---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not insult a writer by asking him…"
description: "\"“Do not insult a writer by asking him questions related to books written by someone else. If you are not reading the books written by the author you qu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/robin-sacredfire-1159_author_do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-que_488660.jpg"
---

#  Do not insult a writer by asking him questions related to…

![“Do not insult a writer by asking him questions related to books written by someone else. If you are not reading the books written by the author you question, you are an hypocrite and a cynical, and you deserve no answers.” quote by Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/robin-sacredfire-1159_author_do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-que_488660.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/robin-sacredfire-1159_author_do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-que_488660.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/robin-sacredfire-1159_author_do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-que_488660.jpg)

> ““Do not insult a writer by asking him questions related to books written by someone else. If you are not reading the books written by the author you question, you are an hypocrite and a cynical, and you deserve no answers.””

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote warns against questioning a writer about works they didn't author, labeling it hypocritical and cynical.

**In simple terms:** Don’t ask writers about books they didn’t write; it’s hypocritical.

Key Takeaway

Respect authors’ expertise and read their work first.

Themes

respect integrity communication

Mood

critical assertive

Type

advice warning

When to use this quote

- literary criticism
- academic discussion
- book clubs
- author interviews

Key Concepts

authorship hypocrisy cynicism

Questions to Reflect On

- Are you questioning writers on topics outside their expertise?
- How does reading an author’s work first change the dialogue?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author/) [Authors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authors/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Bookstore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookstore/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [My favorite author's question of all time - because it's so simple to answer ... 'Is your hair really like that, or do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/my-favorite-author-s-question-of-all-time-because-it-s-so-simple-to/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“A painter,” he said, as though the word were an insult. “I’m a writer .” “You’re a writer ? I’m a writer.” “What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-monopoli/a-painter-he-said-as-though-the-word-were-an-insult-i-m-a-writer-you/)

[Ben Monopoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-monopoli/)

> [And while dollars have little to do with it, the fiction writer should be asking the same question any capable film producer would ask:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-standiford/and-while-dollars-have-little-to-do-with-it-the-fiction-writer-should/)

[Les Standiford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-standiford/)

> [Never insult a writer. You may find yourself immortalized in ways you may not appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/never-insult-a-writer-you-may-find-yourself-immortalized-in-ways-you/)

[Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/)

> [As a director you have to be at 30,000 ft objectively looking at everything, wondering if you're making the right objective, emotional, story, character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kurtzman/as-a-director-you-have-to-be-at-30-000-ft-objectively-looking-at/)

[Alex Kurtzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kurtzman/)

> [Fantasy novels, I don't really gravitate to that part of the bookstore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/fantasy-novels-i-don-t-really-gravitate-to-that-part-of-the-bookstore/)

[Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/)

> [I first got really interested in Noh in about 1977. There was an independent bookstore in Bloomington, Indiana where I was going to high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/i-first-got-really-interested-in-noh-in-about-1977-there-was-an/)

[William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/)

> [If Im in the bookstore, and I see a 700-page novel, my first thought is, Ooh, how could you cut this down to size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/if-im-in-the-bookstore-and-i-see-a-700-page-novel-my-first-thought-is/)

[Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/)

> [“November, a dark, rainy Tuesday afternoon. This is my ideal time to be in a bookstore. The shortened light of the afternoon and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-buzbee/november-a-dark-rainy-tuesday-afternoon-this-is-my-ideal-time-to-be/)

[Lewis Buzbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-buzbee/)

> [I am a big advocate of the role of the bookstore in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-am-a-big-advocate-of-the-role-of-the-bookstore-in-the-community/)

[Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/)

> [“A place ain’t a place without a bookstore,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/a-place-ain-t-a-place-without-a-bookstore/)

[Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/)

> [“Yes, we know you are a graduate with PhD. But when was the last time you chase after a book shop to buy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/yes-we-know-you-are-a-graduate-with-phd-but-when-was-the-last-time/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [My main interest was finding boyfriends. I'd park myself in the bookstore and read with one eye on everyone coming in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/my-main-interest-was-finding-boyfriends-i-d-park-myself-in-the/)

[Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/)

> [I'm an inveterate bookstore wanderer. I read constantly, so I love a good bookstore. I can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/i-m-an-inveterate-bookstore-wanderer-i-read-constantly-so-i-love-a/)

[David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/)

> [Books look handsome and it's a real singular experience getting to go to a bookstore. I don't want to not do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-goldsmith/books-look-handsome-and-it-s-a-real-singular-experience-getting-to-go/)

[Taylor Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-goldsmith/)

