--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decided at school that the only…" description: "\"I decided at school that the only sensible way to make a living by arranging words in a pleasing order was by working on newspapers, because you got pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/terry-pratchett-19_arranging_i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensib_2308934.jpg" --- # I decided at school that the only sensible way to make a… ![“I decided at school that the only sensible way to make a living by arranging words in a pleasing order was by working on newspapers, because you got paid at the end of the week or the end of the month.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/terry-pratchett-19_arranging_i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensib_2308934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/terry-pratchett-19_arranging_i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensib_2308934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/terry-pratchett-19_arranging_i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensib_2308934.jpg) > “I decided at school that the only sensible way to make a living by arranging words in a pleasing order was by working on newspapers, because you got paid at the end of the week or the end of the month.” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He chose journalism because it offered steady pay and a creative outlet for arranging words. **In simple terms:** Journalism paid and let him write creatively. Key Takeaway Consider practical needs when pursuing creative work. Themes writing career pragmatism livelihood Mood pragmatic thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - job search - freelance writing - newspaper deadlines - budget planning Key Concepts financial stability creative fulfillment writing process Questions to Reflect On - Do you think financial security hinders artistic freedom? - What balance works for you between art and income? A Different Perspective Creative work may feel constrained by commercial demands. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arranging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arranging/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [End Of The Month](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-month/) [End Of The Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-week/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Got Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-paid/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Newspapers Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers-got-259695/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Paid End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-end-5477125/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Week end](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week-end/) [Working Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-newspapers-1319650/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [When the newspapers have got nothing else to talk about, they cut loose on the young. The young are always news. If they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-rexroth/when-the-newspapers-have-got-nothing-else-to-talk-about-they-cut/) [Kenneth Rexroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-rexroth/) > [I mentioned that Mignolet is bad at coming for crosses and as soon as that went into the newspapers, he got better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-grobbelaar/i-mentioned-that-mignolet-is-bad-at-coming-for-crosses-and-as-soon-as/) [Bruce Grobbelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-grobbelaar/) > [In the '50s and '60s, journalism wasn't a profession. It wasn't something you went to college for - it was really more of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/in-the-50s-and-60s-journalism-wasn-t-a-profession-it-wasn-t-something/) [Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/) > [Working within newspapers, so many of them are so used to the status quo, they're so invested in lobby journalism, and assuming that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-foster/working-within-newspapers-so-many-of-them-are-so-used-to-the-status/) [Dawn Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-foster/) > [By the time I received my doctorate in American studies in 1957, I was in the twisted grip of a disease of our times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/by-the-time-i-received-my-doctorate-in-american-studies-in-1957-i-was/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Working on newspapers, you're writing to a certain length, often very brief pieces; you tend to look for easy forms of humor - women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/working-on-newspapers-you-re-writing-to-a-certain-length-often-very/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Perhaps the ideal life is that of the week-end artist, who preserves the integrity of his own aesthetic ideals because of his economic independence...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/perhaps-the-ideal-life-is-that-of-the-week-end-artist-who-preserves/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Nothing is more dangerous in wartime than to live in the temperamental atmosphere of a Gallup Poll, always feeling ones pulse and taking ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-is-more-dangerous-in-wartime-than-to-live-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The successful truck gardener can never go out to dinner in the summer or spend a week end away, because his conscience tells him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/the-successful-truck-gardener-can-never-go-out-to-dinner-in-the/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [When Fashion Week ends, I miss the shows and the shot of adrenaline that comes with them. Each day is a new show, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-frackowiak/when-fashion-week-ends-i-miss-the-shows-and-the-shot-of-adrenaline/) [Magdalena Frackowiak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-frackowiak/) > [“Rachel found herself wishing that the week would never end-that her father could stay here forever-but knew he couldn't. If there was one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brennert-moloka-i/rachel-found-herself-wishing-that-the-week-would-never-end-that-her/) [Alan Brennert, Moloka'i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brennert-moloka-i/) > [“And I am going to have another opportunity. I am going to have a week-end with him at his home in Easton, a week-end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/and-i-am-going-to-have-another-opportunity-i-am-going-to-have-a-week/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [“May the week end But the weekend never end”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrishikesh-agnihotri/may-the-week-end-but-the-weekend-never-end/) [Hrishikesh Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrishikesh-agnihotri/) > [This week-end, I am going to do what I like the most. (Your Heart and Soul likes your status!)