--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to read a perfect book there…" description: "\"If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/ambrose-bierce-140_book_if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there_480090.jpg" --- # If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way… ![“If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/ambrose-bierce-140_book_if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there_480090.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/ambrose-bierce-140_book_if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there_480090.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/ambrose-bierce-140_book_if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there_480090.jpg) > “If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating a perfect book requires writing it yourself; there is no shortcut to mastery. **In simple terms:** Write to achieve perfection. Key Takeaway Write your own perfect book. Themes creativity discipline mastery self-reliance Mood determined inspirational Type motivational practical When to use this quote - authoring a novel - academic research - personal memoir - blog development Key Concepts writing literature self-improvement Questions to Reflect On - What prevents you from starting your book? - How do you define “perfect” in writing? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress; not all writers have resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“There is a big difference between an imperfect book that is read and a perfect book that is never written”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-newman/there-is-a-big-difference-between-an-imperfect-book-that-is-read-and/) Don Newman > [I want my life to be like the books I use to read. So perfect! I dont even read anymore. So changed.. So broken..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/i-want-my-life-to-be-like-the-books-i-use-to-read-so-perfect-i-dont/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [I think 'Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned' might be a perfect book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/i-think-everything-ravaged-everything-burned-might-be-a-perfect-book/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [I always thought 'Of Mice and Men' was such a perfect book because there's nothing not to understand, but it's still really clever and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-always-thought-of-mice-and-men-was-such-a-perfect-book-because/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [My go-to author for knowing it all is Evelyn Waugh. 'A Handful of Dust' is as perfect as a book can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-graham/my-go-to-author-for-knowing-it-all-is-evelyn-waugh-a-handful-of-dust/) [Laurie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-graham/) > [Always I'm working on some of book. That's the way I make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/always-i-m-working-on-some-of-book-that-s-the-way-i-make-a-living/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“join their company. This book will show you the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/join-their-company-this-book-will-show-you-the-way/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“You read a book all the way through? Why?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-simpson/you-read-a-book-all-the-way-through-why/) [Bart Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-simpson/) > [“On L. Ron Hubbard: Now I must admit that "Battlefield Earth" is a book with something for everyone, all the way across the cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-langford/on-l-ron-hubbard-now-i-must-admit-that-battlefield-earth-is-a-book/) Dave Langford > [To gain the book, one must give up all hope for the book. It is the only way the book can get written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-friedman/to-gain-the-book-one-must-give-up-all-hope-for-the-book-it-is-the/) [Bonnie Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-friedman/) > [“The Bible is the one book we’ve most succeeded in having them never read as a book. Keep it that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/the-bible-is-the-one-book-we-ve-most-succeeded-in-having-them-never/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [What we've learned is there's no right way to write a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/what-we-ve-learned-is-there-s-no-right-way-to-write-a-song/) [Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/) > [Whatever works for the piece I'm thinking about is the way I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/whatever-works-for-the-piece-i-m-thinking-about-is-the-way-i-write/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [I fortunately have a good memor, and that helps a lot in the way I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruskin-bond/i-fortunately-have-a-good-memor-and-that-helps-a-lot-in-the-way-i/) [Ruskin Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruskin-bond/) > [Hemingway said the only way to write about a place is to leave it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/hemingway-said-the-only-way-to-write-about-a-place-is-to-leave-it/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there-is-only-one-way-write-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there-is-only-one-way-write-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/ambrose-bierce-140_book_if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there_480090.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/ambrose-bierce-140_book_if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there_480090.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/ambrose-bierce-140_book_if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there_480090.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it.” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you want to read a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there-is-only-one-way-write-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/if-you-want-to-read-a-perfect-book-there-is-only-one-way-write-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```