Books want to be born: I never make them. They come to me and insist on being written, and on being such and such

Books want to be born: I never make them. They come to me and insist on being written, and on being such and such

Samuel Butler, a 19th-century English author, is known for his quote, "Books want to be born: I never make them. They come to me and insist on being written, and on being such and such." This statement reflects Butler's belief that books have a life of their own and that authors are merely vessels through which they are brought into existence.

Butler's own experience as a writer supports this idea. Throughout his career, he wrote several novels, essays, and works of criticism, many of which were inspired by his own observations and experiences. Butler believed that his role as an author was to listen to the stories that wanted to be told and to give them a voice through his writing.

One of Butler's most famous works, "Erewhon," is a satirical novel that explores themes of society, technology, and human nature. The book was inspired by Butler's travels in New Zealand and his observations of the Maori culture. In "Erewhon," Butler imagines a fictional society where machines are outlawed and illness is considered a crime. The novel was ahead of its time in its exploration of these themes and has since become a classic of speculative fiction.

Butler's belief that books have a life of their own is echoed in the way he approached his writing process. He often spoke of the importance of allowing ideas to flow freely and of being open to the inspiration that comes from the world around us. For Butler, writing was a collaborative process between the author and the stories that wanted to be told.