--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never did, and I never will, thank any…" description: "\"I never did, and I never will, thank any man for altering any one word of my compositions without my privity.\" — William Godwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/william-godwin-1978_altering_i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-m_1923114.png" --- # I never did, and I never will, thank any man for altering… ![“I never did, and I never will, thank any man for altering any one word of my compositions without my privity.” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/william-godwin-1978_altering_i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-m_1923114.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/william-godwin-1978_altering_i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-m_1923114.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/william-godwin-1978_altering_i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-m_1923114.png) > “I never did, and I never will, thank any man for altering any one word of my compositions without my privity.” [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author insists on absolute control over his work, rejecting any unauthorized edits. **In simple terms:** Protect your creations from unwanted changes. Key Takeaway Guard your artistic integrity. Themes authorship integrity control Mood defensive protective Type statement philosophical When to use this quote - publishing contracts - self‑publishing - collaborations - editing processes - legal disputes Key Concepts copyright creative ownership artist rights Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when to accept feedback? - What boundaries protect your creative voice? A Different Perspective Balancing collaboration with personal vision can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altering/) [Altering Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altering-word-2965307/) [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Did Thank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-thank-619736/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Man Altering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-altering-2965308/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Thank Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank-man-933375/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/) ## Related quotes > [“didn't thank didn't wave goodbye didn't flutter the air with kisses a mound of gifts unwrapped bed unmade no appetite always elsewhere though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/didn-t-thank-didn-t-wave-goodbye-didn-t-flutter-the-air-with-kisses-a/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Oh my God, I can't believe what you did for me - thank you. I love you so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-cross/oh-my-god-i-can-t-believe-what-you-did-for-me-thank-you-i-love-you-so/) [Marcia Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-cross/) > [“I never did thank you," Breeze said. "For what, Lord Breeze?" "For pulling me out of myself," Breeze said. "For forcing me to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-never-did-thank-you-breeze-said-for-what-lord-breeze-for-pulling-me/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [Thank you very much for helping me out when I needed help. You probably helped more than you think you did. Thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thank-you-very-much-for-helping-me-out-when-i-needed-help-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I did not, thank the Lord, have to have a hysterectomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-did-not-thank-the-lord-have-to-have-a-hysterectomy/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Thankful to see another day. God didn't have to wake me up but he did and for that I thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thankful-to-see-another-day-god-didn-t-have-to-wake-me-up-but-he-did/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate you but you were always there for me to not make me look ridiculous. I appreciate what you did for me. Thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-you-but-you-were-always-there-for-me-to-not-make-me-look/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When Russell was out, you stepped your game up for me, for the team. There were nights where you made me look way better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/when-russell-was-out-you-stepped-your-game-up-for-me-for-the-team/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [Reggie when I first met you, You didn't say two words to me, I didn't know who you were, But we instantly clicked, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/reggie-when-i-first-met-you-you-didn-t-say-two-words-to-me-i-didn-t/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [How can you thank a man for giving you what's already yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/how-can-you-thank-a-man-for-giving-you-what-s-already-yours/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Another day another blessing...take a knee thank the man above and get back to the hustle!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/another-day-another-blessing-take-a-knee-thank-the-man-above-and-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How can you thank a man for giving you what's yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/how-can-you-thank-a-man-for-giving-you-what-s-yours/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [How can you thank a man for giving you what's already yours? How then can you thank him for giving you only part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/how-can-you-thank-a-man-for-giving-you-what-s-already-yours-how-then-2/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Russell... I love you. I thank you so much man. You made me better. You know, Your work ethic. I always wanted to compete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/russell-i-love-you-i-thank-you-so-much-man-you-made-me-better-you/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [How can you thank a man for giving you what's already yours? How then can you thank him for giving you only part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/how-can-you-thank-a-man-for-giving-you-what-s-already-yours-how-then/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by William Godwin > [I know nothing worth the living for but usefulness and the service of my fellow-creatures. The only object I pursue is to increase, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-know-nothing-worth-the-living-for-but-usefulness-and-the-service-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [He that loves reading has everything within his reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/he-that-loves-reading-has-everything-within-his-reach/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and apprehend a thousand things which we do not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/there-must-be-room-for-the-imagination-to-exercise-its-powers-we-must/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [In infamy, it is wisely provided that he who stands highest in the ranks of society has the heaviest load to sustain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/in-infamy-it-is-wisely-provided-that-he-who-stands-highest-in-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [No man knows the value of innocence and integrity but he who has lost them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/no-man-knows-the-value-of-innocence-and-integrity-but-he-who-has-lost/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/study-with-desire-is-real-activity-without-desire-it-is-but-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet \* Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Book II, Chapter II: “Of Justice”:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-following-is-an-excerpt-from-william/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Tenderness