Alas Quote by Charles Darwin
“I shall always feel respect for every one who has written a book, let it be what it may, for I had no idea of the trouble which trying to write common English could cost one—And alas there yet remains the worst part of all correcting the press.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Origin of Species, 1859
Writing clear English is difficult and editing is even harder, reflecting the hidden labor behind publishing.
In simple terms: Writing is hard; editing harder.
Key Takeaway
Respect the effort of writers and editors.
Themes
respect
writing
editing
communication
Mood
reflective
appreciative
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- authoring a manuscript
- academic publishing
- journalism
- self‑editing
- peer review
Key Concepts
language
effort
publication
process
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance clarity with brevity?
- What strategies improve editing efficiency?
A Different Perspective
Even with care, misunderstandings persist and revisions may be endless.
![“[B]y being so long in the lowest form I gained an immense advantage over the cleverer boys. They all went on to learn Latin and Greek and splendid things like that. But I was taught English. We were considered such dunces that we could learn only English. Mr. Somervell -- a most delightful man, to…” quote by Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ef/winston-churchill-95_learning-english_b-y-being-so-long-in-the-lowest-form-i-g_476680.jpg)
![“I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science…It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many flaw[s] & holes as sound parts.” quote by Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/958/charles-darwin-507_bounds_i-am-quite-conscious-that-my-speculation_35382.jpg)
