The Written World and the Unwritten World: Essays by Italo Calvino

 

"The reasons considered by Primo Levi were nine. We write: (1) because we feel the urge or need; (2) to entertain others or ourself; (3) to teach someone something; (4) to improve the world; (5) to spread our ideas (variant of the preceding); (6) to rid ourself of some source of anguish; (7) to become famous; (8) to become rich; (9) out of habit (the reason left for last because it's "the dreariest of all").