--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you intend to write as truthfully as…" description: "\"If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway... You must be prepared to do some seriou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-king-13_be-prepared_if-you-intend-to-write-as-truthfully-as_458129.jpg" --- # If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days… ![“If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway... You must be prepared to do some serious turning inward toward the life of the imagination, and that means, I'm afraid, that Geraldo, Keith Obermann, and Jay Leno must go. Reading takes…” quote by Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-king-13_be-prepared_if-you-intend-to-write-as-truthfully-as_458129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-king-13_be-prepared_if-you-intend-to-write-as-truthfully-as_458129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-king-13_be-prepared_if-you-intend-to-write-as-truthfully-as_458129.jpg) > “If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway... You must be prepared to do some serious turning inward toward the life of the imagination, and that means, I'm afraid, that Geraldo, Keith Obermann, and Jay Leno must go. Reading takes time, and the glass teat takes too much of it.” [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warns that honest writing demands abandoning conventional social roles and embracing imagination, even if it means rejecting mainstream expectations. **In simple terms:** True writing requires deep imagination over social conformity. Key Takeaway Prioritize creative authenticity over societal approval. Themes creativity conformity imagination Mood thought‑provoking serious inspirational Type philosophical motivational cautionary When to use this quote - writing retreats - career changes - personal development - media consumption Key Concepts artistic integrity personal sacrifice intellectual freedom Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to sacrifice comfort for creative truth? - How can you balance imagination with practical life? A Different Perspective Such dedication may lead to isolation or financial instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/if-you-intend-to-write-as-truthfully-as-you-can-your-days-as-a-member-2/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Stephen King: If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afiena-kamminga/stephen-king-if-you-intend-to-write-as-truthfully-as-you-can-your/) Afiena Kamminga > [If you expect to succeed as a writer, rudeness should be the second-to-least of your concerns. 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