As a young boy, I read 'Cheaper by the Dozen' and immediately became neurotic about my use of time. It taxed me severely, but only for the next 50 years. But I think it also allowed me to discipline myself to sit in the chair and be a writer, where one of the most needed qualities is patience.

Summary

This quote expresses how reading 'Cheaper by the Dozen' as a child had a profound impact on the author's perception of time. It made them highly conscious of the value of time and its proper usage, persisting for half a century. However, this neurosis also instilled in them the necessary self-discipline required for their writing career. It emphasized the importance of patience, a vital quality for writers who must devote substantial time to their craft while waiting for inspiration and ideas to mature.

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