Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books (mostly)

  • Home
  • About
    • My CV
    • Books
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / Letter To An Aspiring Intellectual

Letter To An Aspiring Intellectual

Letter To An Aspiring Intellectual

This Letter To An Aspiring Intellectual, By: Paul Griffiths is fantastic.

Read the full post.

But I took out the word “intellectual(s)” out of the last paragraph and rewrote it below.

I replaced it with the word “writer(s).”

It could not be truer.

And lastly: Don’t do any of the things I’ve recommended unless it seems to you that you must. The world doesn’t need many writers. Most people have neither the talent nor the taste for writing, and most that is admirable and good about human life (love, self-sacrifice, justice, passion, martyrdom, hope) has little or nothing to do with what writers do. Writing skill, and even writing greatness, is as likely to be accompanied by moral vice as moral virtue. And the world—certainly the American world—has little interest in and few rewards for writers. The life of an writer is lonely, hard, and usually penurious; don’t undertake it if you hope for better than that. Don’t undertake it if you think the intellectual vocation the most important there is: It isn’t. Don’t undertake it if you have the least tincture in you of contempt or pity for those without writing talents: You shouldn’t. Don’t undertake it if you think it will make you a better person: It won’t. Undertake it if, and only if, nothing else seems possible.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Intellectual, #Writing

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Notifications of all new posts by email.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Top Posts

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • 31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
    31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
  • Resistance Is Futile Meaning?
    Resistance Is Futile Meaning?
  • Cotton Prices: How to Predict Them
    Cotton Prices: How to Predict Them
  • Instabooks 217
    Instabooks 217
  • Our Mercenary Heart
    Our Mercenary Heart
  • Can You Solve The Bat And Ball Riddle?
    Can You Solve The Bat And Ball Riddle?
  • Another Great Riddle For You To Try
    Another Great Riddle For You To Try
  • How To Care For A Sad Person
    How To Care For A Sad Person
  • Derek Sivers On Writing
    Derek Sivers On Writing

Supporting = Loving

Buy Me a Coffee

Recent Posts

  • Better Than Being A Droid
  • On Identifying Actual Journalists
  • Random Thoughts – 392
  • Running Out Of Time
  • The High-Priced, Low-Volume Strategy

Copyright © 2023 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in