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. [...]
