If you do not remember while you are writing, it may seem confused to others but actually it is clear and eventually that clarity will be clear, that is what a master-piece is, but if you remember while you are writing it will seem clear at the time to any one but the clarity will go out of it that is what a master-piece is not.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Writing without trying to remember makes a masterpiece eventually clear. Trying to be clear now ruins the future clarity.
- In plain terms
- Don't try to remember while writing; masterpieces become clear later.
- What can you take from it?
- Trust clarity to emerge over time.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you trust intuition in writing?
- When does clarity come?
Another view
Sometimes clarity now prevents mistakes and confusion.
More from Gertrude Stein
A master-piece ... may be unwelcome but it is never dull.
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