Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no need of change.
H. G. WellsRead
He spares no resource in telling of his dead inventions... Bare verbs he rarely tolerates. He splits infinitives and fills them up with adverbial stuffing. He presses the passing colloquialism into his service. His vast paragraphis sweat and struggle; the
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the creative process and the lengths to which a writer goes to craft their work.
This quote from H. G. Wells highlights the intricacies and efforts involved in the craft of writing. It suggests that a writer utilizes every possible tool and resource, bending grammatical rules and employing colloquialisms, to vividly express their ideas. The phrase captures the struggle and dedication that underlie the seemingly effortless act of writing; it is a testament to the creative process that often goes unnoticed by readers.
Themes
WritingCreativityCraftsmanshipExpressionLanguage
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, a facilitator might share this quote to inspire participants to embrace their creative struggles.
More from H. G. Wells
All quotes →It [a new world order] needs only that the governments of Britain, the United States, France, Germany, and Russia should get together in order to set up an effective control of currency, credit, production, and distribution – that is to say, an effective ‘dictatorship of prosperity,’ for the whole world. The other sixty odd States would have to join in or accommodate themselves to the over-ruling decisions of these major Powers.
H. G. WellsRead
Things that would have made fame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his hands. It is a mistake to do things too easily.
H. G. WellsRead
But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for years, but to wait inactive for twenty-four hours - that's another matter.
H. G. WellsRead
The greatest task of democracy, its ritual and feast - is choice.
H. G. WellsRead
I came out for exercise, gentle exercise, and to notice the scenery and to botanise. And no sooner do I get on that accursed machine than off I go hammer and tongs; I never look to right or left, never notice a flower, never see a view - get hot, juicy, red - like a grilled chop. Get me on that machine and I have to go. I go scorching along the road, and cursing aloud at myself for doing it.
H. G. WellsRead
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