## More by Robin Sacredfire

> [“Sugar is for the body as narcissism is for the soul. Both pleasures kill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/sugar-is-for-the-body-as-narcissism-is-for-the-soul-both-pleasures/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“A soul that moves raises his awareness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/a-soul-that-moves-raises-his-awareness/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“God has made the world in such a way that even the atheist need faith to do anything in life and especially to accomplish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/god-has-made-the-world-in-such-a-way-that-even-the-atheist-need-faith/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“What happens when you give people a 2nd chance? They blame you for it. What happens when you give people a 3rd chance? They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/what-happens-when-you-give-people-a-2nd-chance-they-blame-you-for-it/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“Everything that you want in life, is possible. But the reflection in the mirror will always show who is reflecting. One can’t change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/everything-that-you-want-in-life-is-possible-but-the-reflection-in/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“Every single person I met and that knew I wrote books, made fun of me. And, most of my teachers said I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/every-single-person-i-met-and-that-knew-i-wrote-books-made-fun-of-me/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“The most scary word most people ever hear is “truth". Many tell me that truth is subjective. But is your reality a subjective experience?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/the-most-scary-word-most-people-ever-hear-is-truth-many-tell-me-that/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“Despite what you might think, NORMAL people do NOT cause problems, misfortunes, conflicts, distress or accidents. And when they do, they CAN apologize and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/despite-what-you-might-think-normal-people-do-not-cause-problems/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“I never understood why so many spiritual people, upon investigating me further, decide to call me angel. I always thought they were being delirious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/i-never-understood-why-so-many-spiritual-people-upon-investigating-me/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“The coward and the ignorant are equally afraid of failure and humiliation. Escape is not a choice for them, as they find themselves having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/the-coward-and-the-ignorant-are-equally-afraid-of-failure-and/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“I have no respect for the ones who have been blinded by arrogance, wherever I may find them, for God has abandoned them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/i-have-no-respect-for-the-ones-who-have-been-blinded-by-arrogance/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“I love to share my problems with friends. They think I'm revealing my personal life, but I'm actually revealing theirs. What a person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/i-love-to-share-my-problems-with-friends-they-think-i-m-revealing-my/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“Sometimes I wonder which one is worse: the woman that is stupid or the one that reads books written by stupid authors. Both are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/sometimes-i-wonder-which-one-is-worse-the-woman-that-is-stupid-or-the/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“Sometimes I have to act crazy to handle the crazies. Trying to be normal near the crazies makes me as crazy as them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/sometimes-i-have-to-act-crazy-to-handle-the-crazies-trying-to-be/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [“Shit served on a gold plate to a grateful and welcoming soul is still shit! Potatoes won't change that!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/shit-served-on-a-gold-plate-to-a-grateful-and-welcoming-soul-is-still/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

[Explore all 281 Robin Sacredfire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

## More Author quotes

> [An author departs; he does not die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-author-departs-he-does-not-die/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Writers whose thoughts are expressed with clarity and precision are assumed by readers to be superficial. Where the meaning is obscured, then readers give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/writers-whose-thoughts-are-expressed-with-clarity-and-precision-are/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [“There's a word for an author who doesn't give up... published.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-word-for-an-author-who-doesn-t-give-up-published/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A children's author on a soapbox is not a pleasant sight but I have become drawn into issues, slightly unwillingly, relating to young people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/a-children-s-author-on-a-soapbox-is-not-a-pleasant-sight-but-i-have/)

[Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/)

> [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [“Religion is like wax. How anyone deals with it is decisive for how it will look like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-midland/religion-is-like-wax-how-anyone-deals-with-it-is-decisive-for-how-it/)

[Ben Midland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-midland/)

> [“Expression is a function of intention and intention emanates from your thought faculty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/expression-is-a-function-of-intention-and-intention-emanates-from/)

[Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/)

> [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [I come from a working-class family. They're the people I know and the people I love, I guess. I do not write about them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/i-come-from-a-working-class-family-they-re-the-people-i-know-and-the/)

[Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/)

> [I am a completely horizontal author. I can't think unless I'm lying down, either in bed or stretched on a couch and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-am-a-completely-horizontal-author-i-can-t-think-unless-i-m-lying/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [The author I wish I was reading right now and always is Nora Ephron. I love the humor, the awareness, the sense of self-deprecation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garance-dore/the-author-i-wish-i-was-reading-right-now-and-always-is-nora-ephron-i/)

[Garance Dore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garance-dore/)

> [“Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/betsy-was-so-full-of-joy-that-she-had-to-be-alone-she-went-upstairs/)

[Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/)

> [Writing is a intensely personal activity. I can pen down my best thoughts when I'm alone. But when one is elevated into the stature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/writing-is-a-intensely-personal-activity-i-can-pen-down-my-best/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Meg Cabot is the best author ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/meg-cabot-is-the-best-author-ever/)

[Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/)

> [“WHEN THE ALMIGHTY HAS PREDESTINED YOU, THERE IS NOONE IN THIS PHYSICAL LIFE THAT CAN BLOCK YOUR BLESSINGS…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffin/when-the-almighty-has-predestined-you-there-is-noone-in-this-physical/)

Muffin

[Browse all 1,048 Author quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Do not insult a writer by asking him questions related to books written by someone else. If you are not reading the books written by the author you question, you are an hypocrite and a cynical, and you deserve no answers.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robin Sacredfire"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-questions-related-to-books/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Author"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-questions-related-to-books/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/robin-sacredfire-1159_author_do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-que_488660.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/robin-sacredfire-1159_author_do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-que_488660.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/330/robin-sacredfire-1159_author_do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-que_488660.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Do not insult a writer by asking him questions related to books written by someone else. If you are not…” — Robin Sacredfire",
                "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": "Robin Sacredfire",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Do not insult a writer by...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-questions-related-to-books/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/do-not-insult-a-writer-by-asking-him-questions-related-to-books/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
