--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A Word Of Thanks To these I know a debt…" description: "\"“A Word Of Thanks To these I know a debt past telling: My several muses, harsh and kind; My folks, who stood my sulks and yelling, And (in the long run..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/vikram-seth-4208_books_a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt_3087316.jpg" --- # A Word Of Thanks To these I know a debt past telling: My… ![“A Word Of Thanks To these I know a debt past telling: My several muses, harsh and kind; My folks, who stood my sulks and yelling, And (in the long run) did not mind; Dead legislators, whose orations I've filched to mix my own potations; Indeed, all those whose brains I've pressed, Unmerciful…” quote by Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/vikram-seth-4208_books_a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt_3087316.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/vikram-seth-4208_books_a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt_3087316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/vikram-seth-4208_books_a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt_3087316.jpg) > ““A Word Of Thanks To these I know a debt past telling: My several muses, harsh and kind; My folks, who stood my sulks and yelling, And (in the long run) did not mind; Dead legislators, whose orations I've filched to mix my own potations; Indeed, all those whose brains I've pressed, Unmerciful, because obsessed; My own dumb soul, which on a pittance Survived to weave this fictive spell; And, gentle reader, you as well, The fountainhead of all remittance. Buy me before good sense insists You'll strain your purse and sprain your wrists.”” [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet expresses gratitude to various influences—muses, family, critics, and readers—while humorously acknowledging the transactional nature of publishing. **In simple terms:** Thanks to many sources, even as publishing demands payment. Key Takeaway Appreciate contributions, but stay aware of commercial pressures. Themes gratitude creativity literature economics humor Mood reflective wry Type poetic satirical When to use this quote - writing - publishing - academic study - personal reflection Key Concepts influence artistic process patronage self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What motivates artistic creation? - How does financial need affect creative integrity? A Different Perspective It may romanticize exploitation in the literary market. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Buy Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buy-good-487414/) [Debt Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt-past-772583/) [Good sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Know Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-debt-1581006/) [Long run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/) [Reader Fountainhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-fountainhead-5292699/) ## Related quotes > [We cannot overstate our debt to the Past, but the moment has the supreme claim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-cannot-overstate-our-debt-to-the-past-but-the-moment-has-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The $1.3+ trillion in educational debt in the first quarter of 2016, which has overtaken credit card debt over the past decade, burdens both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cannon-gibney/the-1-3-trillion-in-educational-debt-in-the-first-quarter-of-2016/) [Bruce Cannon Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cannon-gibney/) > [Any creator owes a debt to past creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-foss/any-creator-owes-a-debt-to-past-creation/) [Lukas Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-foss/) > [I will hurt you for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-hurt-you-for-this-i-don-t-know-how-yet-but-give-me-time-a-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men do tend to talk about things on a much higher level. Many of my male colleagues, when they go to the House floor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ellmers/men-do-tend-to-talk-about-things-on-a-much-higher-level-many-of-my/) [Renee Ellmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ellmers/) > [What matters to me is that I do what I think is right and I see, I'm a numbers guy, that's my attitude. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-matters-to-me-is-that-i-do-what-i-think-is-right-and-i-see-i-m-a/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-day-will-come-when-you-think-yourself-safe-and-happy-and-suddenly/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Don’t you talk to me about debt. You think you know what debt is? Debt is an abusive husband. Everyone says ‘why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-livingston/don-t-you-talk-to-me-about-debt-you-think-you-know-what-debt-is-debt/) [Alex Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-livingston/) > [All the money in the world can't buy you back good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reba-mcentire/all-the-money-in-the-world-can-t-buy-you-back-good-health/) [Reba McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reba-mcentire/) > [It's possible to go to the market, buy good ingredients, and make yourself a healthy meal for less than it costs to buy a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/it-s-possible-to-go-to-the-market-buy-good-ingredients-and-make/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [Who would want to buy a good car when you can buy an American car?