--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a bad thing if a writer tackles a…" description: "\"It is a bad thing if a writer tackles a subject he does not understand.\" — Anton Chekhov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/anton-chekhov-298_bad-thing_it-is-a-bad-thing-if-a-writer-tackles-a_2332292.jpg" --- # It is a bad thing if a writer tackles a subject he does… ![“It is a bad thing if a writer tackles a subject he does not understand.” quote by Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/anton-chekhov-298_bad-thing_it-is-a-bad-thing-if-a-writer-tackles-a_2332292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/anton-chekhov-298_bad-thing_it-is-a-bad-thing-if-a-writer-tackles-a_2332292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/anton-chekhov-298_bad-thing_it-is-a-bad-thing-if-a-writer-tackles-a_2332292.jpg) > “It is a bad thing if a writer tackles a subject he does not understand.” [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer should avoid topics they do not truly understand, as it leads to shallow work. **In simple terms:** Write only about what you understand. Key Takeaway Research deeply before writing. Themes integrity knowledge craftsmanship Mood thoughtful cautionary Type literary ethical When to use this quote - novel writing - journalism - academic work Key Concepts authenticity expertise responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure authenticity in your writing? - When is it okay to write about unfamiliar subjects? A Different Perspective Some topics require lived experience, not just research. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Tackles Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tackles-subject-5613779/) [Thing Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-writer-746927/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Tackles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-tackles-5613778/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've always been a writer who tackles complex themes and risky subjects - I write about the things that people think but never say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/i-ve-always-been-a-writer-who-tackles-complex-themes-and-risky/) [Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/) > [“There's no such thing as writer's block," she proclaimed. "If you can't write it's because you don't have anything to say. Or you're avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-she-proclaimed-if-you-can-t/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“The best thing about being a writer is that 'work' is always something you love, plus usually accompanied by tea, coffee and cakes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-l-harding/the-best-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-work-is-always-something/) [Jamie L. Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-l-harding/) > [The first thing a writer has to do is find a new source of income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/the-first-thing-a-writer-has-to-do-is-find-a-new-source-of-income/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block, the problem is idea block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-ve-often-said-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-the-2/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [Besides the drugs and counterculture, I started talking about myself, which is the first thing you do when you are a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/besides-the-drugs-and-counterculture-i-started-talking-about-myself/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The most original thing a writer can do is write like himself. It is also his most difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-most-original-thing-a-writer-can-do-is-write-like-himself-it-is/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [“The worst thing you can do as a writer is waste people's time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/the-worst-thing-you-can-do-as-a-writer-is-waste-people-s-time/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“I think... the most brilliant thing about being a writer,is that if you don't like the way the world is, you can create your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maegan-cook/i-think-the-most-brilliant-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-if-you/) [Maegan Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maegan-cook/) > [There is no such thing as writer's block for writers whose standards are low enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stafford/there-is-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-for-writers-whose-standards/) [William Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stafford/) > [That's the thing about the writer's life is that you have to have self-discipline. Otherwise you'll never get paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heisserer/that-s-the-thing-about-the-writer-s-life-is-that-you-have-to-have/) [Eric Heisserer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heisserer/) > [And life is a good thing for a writer. It's where we get our raw material, for a start. We quite like to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/and-life-is-a-good-thing-for-a-writer-it-s-where-we-get-our-raw/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The great thing about being a writer is that you have a long, perhaps frighteningly long time in which to do your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/the-great-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-you-have-a-long-perhaps/) [Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/) > [Writing books takes a long time, and one thing a writer must do is learn to live with his or her project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bock/writing-books-takes-a-long-time-and-one-thing-a-writer-must-do-is/) [Charles Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bock/) > [The first thing a writer should be is - excited. He should be a thing of fevers and enthusiasms. Without such vigor, he might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-first-thing-a-writer-should-be-is-excited-he-should-be-a-thing-of/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More by Anton Chekhov > [“Using vile means to attain worthy ends makes the ends themselves vile. Let them ride on the backs of doctors and medical assistants, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/using-vile-means-to-attain-worthy-ends-makes-the-ends-themselves-vile/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [If ever my life can be of any use to you, come and claim it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-ever-my-life-can-be-of-any-use-to-you-come-and-claim-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [There are still many more days of failure ahead, whole seasons of failure, things will go terribly wrong, you will have huge disappointments ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-still-many-more-days-of-failure-ahead-whole-seasons-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“But here was all the timorousness and angularity of inexperienced youth, a feeling of awkwardness, and an impression of bewilderment, as if someone had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/but-here-was-all-the-timorousness-and-angularity-of-inexperienced/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“At the water's edge, barrels of pitch blazed like huge bonfires. Their reflection, crimson as the rising moon, crept to meet us in long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/at-the-water-s-edge-barrels-of-pitch-blazed-like-huge-bonfires-their/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Anna Petrovna: Never talk to women about your own good qualities. Let them find out for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/anna-petrovna-never-talk-to-women-about-your-own-good-qualities-let/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [While you're playing cards with a regular guy or having a bite to eat with him, he seems a peaceable, good-humoured and not entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/while-you-re-playing-cards-with-a-regular-guy-or-having-a-bite-to-eat/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Lebedev: France has a clear and defined policy... The French know what they want. They just want to wipe out the Krauts, finish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/lebedev-france-has-a-clear-and-defined-policy-the-french-know-what/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“My holy of holies are the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom - freedom from force and falsity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/my-holy-of-holies-are-the-human-body-health-intelligence-talent/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“What we have, we do not treasure,” and what’s more we do not even love it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/what-we-have-we-do-not-treasure-and-what-s-more-we-do-not-even-love-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [No matter how corrupt and unjust a convict may be, he loves fairness more than anything else. If the people placed over him are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/no-matter-how-corrupt-and-unjust-a-convict-may-be-he-loves-fairness/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“It is my opinion that every woman can be a writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-is-my-opinion-that-every-woman-can-be-a-writer/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“His reading suggested a man swimming in the sea among the wreckage of his ship, and trying to save his life by greedily clutching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/his-reading-suggested-a-man-swimming-in-the-sea-among-the-wreckage-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Experience often repeated, truly bitter experience, had taught him long ago that with decent people, especially Moscow people -- always slow to move and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/experience-often-repeated-truly-bitter-experience-had-taught-him-long/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Why do you always wear black?” "I am mourning for my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/why-do-you-always-wear-black-i-am-mourning-for-my-life/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) [Explore all 679 Anton Chekhov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## More Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. 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I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. You have to be sure about yourself and about your work and your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/in-my-business-you-should-be-very-strong-in-mind-you-have-to-be-sure/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [“I don’t know why I latched onto the idea of being friends, but it sits right with my gut. I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. 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