I count it a high honor to belong to a profession in which…
“I count it a high honor to belong to a profession in which the good men write every paragraph, every sentence, every line, as lovingly as any Addison or Steele, and do so in full regard that by tomorrow it will have been burned, or used, if at all, to line a shelf.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The writer’s duty is to create work that may be discarded or used, yet still crafted with care and respect for the craft.
In simple terms: Writers should write well even if their work is temporary.
Key Takeaway
Write with care regardless of permanence.
Themes
craft
impermanence
literary tradition
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
literary
professional
When to use this quote
- journalism
- book publishing
- academic writing
- personal blogging
Key Concepts
authorship
ephemerality
legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- What motivates you to write when the audience is uncertain?
- How does knowing a piece may be temporary affect its quality?
A Different Perspective
Even fleeting work can influence readers and future writers.