Peter De Vries

Peter De Vries (1910–1993) was an American novelist, editor, and satirist known for sharp humor and aphorisms. He wrote comic novels including The Tunnel of Love and Reuben, Reuben, and his public persona produced memorable witticisms such as "I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning."

Quotes by Peter De Vries

Quotes: 1

I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning. — Peter De Vries

Making Inspiration a Daily Appointment

Peter De Vries frames his line as a wry paradox: he writes “when” inspiration strikes, yet he also schedules it for nine every morning. The humor lands because it punctures the romantic myth that good work depends on unpredictable lightning bolts of feeling. Instead, he implies that inspiration can be coaxed—or at least reliably encountered—through routine. This sets the theme for everything that follows: artistry isn’t only an emotional event but also a practical discipline, and the two can cooperate rather than compete. [...]

Created on: 2/7/2026