For Artists, Ego Is a Lethal Drug

If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men - you may make some money and you may give someone a little joy and you may make a noise in the world, for a little while. If you write for yourself, you can read what you yourself have written and after ten minutes you will be so disgusted that you will wish that you were dead.

- Thomas Merton

There are many stories of artists who have been destroyed by addiction to alcohol or other drugs. There is another ki...