"I can't write if someone else is in the house, not even the cleaning woman"

This quote by Patricia Highsmith speaks to the requirement for solitude and personal privacy when it comes to imaginative work. Highsmith is recommending that she is not able to write if another person is in the house, even if it is just the cleaning lady. This suggests that she needs total silence and seclusion in order to concentrate on her writing. It likewise recommends that she is easily sidetracked by the presence of others, and that she requires to be in an area where she can be totally alone in order to be efficient. Highsmith's quote speaks with the importance of having an area where one can be devoid of interruptions and focus on their innovative work. It also highlights the requirement for privacy and solitude in order to have the ability to create.