--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wonder why anyone would hesitate to be…" description: "\"I wonder why anyone would hesitate to be generous with their writing. I mean, if you really want to make a living, go to Wall Street and trade oil futu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/seth-godin-152_being-generous_i-wonder-why-anyone-would-hesitate-to-be_1869427.png" --- # I wonder why anyone would hesitate to be generous with… ![“I wonder why anyone would hesitate to be generous with their writing. I mean, if you really want to make a living, go to Wall Street and trade oil futures ... We're writers. We're doing something that is inherently a generous act. We're exposing ourselves to the muse and to the things that…” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/seth-godin-152_being-generous_i-wonder-why-anyone-would-hesitate-to-be_1869427.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/seth-godin-152_being-generous_i-wonder-why-anyone-would-hesitate-to-be_1869427.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/seth-godin-152_being-generous_i-wonder-why-anyone-would-hesitate-to-be_1869427.png) > “I wonder why anyone would hesitate to be generous with their writing. I mean, if you really want to make a living, go to Wall Street and trade oil futures ... We're writers. We're doing something that is inherently a generous act. We're exposing ourselves to the muse and to the things that frighten us. Why do that if you're not willing to be generous? And paradoxically, almost ironically, it turns out that the more generous you are, the more money you make. But that's secondary. For me, the privilege of being generous is why I get to do this.” [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being generous with your creative work invites reciprocity and often leads to greater success, though the primary reward is the privilege of sharing. **In simple terms:** Generosity in writing brings rewards and fulfillment. Key Takeaway Share openly, expect reciprocity. Themes creativity generosity success Mood inspired reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - Launching a blog - publishing a book - freelance writing - public speaking Key Concepts Reciprocity self‑expression risk Questions to Reflect On - How does openness affect your creative confidence? - What risks do you face when sharing work? A Different Perspective Generosity may be exploited or undervalued. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-generous/) [Exposing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposing/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Generous Paradoxically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous-paradoxically-2569268/) [Generous Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous-writing-2569265/) [Hesitate Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hesitate-generous-2569267/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inherently Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherently-generous-2569266/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [More money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more-money/) [Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muse/) [Oil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oil/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Wall St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-st/) [Wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-street/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-generous-2569264/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“That’s what I always wanted to know. Why would some fella be willing to do something generous for a kid he doesn’t even know?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/that-s-what-i-always-wanted-to-know-why-would-some-fella-be-willing/) [Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/) > [I remember when being liberal meant being generous with your own money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/i-remember-when-being-liberal-meant-being-generous-with-your-own-money/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [The idea of explaining why free trade is good, why immigration is good, why the world is so connected, that we need to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-idea-of-explaining-why-free-trade-is-good-why-immigration-is-good/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Only generous people could find happiness without prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mielya-saladdin/only-generous-people-could-find-happiness-without-prosperity/) [Mielya Saladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mielya-saladdin/) > [Compassion has nothing to do with achievement at all. It is spacious and very generous. When a person develops real compassion, he is uncertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/compassion-has-nothing-to-do-with-achievement-at-all-it-is-spacious/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [There is a greatness in being generous, and there is only simple justice in satisfying creditors. Generosity is the part of the soul raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/there-is-a-greatness-in-being-generous-and-there-is-only-simple/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Extend some kind of unexpected generosity to someone, preferably a stranger, every single day for two weeks. The more you practice being generous, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/extend-some-kind-of-unexpected-generosity-to-someone-preferably-a/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Being generous and kindly in speech, doing a good turn for others, and treating all alike. One like this will be praised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/being-generous-and-kindly-in-speech-doing-a-good-turn-for-others-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [A mind that's open to everything means being peaceful, radiating love, practicing forgiveness, being generous, respecting all life, and most important, visualizing yourself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/a-mind-that-s-open-to-everything-means-being-peaceful-radiating-love/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Being generous without keeping score strengthens your spirit, keeps you focused on the people who make your business what it is, and helps breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-steiner/being-generous-without-keeping-score-strengthens-your-spirit-keeps/) [Brandon Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-steiner/) > [Maintaining patience, being generous, and helping your peers takes time, and no small amount of emotional fortitude. But it brings an exponential difference in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-allen/maintaining-patience-being-generous-and-helping-your-peers-takes-time/) [Kevin Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-allen/) > [I've always had a knowing that being kind is a lot more effective than being angry. And being generous has always been a characteristic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/i-ve-always-had-a-knowing-that-being-kind-is-a-lot-more-effective/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Who will be the happiest person? The one who brings happiness to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/who-will-be-the-happiest-person-the-one-who-brings-happiness-to-others/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Doing more and more with less and less is one form of being generous. In fact, the easiest way to become rich is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/doing-more-and-more-with-less-and-less-is-one-form-of-being-generous/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The sexiest thing in the entire world is being really smart. And being thoughtful. And being generous. Everything else is crap!