is the name for a lover's most exquisite sensation; protection is implied in his most generous and heart-thrilling impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/tenderness-is-the-name-for-a-lover-s-most-exquisite-sensation/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/whenever-government-assumes-to-deliver-us-from-the-trouble-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [During my academical life, and from this time forward, I was indefatigable in my search after truth. I read all the authors of greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/during-my-academical-life-and-from-this-time-forward-i-was/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Was ever a great discovery prosecuted or an important benefit conferred upon the human race by him who was incapable of standing and thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/was-ever-a-great-discovery-prosecuted-or-an-important-benefit/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the right in certain cases to do as we list;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-real-or-supposed-rights-of-man-are-of-two-kinds-active-and/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Soundness of understanding is connected with freedom of enquiry; consequently, opinion should, as far as public security will admit, be exempted from restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/soundness-of-understanding-is-connected-with-freedom-of-enquiry/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Power is not happiness. Security and peace are more to be desired than a man at which nations tremble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/power-is-not-happiness-security-and-peace-are-more-to-be-desired-than/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Strange that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in his turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/strange-that-men-from-age-to-age-should-consent-to-hold-their-lives/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) [Explore all 193 William Godwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## More Altering quotes > [Technology by default became the thing that was a new thing that had swept in and was altering it everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/technology-by-default-became-the-thing-that-was-a-new-thing-that-had/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [When you have an operation, you are altering the body. You are going into a perfectly fine piece of tissue and when you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/when-you-have-an-operation-you-are-altering-the-body-you-are-going/) [Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/) > [I love altering my stuff and that's something I've learned over time: You don't have to buy a shirt and just wear it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-dorfman/i-love-altering-my-stuff-and-that-s-something-i-ve-learned-over-time/) [Andi Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-dorfman/) > [Unlike traditional nursing homes, Green House homes provide elders with a high quality of life and quality of care in a setting that feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/risa-lavizzo-mourey/unlike-traditional-nursing-homes-green-house-homes-provide-elders/) [Risa Lavizzo-Mourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/risa-lavizzo-mourey/) > [We go in there and we work on altering those ideas and in many cases go in different directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-paul/we-go-in-there-and-we-work-on-altering-those-ideas-and-in-many-cases/) [Les Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-paul/) > [Sometimes altering your position is the right thing. Sometimes it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/sometimes-altering-your-position-is-the-right-thing-sometimes-it-s-not/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [I like to cook with the philosophy of using great ingredients and not altering them too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sanchez/i-like-to-cook-with-the-philosophy-of-using-great-ingredients-and-not/) [Aaron Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sanchez/) > [Being on a television series is sort of life-altering on every level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-garber/being-on-a-television-series-is-sort-of-life-altering-on-every-level/) [Victor Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-garber/) > [There is only one way in which you can "change your luck" and that is by altering your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/there-is-only-one-way-in-which-you-can-change-your-luck-and-that-is/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-truslow-adams/the-greatest-discovery-of-my-generation-is-that-man-can-alter-his/) [James Truslow Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-truslow-adams/) > [The United States has means to wound Latin American countries deeply, chiefly by altering trade policies to cut imports in ways that would throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/the-united-states-has-means-to-wound-latin-american-countries-deeply/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [“We would not be able to impact future generations if family was not one of our top priorities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-s-works/we-would-not-be-able-to-impact-future-generations-if-family-was-not/) [Gregory S. Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-s-works/) > [I'm always altering things to try and get better. It's not always about the darts too, I'm trying to eat healthier and look after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-cross/i-m-always-altering-things-to-try-and-get-better-it-s-not-always/) [Rob Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-cross/) > [That is what I was more drawn to - creating stories while changing and altering reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/that-is-what-i-was-more-drawn-to-creating-stories-while-changing-and/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“To alter the universe, alter your thoughts, because the only universe you will ever know is in your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/to-alter-the-universe-alter-your-thoughts-because-the-only-universe/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) [Browse all 37 Altering quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altering/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never did, and I never will, thank any man for altering any one word of my compositions without my privity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Godwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-man-for-altering-any-one-word/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Altering" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-man-for-altering-any-one-word/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/william-godwin-1978_altering_i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-m_1923114.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/william-godwin-1978_altering_i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-m_1923114.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/william-godwin-1978_altering_i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-m_1923114.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never did, and I never will, thank any man for altering any one word of my compositions without my privity.” — William Godwin", "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": "William Godwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never did, and I never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-man-for-altering-any-one-word/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-never-did-and-i-never-will-thank-any-man-for-altering-any-one-word/#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 } } ] } ```