The desire to build a house is the tired wish of a man content thenceforward with a single anchorage. The desire to build a boat is the desire of youth, unwilling yet to accept the idea of a final resting place.
Arthur RansomeRead
You write not for children but for yourself. And if by good fortune children enjoy what you enjoy, why then you are a writer of children's books.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Write primarily for your own passion and enjoyment; any success with children is a fortunate outcome.
This quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal enjoyment in writing. Arthur Ransome suggests that a true writer creates for themselves first, and if their work resonates with children, it is a happy coincidence rather than the primary motivation.
Themes
WritingChildrenPassionAuthenticityEnjoyment
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, this quote can inspire participants to focus on their own interests rather than external approval.
More from Arthur Ransome
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You take those little rascals, talk to them good, pat them on the back, let them think they are good, and they will go out and beat the biguns.
Bear BryantRead
Don't be afraid! We won't make an author of you, while there's an honest trade to be learnt, or brick-making to turn to.
Charles DickensRead
Reading is rapture (or if it isn't, I put the book down meaning to go on with it later, and escape out the side door).
William MaxwellRead
Instead of seeing these children for the blessings that they are, we are measuring them only by the standard of whether they will be future deficits or assets for our nation's competitive needs.
Jonathan KozolRead
My father was a great sympathizer of Ahad Ha'am. Every Friday night we would read Hebrew together, and often the reading was Ahad Ha'am's essays.
Noam ChomskyRead
I loved books; I read my childhood away. I was more interested in my interior world.
Patti SmithRead