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About this quote

What does it mean?
Good intentions do not guarantee good writing.
In plain terms
Beautiful feelings can make bad books.
What can you take from it?
Feelings alone do not make good art.

Where it applies

  • creative writing
  • literary critique
  • self-expression

Putting it to work

  • focus on craft
  • balance emotion and technique

Questions to consider

  • Can good intentions save bad art?
  • What makes writing truly good?

Another view

Sincerity can still resonate with audiences.

More from Andre Gide

  1. Art begins with resistance - at the point where resistance is overcome. No human masterpiece has ever been created without great labor.

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  2. Man is more interesting than men. God made him and not them in his image. Each one is more precious than all.

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  3. The most decisive actions of our life-I mean those that are most likely to decide the whole course of our future-are, more often than not, unconsidered.

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