They had to live by the sweat of their brow.

他们得靠自己的辛勤劳动谋生。

Just because I’m a writer, it doesn’t mean I live in an ivory tower. I have to earn a living like anyone else.

我是个作家，但这并不意味着我生活在象牙塔里。我要像他人一样谋生，养活自己。