--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to think that when I finished a…" description: "\"I used to think that when I finished a book, I was finished with it. But it's like a wonderful Hydra. Every time a head disappears, more heads appear, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/tony-buzan-16676_about_i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-b_3097814.jpg" --- # I used to think that when I finished a book, I was… ![“I used to think that when I finished a book, I was finished with it. But it's like a wonderful Hydra. Every time a head disappears, more heads appear, so I will be writing for the rest of my life. The more books I write, the more books I find that I still have to write about. I use it like an…” quote by Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/tony-buzan-16676_about_i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-b_3097814.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/tony-buzan-16676_about_i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-b_3097814.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/tony-buzan-16676_about_i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-b_3097814.jpg) > “I used to think that when I finished a book, I was finished with it. But it's like a wonderful Hydra. Every time a head disappears, more heads appear, so I will be writing for the rest of my life. The more books I write, the more books I find that I still have to write about. I use it like an inspiration, and that's wonderful.” [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is an endless, self‑generating process like a Hydra; each finished work spawns new ideas and projects. **In simple terms:** Writing continuously generates new ideas. Key Takeaway Embrace lifelong writing and idea growth. Themes creativity productivity learning growth Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - authoring books - blogging - research - teaching - content creation Key Concepts hydra metaphor idea generation continuous learning writing process Questions to Reflect On - How to sustain creative momentum? - When to pause and reflect? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout without boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Appear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appear/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-finished-458316/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-write/) [Disappears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappears/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Every time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-time/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished/) [Finished Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished-book-470060/) [Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head/) [Heads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heads/) [I write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-write/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Rest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-books/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“A book is finished when it does not want me to work on it any longer...it reaches a point when it feels like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-nio-lobo-antunes/a-book-is-finished-when-it-does-not-want-me-to-work-on-it-any-longer/) [Antonio Lobo Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-nio-lobo-antunes/) > [I write books, I write for comic books, I give lectures... I live. And when the opportunity comes to do a picture, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-write-books-i-write-for-comic-books-i-give-lectures-i-live-and-when/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Screenplays I didn't really care about, journalism, travel books, getting my writer friends to write about their dreams or something. I just determined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/screenplays-i-didn-t-really-care-about-journalism-travel-books/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“Write, write, write! Get your you-know-what in the chair and write more books: write the books of your heart and don’t let stress steal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarra-cannon/write-write-write-get-your-you-know-what-in-the-chair-and-write-more/) [Sarra Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarra-cannon/) > [“What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise? Great, great question. In the world of writing, everyone wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-are-bad-recommendations-you-hear-in-your-profession-or-area-of/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [I don't put a lot of description in the books because I write books the way I like to read them, and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/i-don-t-put-a-lot-of-description-in-the-books-because-i-write-books/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [“All these heads, I thought. All these heads into which everything disappears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/all-these-heads-i-thought-all-these-heads-into-which-everything/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“He felt as he always did when he finished a book — queerly empty, let down, aware that for each little success he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-felt-as-he-always-did-when-he-finished-a-book-queerly-empty-let/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I don't remember ever having finished a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-hall/i-don-t-remember-ever-having-finished-a-book/) [Bridget Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-hall/) > [Why not dream your own wonderful sequels? When you have finished a book, it can go on in your mind, the characters doing just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-henry/why-not-dream-your-own-wonderful-sequels-when-you-have-finished-a/) [Marguerite Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-henry/) > [As I recall, you promised to CALL when you finished the book, not text.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/as-i-recall-you-promised-to-call-when-you-finished-the-book-not-text/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I had this really great amazing thing happen where I almost finished the book and I really needed to come up with an ending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/i-had-this-really-great-amazing-thing-happen-where-i-almost-finished/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Goodbyes hurt when the story is not finished and the book has been closed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/goodbyes-hurt-when-the-story-is-not-finished-and-the-book-has-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For most of my life, when I've finished the book I'm writing, there've always been as many as two or three other novels waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/for-most-of-my-life-when-i-ve-finished-the-book-i-m-writing-there-ve/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“What I hate the most is when you realize your almost finished a book: like a good who’s balloon puts I fuss over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-a-fostars/what-i-hate-the-most-is-when-you-realize-your-almost-finished-a-book/) [Eleanor A. Fostars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-a-fostars/) ## More by Tony Buzan > [The world isn't fast-paced, it's frenetic. People have to be managers of themselves. Time has been managing itself for 15 billion years; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-world-isn-t-fast-paced-it-s-frenetic-people-have-to-be-managers/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [The human brain has left and right brain symmetry with its own nature and can process information which initially appears to have no pattern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-human-brain-has-left-and-right-brain-symmetry-with-its-own-nature/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [Memory and creativity are essential to education, but if you teach memory incorrectly, it is a total waste of time, and it will inhibit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/memory-and-creativity-are-essential-to-education-but-if-you-teach/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [All children are much more intelligent than they are told they are or the school thinks they are; they just have different intelligences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/all-children-are-much-more-intelligent-than-they-are-told-they-are-or/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [Many of us grow up thinking of mistakes as bad, viewing errors as evidence of fundamental incapacity. This negative thinking pattern can create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/many-of-us-grow-up-thinking-of-mistakes-as-bad-viewing-errors-as/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [Children need stimulation and stability. That can come from grandparents, cousins, teachers, nannies, childcare centres - as long as they engage with the children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/children-need-stimulation-and-stability-that-can-come-from/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [As a very small boy, my passion was nature, and I had pets - cats, a dog and a bunny rabbit - and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/as-a-very-small-boy-my-passion-was-nature-and-i-had-pets-cats-a-dog/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [The Alexander Technique transformed my life. it is the result of an acknowledged genius. I would recommend it to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-alexander-technique-transformed-my-life-it-is-the-result-of-an/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [True negotiation takes place when each side respects the other, and their point of view, and enters into the discussion positively. If you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/true-negotiation-takes-place-when-each-side-respects-the-other-and/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [Definition is the companion of clarity; clarity is the guide to your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/definition-is-the-companion-of-clarity-clarity-is-the-guide-to-your/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [And suddenly, I realized the system that I was in did not know what intelligence was, didn't know how to identify smart and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/and-suddenly-i-realized-the-system-that-i-was-in-did-not-know-what/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [“There is another Brain Principle to go with ‘First Things First’: that of ‘Last Things Too’. This states that, all other things being equal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/there-is-another-brain-principle-to-go-with-first-things-first-that/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [The mind map will change your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-mind-map-will-change-your-life/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [How can we get the most from every mistake we make?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/how-can-we-get-the-most-from-every-mistake-we-make/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [The desire for self-improvement is vital. There is no point in pushing children; they need to be the ones who want to learn new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-desire-for-self-improvement-is-vital-there-is-no-point-in-pushing/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) [Explore all 39 Tony Buzan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to think that when I finished a book, I was finished with it. But it's like a wonderful Hydra. Every time a head disappears, more heads appear, so I will be writing for the rest of my life. The more books I write, the more books I find that I still have to write about. I use it like an inspiration, and that's wonderful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Buzan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-book-i-was-finished-with-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-book-i-was-finished-with-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/tony-buzan-16676_about_i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-b_3097814.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/tony-buzan-16676_about_i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-b_3097814.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/tony-buzan-16676_about_i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-b_3097814.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I used to think that when I finished a book, I was finished with it. But it's like a wonderful Hydra. Every…” — Tony Buzan", "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": "Tony Buzan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I used to think that when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-book-i-was-finished-with-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/i-used-to-think-that-when-i-finished-a-book-i-was-finished-with-it/#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 } } ] } ```