To a chemist, nothing on earth is unclean. A writer must…
“To a chemist, nothing on earth is unclean. A writer must be as objective as a chemist; he must abandon the subjective line; he must know that dungheaps play a very respectable part in a landscape, and that evil passions are as inherent in life as good ones.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Writers should adopt a chemist’s objectivity, treating all subjects—including the sordid—as essential parts of life’s landscape.
In simple terms: Writers must be objective about all topics.
Observe without moral bias.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- journalism
- creative writing
- research
- social commentary
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does objectivity affect storytelling?
- When is subjectivity valuable?
Complete detachment may ignore human empathy.