---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is more satisfying than to write…"
description: "\"Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence. It is no fun to write lumpishly, dully, in prose the reader must plod through like wet sand. ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/barbara-tuchman-3945_achieve_nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write_1216089.png"
---

#  Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence…

![“Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence. It is no fun to write lumpishly, dully, in prose the reader must plod through like wet sand. But it is a pleasure to achieve, if one can, a clear running prose that is simple yet full of surprises. This does not just happen. It requires…” quote by Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/barbara-tuchman-3945_achieve_nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write_1216089.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/barbara-tuchman-3945_achieve_nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write_1216089.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/barbara-tuchman-3945_achieve_nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write_1216089.png)

> “Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence. It is no fun to write lumpishly, dully, in prose the reader must plod through like wet sand. But it is a pleasure to achieve, if one can, a clear running prose that is simple yet full of surprises. This does not just happen. It requires skill, hard work, a good ear, and continued practice.”

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Crafting clear, engaging prose demands deliberate skill, practice, and an ear for rhythm, avoiding dull, laborious language.

**In simple terms:** Good writing needs skill and practice.

Key Takeaway

Practice and refine your prose.

Themes

writing clarity craftsmanship

Mood

satisfied inspired

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- academic essays
- creative writing
- journalism
- technical documentation

Key Concepts

style rhythm surprise

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you train your ear for better prose?
- What habits help keep writing fresh?

A Different Perspective

Even skilled writers can slip into monotony without feedback.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Prose Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose-reader-3706353/) [Prose Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose-simple-3706352/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-prose-3706351/) [Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sand/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Wet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wet/) [Write Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-good/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [There's a perception that good writing is writing which runs smoothly. But smooth-running prose can work against what you're trying to express in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/there-s-a-perception-that-good-writing-is-writing-which-runs-smoothly/)

[Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/)

> [A good writer preserves an air of freedom in his prose, so that the reader won't know how a story will end - even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/a-good-writer-preserves-an-air-of-freedom-in-his-prose-so-that-the/)

[Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/)

> [Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write-a-good-sentence/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Tomorrow is the first blank page of 365 page of book. So write a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/tomorrow-is-the-first-blank-page-of-365-page-of-book-so-write-a-good/)

[Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/)

> [Ultimately the first, best step in getting your work noticed is to write good work. If people don't engage in your writing, no amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/ultimately-the-first-best-step-in-getting-your-work-noticed-is-to/)

[John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/)

> [There are writers who say they have no social responsibility except to write a good book, but that doesn't satisfy me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-s-tepper/there-are-writers-who-say-they-have-no-social-responsibility-except/)

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-s-tepper/)

> [The key thing is, don't worry about if anyone is reading you or not. Figure out your voice and figure out what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-leitch/the-key-thing-is-don-t-worry-about-if-anyone-is-reading-you-or-not/)

[Will Leitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-leitch/)

> [Life is like a plain paper it's upon you to write on it good or bad it depends on you and your deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/life-is-like-a-plain-paper-it-s-upon-you-to-write-on-it-good-or-bad/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [“Horace Greeley cautioned one upstate hopeful: “You do not realize how little the mere talent of writing well has to do with success or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wallace/horace-greeley-cautioned-one-upstate-hopeful-you-do-not-realize-how/)

[Mike Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wallace/)

> [Write your Sad times in Sand, Write your Good times in Stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/write-your-sad-times-in-sand-write-your-good-times-in-stone/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Chance has something to say, even how to write a good letter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/chance-has-something-to-say-even-how-to-write-a-good-letter/)

[Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/)

> [Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/read-read-read-read-everything-trash-classics-good-and-bad-and-see/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [It's very hard to tell somebody how to write when they're so good, and they're a brilliant writer and a really good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/it-s-very-hard-to-tell-somebody-how-to-write-when-they-re-so-good-and/)

[Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/)

> [If you ever read one of my books I hope you'll think it looks so easy. In fact, I wrote those chapters 20 times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-carey/if-you-ever-read-one-of-my-books-i-hope-you-ll-think-it-looks-so-easy/)

[Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/)

> [What I wanted in life always was to write something as good as 'Pinocchio.' I wanted to write. I wanted to evolve. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/what-i-wanted-in-life-always-was-to-write-something-as-good-as/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

## More by Barbara Tuchman

> [While husbands and lovers in the stories are of all kinds, ranging from sympathetic to disgusting, women are invariably deceivers: inconstant, unscrupulous, quarrelsome, querulous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/while-husbands-and-lovers-in-the-stories-are-of-all-kinds-ranging/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Doctrine tied itself into infinite knots over the realities of sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/doctrine-tied-itself-into-infinite-knots-over-the-realities-of-sex/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-fleet-sailed-to-its-war-base-in-the-north-sea-headed-not-so-much/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Learning from experience is a faculty almost never practiced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/learning-from-experience-is-a-faculty-almost-never-practiced/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [War is the unfolding of miscalculations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/war-is-the-unfolding-of-miscalculations/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [The poets have familiarized more people with history than have the historians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-poets-have-familiarized-more-people-with-history-than-have-the/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Money was the crux. Raising money to pay the cost of war was to cause more damage to 14th century society than the physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/money-was-the-crux-raising-money-to-pay-the-cost-of-war-was-to-cause/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Misgovernment is of four kinds, often in combination. They are: 1) tyranny or oppression, of which history provides so many well-known examples that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/misgovernment-is-of-four-kinds-often-in-combination-they-are-1/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [The power to command frequently causes failure to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-power-to-command-frequently-causes-failure-to-think/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [We seem to be afflicted by a widespread and eroding reluctance to take any stand on any values, moral, behavioral or esthetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/we-seem-to-be-afflicted-by-a-widespread-and-eroding-reluctance-to/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [ The clergy \[in the 14th century\] on the whole were probably no more lecherous or greedy or untrustworthy than other men, but because they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-clergy-in-the-14th-century-on-the-whole-were-probably-no-more/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/without-books-history-is-silent-literature-dumb-science-crippled/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Words are seductive and dangerous material, to be used with caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/words-are-seductive-and-dangerous-material-to-be-used-with-caution/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [“German soldiers, posted as informers, were found dressed as peasants, even as peasant women. The latter were discovered, presumably in the course of non-military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/german-soldiers-posted-as-informers-were-found-dressed-as-peasants/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [I ask myself, have nations ever declined from a loss of moral sense rather than from physical reasons or the pressure of barbarians? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/i-ask-myself-have-nations-ever-declined-from-a-loss-of-moral-sense/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

[Explore all 119 Barbara Tuchman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

## More Achieve quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/)

[Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/)

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

[Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/)

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/)

[Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/)

> [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/)

[Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/)

[Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence. It is no fun to write lumpishly, dully, in prose the reader must plod through like wet sand. But it is a pleasure to achieve, if one can, a clear running prose that is simple yet full of surprises. This does not just happen. It requires skill, hard work, a good ear, and continued practice.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Barbara Tuchman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write-a-good-sentence-it-is-no-fun/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achieve"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write-a-good-sentence-it-is-no-fun/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/barbara-tuchman-3945_achieve_nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write_1216089.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/barbara-tuchman-3945_achieve_nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write_1216089.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/barbara-tuchman-3945_achieve_nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write_1216089.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence. It is no fun to write lumpishly, dully, in prose…” — Barbara Tuchman",
                "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": "Barbara Tuchman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Nothing is more satisfying than to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write-a-good-sentence-it-is-no-fun/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/nothing-is-more-satisfying-than-to-write-a-good-sentence-it-is-no-fun/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```