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biman-gandhi/this-week-end-i-am-going-to-do-what-i-like-the-most-your-heart-and/) [Biman Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biman-gandhi/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Arranging quotes > [Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/figures-often-beguile-me-particularly-when-i-have-the-arranging-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [My central claim is that we become like Christ by doing one thing-by following Him in the overall style of life He chose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/my-central-claim-is-that-we-become-like-christ-by-doing-one-thing-by/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [I love arranging my music, not in alphabetical order but by mood, creating playlists for when I have energy and want to work out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-love-arranging-my-music-not-in-alphabetical-order-but-by-mood/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [The most important preliminary to the task of arranging one's life so that one may live fully and comfortably within one's daily budget of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-most-important-preliminary-to-the-task-of-arranging-one-s-life-so/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [All the words I use in my stories can be found in the dictionary-it's just a matter of arranging them into the right sentences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/all-the-words-i-use-in-my-stories-can-be-found-in-the-dictionary-it-s/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I don't want any production credit. I think producers are overrated. They're for people who, first of all, don't know anything about music or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/i-don-t-want-any-production-credit-i-think-producers-are-overrated/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we don't have to experience it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/technology-is-the-knack-of-so-arranging-the-world-that-we-don-t-have/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) > [Beautiful and minimalist, the traditional Japanese art of ikebana - arranging bouquets of cut flowers and leaves using very few elements - ideally corresponded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-ellena/beautiful-and-minimalist-the-traditional-japanese-art-of-ikebana/) [Jean-Claude Ellena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-ellena/) > [There is the first satisfaction of arranging it on a bit of paper; after many, many false tries, false moves, finally you have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/there-is-the-first-satisfaction-of-arranging-it-on-a-bit-of-paper/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [My mother was a wonderful, wonderful woman with a lovely voice who hated housework, hated cooking even more and loved her children. She was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-forrester/my-mother-was-a-wonderful-wonderful-woman-with-a-lovely-voice-who/) [Maureen Forrester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-forrester/) > [I just play music by listening and responding, so I don't know anything about writing songs or arranging and all of this stuff. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaimoe/i-just-play-music-by-listening-and-responding-so-i-don-t-know/) [Jaimoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaimoe/) > [The real accomplishment of modern science and technology consists in taking ordinary men, informing them narrowly and deeply and then, through appropriate organization, arranging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-real-accomplishment-of-modern-science-and-technology-consists-in/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/management-is-about-arranging-and-telling-leadership-is-about/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The analysis of variance is not a mathematical theorem, but rather a convenient method of arranging the arithmetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-fisher/the-analysis-of-variance-is-not-a-mathematical-theorem-but-rather-a/) [Ronald Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-fisher/) > [I became friends on a social basis with a music professor (Dr. Alan Stein) who took a real interest in my work. He encouraged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keltonic/i-became-friends-on-a-social-basis-with-a-music-professor-dr-alan/) [John Keltonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keltonic/) [Browse all 122 Arranging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arranging/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I decided at school that the only sensible way to make a living by arranging words in a pleasing order was by working on newspapers, because you got paid at the end of the week or the end of the month.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensible-way-to-make-a-living-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arranging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensible-way-to-make-a-living-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/terry-pratchett-19_arranging_i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensib_2308934.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/terry-pratchett-19_arranging_i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensib_2308934.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/terry-pratchett-19_arranging_i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensib_2308934.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I decided at school that the only sensible way to make a living by arranging words in a pleasing order was…” — Terry Pratchett", "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": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I decided at school that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensible-way-to-make-a-living-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-decided-at-school-that-the-only-sensible-way-to-make-a-living-by/#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 } } ] } ```