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/the-sexiest-thing-in-the-entire-world-is-being-really-smart-and-being/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) ## More by Seth Godin > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Be relentlessly generous, without focusing on when it will come back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/be-relentlessly-generous-without-focusing-on-when-it-will-come-back/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-public-square-is-more-public-than-ever-but-minds-are-rarely/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Making an average pitch to average people, or having an average gala for average people isn't going to scale anymore. You've got to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/making-an-average-pitch-to-average-people-or-having-an-average-gala/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Life is actually far better than it is in the movies. And it takes longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/life-is-actually-far-better-than-it-is-in-the-movies-and-it-takes/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you're a marketer who doesn't know how to invent, design, influence, adapt, and ultimately discard products, then you're no longer a marketer. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-re-a-marketer-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-invent-design-influence/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Explore all 1,110 Seth Godin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More Being generous quotes > [The sexiest thing in the entire world is being really smart. And being thoughtful. And being generous. Everything else is crap!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/the-sexiest-thing-in-the-entire-world-is-being-really-smart-and-being/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [Doing more and more with less and less is one form of being generous. In fact, the easiest way to become rich is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/doing-more-and-more-with-less-and-less-is-one-form-of-being-generous/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Who will be the happiest person? The one who brings happiness to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/who-will-be-the-happiest-person-the-one-who-brings-happiness-to-others/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [I've always had a knowing that being kind is a lot more effective than being angry. And being generous has always been a characteristic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/i-ve-always-had-a-knowing-that-being-kind-is-a-lot-more-effective/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Maintaining patience, being generous, and helping your peers takes time, and no small amount of emotional fortitude. But it brings an exponential difference in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-allen/maintaining-patience-being-generous-and-helping-your-peers-takes-time/) [Kevin Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-allen/) > [Being generous without keeping score strengthens your spirit, keeps you focused on the people who make your business what it is, and helps breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-steiner/being-generous-without-keeping-score-strengthens-your-spirit-keeps/) [Brandon Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-steiner/) > [A mind that's open to everything means being peaceful, radiating love, practicing forgiveness, being generous, respecting all life, and most important, visualizing yourself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/a-mind-that-s-open-to-everything-means-being-peaceful-radiating-love/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Being generous and kindly in speech, doing a good turn for others, and treating all alike. One like this will be praised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/being-generous-and-kindly-in-speech-doing-a-good-turn-for-others-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Extend some kind of unexpected generosity to someone, preferably a stranger, every single day for two weeks. The more you practice being generous, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/extend-some-kind-of-unexpected-generosity-to-someone-preferably-a/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [There is a greatness in being generous, and there is only simple justice in satisfying creditors. Generosity is the part of the soul raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/there-is-a-greatness-in-being-generous-and-there-is-only-simple/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Compassion has nothing to do with achievement at all. It is spacious and very generous. When a person develops real compassion, he is uncertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/compassion-has-nothing-to-do-with-achievement-at-all-it-is-spacious/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Only generous people could find happiness without prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mielya-saladdin/only-generous-people-could-find-happiness-without-prosperity/) [Mielya Saladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mielya-saladdin/) > [The idea of explaining why free trade is good, why immigration is good, why the world is so connected, that we need to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-idea-of-explaining-why-free-trade-is-good-why-immigration-is-good/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I remember when being liberal meant being generous with your own money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/i-remember-when-being-liberal-meant-being-generous-with-your-own-money/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [The poor can't wait. Philanthropists needed to carry on being generous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-poor-can-t-wait-philanthropists-needed-to-carry-on-being-generous/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) [Browse all 22 Being generous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-generous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wonder why anyone would hesitate to be generous with their writing. I mean, if you really want to make a living, go to Wall Street and trade oil futures ... We're writers. We're doing something that is inherently a generous act. We're exposing ourselves to the muse and to the things that frighten us. Why do that if you're not willing to be generous? And paradoxically, almost ironically, it turns out that the more generous you are, the more money you make. But that's secondary. 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