Part of not wanting children has always been the certainty that I didnt have the energy for it, and so I had to make a choice, the choice between children and writing. The first time it occurred to me that I wouldnt have both, I was still years away from being biologically capable of reproduction. History offers some examples of people whove done a good job with children and writing, I know that, but I wasnt one of those people. Ive always known my limitations. I lacked the units of energy, and the energy I had, I wanted to spend on my work. To have a child and neglect her in favor of a novel would be cruel, but to simply skip the child in favor of a novel was to avoid harm altogether.

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett