--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to stick with what moves me or…" description: "\"I try to stick with what moves me or teaches me about myself, same thing I hope the novels do for others.\" — Wally Lamb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/wally-lamb-1817_books_i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-tea_985637.png" --- # I try to stick with what moves me or teaches me about… ![“I try to stick with what moves me or teaches me about myself, same thing I hope the novels do for others.” quote by Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/wally-lamb-1817_books_i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-tea_985637.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/wally-lamb-1817_books_i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-tea_985637.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/wally-lamb-1817_books_i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-tea_985637.png) > “I try to stick with what moves me or teaches me about myself, same thing I hope the novels do for others.” [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engaging with works that challenge or reveal personal truths drives self‑discovery and growth. **In simple terms:** Books that teach about yourself foster growth. Key Takeaway Seek stories that reflect and stretch you. Themes self‑exploration literature growth Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - book clubs - creative writing workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts reflective reading personal insight empathy Questions to Reflect On - What novel has taught you about yourself? - How do you apply literary insights to life? A Different Perspective Some may find such reading uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Hope Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-novels-1276275/) [Moves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moves/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teaches Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaches-thing-1984947/) [Thing Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-hope-374680/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [But I think, and hope, that the novels can be understood and enjoyed as science fiction, on their own terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/but-i-think-and-hope-that-the-novels-can-be-understood-and-enjoyed-as/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [My hope is that my novels reflect the reality of a world where good and evil exist, imperfect people make mistakes, but a perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klassen/my-hope-is-that-my-novels-reflect-the-reality-of-a-world-where-good/) [Julie Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klassen/) > [I hope my novels will allow you to become lost in a world totally unlike the actual world we live in. I work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-neugeboren/i-hope-my-novels-will-allow-you-to-become-lost-in-a-world-totally/) [Jay Neugeboren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-neugeboren/) > [Experience teaches us only one thing at a time - and hardly that, in my case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/experience-teaches-us-only-one-thing-at-a-time-and-hardly-that-in-my/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If history teaches us one thing, than that history teaches us nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/if-history-teaches-us-one-thing-than-that-history-teaches-us-nothing/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [“the knowledge of the bible past down to popes,pastors an the rest of the christian society is like a school teacher teaching kids. she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-charles/the-knowledge-of-the-bible-past-down-to-popes-pastors-an-the-rest-of/) [Aaron Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-charles/) > [Psychoanalysis teaches one thing, he thought: Nothing ever happens in a vacuum. A single bad act can have all sorts of repercussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-katzenbach/psychoanalysis-teaches-one-thing-he-thought-nothing-ever-happens-in-a/) [John Katzenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-katzenbach/) > [The best thing you can hope for, when you make a movie and you put your soul into it, is that people respond to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/the-best-thing-you-can-hope-for-when-you-make-a-movie-and-you-put/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [“Hope could be a wonderful thing. But hope could crush you anew every single day. Hope could be the cruelest thing in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/hope-could-be-a-wonderful-thing-but-hope-could-crush-you-anew-every/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [The thing about hope is that it doesn't go away even when it serves no purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/the-thing-about-hope-is-that-it-doesn-t-go-away-even-when-it-serves/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [One will hope they will never have one of those moments, but of course, hope is a fruitless thing. You hope for love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-will-hope-they-will-never-have-one-of-those-moments-but-of-course/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's a funny thing, hope. It's not like love, or fear, or hate. It's a feeling you don't really know you had until it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/it-s-a-funny-thing-hope-it-s-not-like-love-or-fear-or-hate-it-s-a/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [We are only what we are; not what we would be; nor every thing we hope for. We are but a step in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/we-are-only-what-we-are-not-what-we-would-be-nor-every-thing-we-hope/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“sometimes the thing that breaks your heart might be the very thing you hope for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-beckerman/sometimes-the-thing-that-breaks-your-heart-might-be-the-very-thing/) [Hannah Beckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-beckerman/) > [You have a way of looking at things. You make it seem as though everything's going to be okay. I can't imagine a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/you-have-a-way-of-looking-at-things-you-make-it-seem-as-though/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) ## More by Wally Lamb > [“Sometimes we want something to be true so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/sometimes-we-want-something-to-be-true-so-badly-that-we-convince/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [I like to write first-person because I like to become the character I'm writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-like-to-write-first-person-because-i-like-to-become-the-character-i/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [But I think this: that whatever prices I've paid, whatever sorrows I shoulder, well, I have blessings, too. Not just my family now, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/but-i-think-this-that-whatever-prices-i-ve-paid-whatever-sorrows-i/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“why would white dudes want to change things when they held all the cards?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/why-would-white-dudes-want-to-change-things-when-they-held-all-the/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“And in taking on the subject of themselves-making themselves vulnerable to the unseen reader-they have exchanged powerlessness for for the power that comes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/and-in-taking-on-the-subject-of-themselves-making-themselves/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“People had always amazed him, he began. But they amazed him more since the sickness. For as long as the two of them had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/people-had-always-amazed-him-he-began-but-they-amazed-him-more-since/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“So I got my stuff and the girl at the register puts these other things in my bag, too. Little free samples: gum and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/so-i-got-my-stuff-and-the-girl-at-the-register-puts-these-other/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [What if I don’t like adventure? Then cultivate a taste for it. Take a chance. That’s how you grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/what-if-i-don-t-like-adventure-then-cultivate-a-taste-for-it-take-a/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“Guess what?' I said. 'I have a psychic.' His head tilted questioningly, birdlike. A sidekick?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/guess-what-i-said-i-have-a-psychic-his-head-tilted-questioningly/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [The evidence of God exists in the roundness of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/the-evidence-of-god-exists-in-the-roundness-of-things/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [Life is a whoopee cushion, a chair pulled away just as you were taking a seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/life-is-a-whoopee-cushion-a-chair-pulled-away-just-as-you-were-taking/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“What I remembered about those seesaw rides was the way Thomas would get mad at me, midride, and evacuate. Send me crashing back down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/what-i-remembered-about-those-seesaw-rides-was-the-way-thomas-would/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“I didn't respond to him. Couldn't speak at all. Couldn't look at his self-mutilation--not even the clean, bandaged version of it. Instead, I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-didn-t-respond-to-him-couldn-t-speak-at-all-couldn-t-look-at-his/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [I write to find out what the story means to me, that is what I try to do especially with the first draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-write-to-find-out-what-the-story-means-to-me-that-is-what-i-try-to/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“As anxious and limited as that love might have been, it had been love nonetheless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/as-anxious-and-limited-as-that-love-might-have-been-it-had-been-love/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) [Explore all 204 Wally Lamb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) ## 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": "I try to stick with what moves me or teaches me about myself, same thing I hope the novels do for others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wally Lamb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-teaches-me-about-myself-same/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-teaches-me-about-myself-same/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/wally-lamb-1817_books_i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-tea_985637.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/wally-lamb-1817_books_i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-tea_985637.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/wally-lamb-1817_books_i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-tea_985637.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I try to stick with what moves me or teaches me about myself, same thing I hope the novels do for others.” — Wally Lamb", "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": "Wally Lamb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I try to stick with what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-teaches-me-about-myself-same/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-try-to-stick-with-what-moves-me-or-teaches-me-about-myself-same/#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 } } ] } ```