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-packwood/who-would-want-to-buy-a-good-car-when-you-can-buy-an-american-car/) [Bob Packwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-packwood/) > [“Buy good tools as you can afford them and you’ll never regret it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/buy-good-tools-as-you-can-afford-them-and-you-ll-never-regret-it/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If you want to buy a good movie, you'll buy a good movie. If you don't want to buy a good movie, you'll buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mackie/if-you-want-to-buy-a-good-movie-you-ll-buy-a-good-movie-if-you-don-t/) [Anthony Mackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mackie/) > [It's better to buy one good pair of shoes than four cheap ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/it-s-better-to-buy-one-good-pair-of-shoes-than-four-cheap-ones/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [You can't buy a good reputation; you must earn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/you-can-t-buy-a-good-reputation-you-must-earn-it/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## More by Vikram Seth > [Realism hasn't fallen out of favor with most people, who are interested in people's lives rather than gymnastics of style or literary trends. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/realism-hasn-t-fallen-out-of-favor-with-most-people-who-are/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if-you-don-t-like-a-book-set-it/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [It's not the gods But our own hearts We need to fear. The evil starts Against all odds Not there but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/it-s-not-the-gods-but-our-own-hearts-we-need-to-fear-the-evil-starts/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“But what should I do?' Varun was saying. 'I'm not good for anything.' 'Write a book! Pull a rickshaw! Live! Don't make excuses,' said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/but-what-should-i-do-varun-was-saying-i-m-not-good-for-anything-write/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“In a clear brook With joyful haste The whimsical trout Shot past me like an arrow I play the line of the song, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/in-a-clear-brook-with-joyful-haste-the-whimsical-trout-shot-past-me/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Boredom provides a stronger inclination to write than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/boredom-provides-a-stronger-inclination-to-write-than-anything/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think people give Indian society enough credit. We may not like to talk much about things but we do, basically, want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-people-give-indian-society-enough-credit-we-may-not/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [The problem with too beautiful a view is that it's alright for the mulling stage. But for the writing stage, you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-problem-with-too-beautiful-a-view-is-that-it-s-alright-for-the/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Romantic retrospect aside, the night spent in the truck is distinctly unpleasant. We are cramped and cold. The much-vaunted heating of the truck is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/romantic-retrospect-aside-the-night-spent-in-the-truck-is-distinctly/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/is-it-not-love-that-knows-how-to-make-smooth-things-rough-and-rough/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Well, what do you think? Avanti?" "Avanti," cries everyone, and, after a few quick re-tunings of our instruments, and re-initialisings of our hearts, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/well-what-do-you-think-avanti-avanti-cries-everyone-and-after-a-few/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Behind every door on every ordinary street, in every hut in every ordinary village in this middling planet of a trivial star, such riches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/behind-every-door-on-every-ordinary-street-in-every-hut-in-every/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Perhaps it is true that for all the evidence of the mirror, one pictures oneself in some deep niche of the mind as forever 18.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/perhaps-it-is-true-that-for-all-the-evidence-of-the-mirror-one/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [What is the difference between my life and my love? One gets me low, the other lets me go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/what-is-the-difference-between-my-life-and-my-love-one-gets-me-low/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“The past is the past, and he can't make amends, only hope that the gain will outlast the damage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-past-is-the-past-and-he-can-t-make-amends-only-hope-that-the-gain/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) [Explore all 113 Vikram Seth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A Word Of Thanks To these I know a debt past telling: My several muses, harsh and kind; My folks, who stood my sulks and yelling, And (in the long run) did not mind; Dead legislators, whose orations I've filched to mix my own potations; Indeed, all those whose brains I've pressed, Unmerciful, because obsessed; My own dumb soul, which on a pittance Survived to weave this fictive spell; And, gentle reader, you as well, The fountainhead of all remittance. Buy me before good sense insists You'll strain your purse and sprain your wrists.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vikram Seth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt-past-telling-my-several-muses/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt-past-telling-my-several-muses/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/vikram-seth-4208_books_a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt_3087316.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/vikram-seth-4208_books_a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt_3087316.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/vikram-seth-4208_books_a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt_3087316.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A Word Of Thanks To these I know a debt past telling: My several muses, harsh and kind; My folks, who stood…” — Vikram Seth", "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": "Vikram Seth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A Word Of Thanks To these...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt-past-telling-my-several-muses/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/a-word-of-thanks-to-these-i-know-a-debt-past-telling-my-several-muses/#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 } } ] } ```