Yu has completely the same attitude toward his life and work: using his talents to pass his day, applying his genius to his writing: "You can't be dramatic in the way you lead your life. That would make life too exhausting!" So his lifestyle is very ordinary.
余光中對生活與寫作的態度大抵也是如此，憑本事過日子，寫作則要動用天才，「總不能過日子也很戲劇化，這樣人生太累了！」