really claim to know politics properly until he has stayed up all night writing a speech for delivery the following day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/no-one-can-really-claim-to-know-politics-properly-until-he-has-stayed/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [People perish. Books are immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/people-perish-books-are-immortal/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Does a name stick because it suits a man or does the man, unconsciously, evolve into his name?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/does-a-name-stick-because-it-suits-a-man-or-does-the-man/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“He glanced around the reading room and closed his eyes, trying to keep hold of the past for a minute longer, a fattening and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/he-glanced-around-the-reading-room-and-closed-his-eyes-trying-to-keep/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [The natural impulse of men is to follow and whoever has the strongest sense of purpose will always dominate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/the-natural-impulse-of-men-is-to-follow-and-whoever-has-the-strongest/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) [Explore all 184 Robert Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) ## More Buy quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [When I was a kid, my parents were happy to buy me clothes; they provided for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/when-i-was-a-kid-my-parents-were-happy-to-buy-me-clothes-they/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [I wear T-shirts and backwards hats and buy my shoes at Payless!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/i-wear-t-shirts-and-backwards-hats-and-buy-my-shoes-at-payless/) [Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/) > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [If the audience sees and feels things are real, then they buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-silver/if-the-audience-sees-and-feels-things-are-real-then-they-buy-it/) [Joel Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-silver/) > [Most people I know are not hard-core religious people. They are what I would call 'lightly religious.' So I don't buy the notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/most-people-i-know-are-not-hard-core-religious-people-they-are-what-i/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [I don't know - the whole leading man, I don't buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pilou-asbaek/i-don-t-know-the-whole-leading-man-i-don-t-buy-it/) [Pilou Asbaek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pilou-asbaek/) > [I grew up in Harlem. My grandmother was one of the best cooks around, but the first thing she did on Sunday mornings when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-grew-up-in-harlem-my-grandmother-was-one-of-the-best-cooks-around/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [I think if you buy from people who are taking care of the land, you're supporting the future of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/i-think-if-you-buy-from-people-who-are-taking-care-of-the-land-you-re/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Beware of a naked person who promises to buy you clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/beware-of-a-naked-person-who-promises-to-buy-you-clothes/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. Employers paid them enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/during-three-decades-from-1947-to-1977-the-nation-implemented-what/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Buying clothes is as good as buying books, but the difference is that clothes make you beautiful form the outside and books make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/buying-clothes-is-as-good-as-buying-books-but-the-difference-is-that/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Performance is there, and if you are not there in that moment it happened, it just stays in the memory. It's so immaterial and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/performance-is-there-and-if-you-are-not-there-in-that-moment-it/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I buy 1920s iridescent Scottish glass. I love the way the sun hits it every morning. You touch something and you know. To me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-miller/i-buy-1920s-iridescent-scottish-glass-i-love-the-way-the-sun-hits-it/) [Judith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-miller/) [Browse all 972 Buy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I see myself as the literary equivalent of a skilled lathe-operator, or a basket-weaver; a potter, maybe: I make mildly diverting objects that people want to buy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent-of-a-skilled-lathe-operator/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent-of-a-skilled-lathe-operator/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/robert-harris-2039_buy_i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent_1684000.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/robert-harris-2039_buy_i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent_1684000.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/robert-harris-2039_buy_i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent_1684000.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I see myself as the literary equivalent of a skilled lathe-operator, or a basket-weaver; a potter, maybe: I…” — Robert Harris", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I see myself as the literary...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent-of-a-skilled-lathe-operator/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/i-see-myself-as-the-literary-equivalent-of-a-skilled-lathe-operator/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```