--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My idea of heaven is not writing." description: "\"My idea of heaven is not writing.\" — Stephen Sondheim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/stephen-sondheim-1556_heaven_my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing-2353816_2353816.jpg" --- # My idea of heaven is not writing. ![“My idea of heaven is not writing.” quote by Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/stephen-sondheim-1556_heaven_my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing-2353816_2353816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/stephen-sondheim-1556_heaven_my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing-2353816_2353816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/stephen-sondheim-1556_heaven_my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing-2353816_2353816.jpg) > “My idea of heaven is not writing.” [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment comes from creating, not merely from the act of writing itself. **In simple terms:** Heaven is beyond writing. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond your craft. Themes creativity purpose fulfillment Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career counseling - artist retreats - mindfulness practice - legacy projects Key Concepts artistic expression meaning spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can artists discover purpose beyond their work? - What practices help separate identity from occupation? A Different Perspective Not everyone finds meaning outside their profession. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a lazy writer. My idea of heaven is not writing. On the other hand, I'm obviously compulsive about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-a-lazy-writer-my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing-on-the-other-hand/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Frankie," she said softly, "do you know what my idea of heaven is? A place where the windows are always clean, and the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hudson/frankie-she-said-softly-do-you-know-what-my-idea-of-heaven-is-a-place/) Helen Hudson > [I have an idea heaven will be both absolutely happy and absolutely dark, to protect us from the blaze of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/i-have-an-idea-heaven-will-be-both-absolutely-happy-and-absolutely/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [Sitting in my favorite coffeehouse with a new notebook and a hot cup of java is my idea of Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/sitting-in-my-favorite-coffeehouse-with-a-new-notebook-and-a-hot-cup/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [My idea of heaven is being in Arizona, stuck up a mountain - somewhere where there are no phones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/my-idea-of-heaven-is-being-in-arizona-stuck-up-a-mountain-somewhere/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [Every day I write. I am not waiting for a great idea from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/every-day-i-write-i-am-not-waiting-for-a-great-idea-from-heaven/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) > [My idea of Heaven has nothing to do with fluffy clouds or angels. In my Heaven there's butter pecan ice cream and swimming pools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-idea-of-heaven-has-nothing-to-do-with-fluffy-clouds-or-angels-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My idea of heaven is a pennant winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-yawkey/my-idea-of-heaven-is-a-pennant-winner/) Tom Yawkey > [I loved the idea of playing this naughty old bag, offering her own explanation. It's my idea of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-rigg/i-loved-the-idea-of-playing-this-naughty-old-bag-offering-her-own/) [Diana Rigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-rigg/) > [My idea of Heaven is what we've got right now, right here!-All this beauty and pleasure and fun and inspiration and spirit and fellowship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/my-idea-of-heaven-is-what-we-ve-got-right-now-right-here-all-this/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [My idea of heaven is a place where the Tyne meets the Delta, where folk music meets the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-knopfler/my-idea-of-heaven-is-a-place-where-the-tyne-meets-the-delta-where/) [Mark Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-knopfler/) > [Don't see yourself as a product of your parents DNA, but rather as a brand new idea from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/don-t-see-yourself-as-a-product-of-your-parents-dna-but-rather-as-a/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/my-idea-of-heaven-is-a-great-big-baked-potato-and-someone-to-share-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Having an opportunity to sit down with Directors, Actors, Musicians, Writers and Composers to talk about their relationship with music, both professionally and personally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-bowman/having-an-opportunity-to-sit-down-with-directors-actors-musicians/) [Edith Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-bowman/) > [God is everywhere: yes, but how dim faith is, what a remote idea heaven is, in the modern world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/god-is-everywhere-yes-but-how-dim-faith-is-what-a-remote-idea-heaven/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) ## More by Stephen Sondheim > [I have, by nature, an analytical mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-by-nature-an-analytical-mind/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“They all deserve to die. Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why. Because in all of the whole human race Mrs Lovett, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/they-all-deserve-to-die-tell-you-why-mrs-lovett-tell-you-why-because/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [It's not so hard to be married, I've done it three or four times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/it-s-not-so-hard-to-be-married-i-ve-done-it-three-or-four-times/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I don't find my life that interesting. The shows, maybe. But not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-don-t-find-my-life-that-interesting-the-shows-maybe-but-not-me/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Careful the things you say, Children will listen. Careful the things you do, Children will see. And learn. Children may not obey But children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/careful-the-things-you-say-children-will-listen-careful-the-things/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Because in all of the whole human race Mrs. Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two There's the one staying put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/because-in-all-of-the-whole-human-race-mrs-lovett-there-are-two-kinds/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I love computers. I love writing on them. I love gadgetry. The thing is: I am a slow reader. So, if I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-love-computers-i-love-writing-on-them-i-love-gadgetry-the-thing-is/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-inherited-my-father-s-sense-of-humour-about-myself-it-s-a-lot/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm sure many writers have these strange, tiny little habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-sure-many-writers-have-these-strange-tiny-little-habits/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/musicals-are-by-nature-theatrical-meaning-poetic-meaning-having-to/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/nowadays-there-are-sometimes-more-producers-than-there-are-people-in/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/perpetual-anticipation-is-good-for-the-soul-but-it-s-bad-for-the-heart/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I was watching him crawl, Back over the wall-! Then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And- well, that's another story, Never mind- Anyway...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-was-watching-him-crawl-back-over-the-wall-then-bang-crash-and-the/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-always-conscious-of-what-i-m-writing-conscious-of-what-the-actor/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) [Explore all 228 Stephen Sondheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## More Heaven quotes > [Heaven lies around us in our infancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/heaven-lies-around-us-in-our-infancy/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [By the time you have no difficulties in your life, you have achieved Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brown/by-the-time-you-have-no-difficulties-in-your-life-you-have-achieved/) [Charles Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brown/) > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/god-is-the-highest-good-of-the-reasonable-creature-and-the-enjoyment/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“The Creator sat upon the throne, thinking. Behind him stretched the illimitable continent of heaven, steeped in a glory of light and color; before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-creator-sat-upon-the-throne-thinking-behind-him-stretched-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) [Browse all 9,540 Heaven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My idea of heaven is not writing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Sondheim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Heaven" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/stephen-sondheim-1556_heaven_my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing-2353816_2353816.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/stephen-sondheim-1556_heaven_my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing-2353816_2353816.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/stephen-sondheim-1556_heaven_my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing-2353816_2353816.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My idea of heaven is not writing.” — Stephen Sondheim", "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": "Stephen Sondheim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My idea of heaven is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/my-idea-of-heaven-is-not-writing/#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 } } ] } ```