Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
To write without pay until somebody offers pay. If nobody offers pay within three years, the candidate may look upon this circumstance with the most implicit confidence as the sign that sawing wood is what he was intended for.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that if you pursue a passion without reward for an extended time, it may indicate that you are meant for a different path.
Mark Twain's quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing when a passion or vocation may not be leading to a fulfilling career. It highlights the idea that if a writer does not receive financial compensation for their work within a reasonable timeframe, they might need to reconsider their aspirations and potentially explore alternative avenues, such as manual labor, which may be more suited to their abilities or destiny.
Themes
WritingCareerPassionPurposeSelf-Discovery
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speaker could use this quote to inspire aspiring writers at a workshop.
More from Mark Twain
All quotes →The easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
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You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
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To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
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Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
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In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
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