---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The value of any written work should not…"
description: "\"“The value of any written work should not simply be judged on the words that can be read. It should also be judged on the memories it leaves in the hea..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/daniel-kemp-26543_writing_the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not_2196023.jpg"
---

#  The value of any written work should not simply be judged…

![“The value of any written work should not simply be judged on the words that can be read. It should also be judged on the memories it leaves in the heart.” quote by Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/daniel-kemp-26543_writing_the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not_2196023.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/daniel-kemp-26543_writing_the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not_2196023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/daniel-kemp-26543_writing_the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not_2196023.jpg)

> ““The value of any written work should not simply be judged on the words that can be read. It should also be judged on the memories it leaves in the heart.””

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

## About This Quote

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

The worth of writing lies not just in its literal content but in the emotional imprint it leaves on readers.

**In simple terms:** Writing’s value is in the memories it creates.

Key Takeaway

Create lasting emotional impact.

Themes

literature memory impact

Mood

thoughtful reflective

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

- books
- poetry
- personal letters

Key Concepts

emotional resonance lasting impression

Questions to Reflect On

- What emotions do your writings evoke?
- How can you deepen a reader’s memory?

A Different Perspective

Readers may interpret memories differently.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [The importance to the writer of first writing must be out of all proportion of the actual value of what is written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/the-importance-to-the-writer-of-first-writing-must-be-out-of-all/)

[Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/)

> [There is a tradition that sees journalism as the dark side of literature, with book writing at its zenith. I don't agree. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/there-is-a-tradition-that-sees-journalism-as-the-dark-side-of/)

[Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/)

> [“Writing, music, sculpting, painting, and prayer! These are the three things that are most closely related! Writers, musicians, sculptors, painters, and the faithful are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/writing-music-sculpting-painting-and-prayer-these-are-the-three/)

[C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/)

> ['End of Watch' was 98-percent written, and I work really hard to make it look like it's the first time I'm saying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/end-of-watch-was-98-percent-written-and-i-work-really-hard-to-make-it/)

[Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/)

> [The Bible, I've said it before, is a beautifully written work of fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/the-bible-i-ve-said-it-before-is-a-beautifully-written-work-of-fiction/)

[Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/)

> [I can't speak in too much detail about a book or story I'm working on because I find that it takes the energy out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-can-t-speak-in-too-much-detail-about-a-book-or-story-i-m-working-on/)

[David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/)

> [In my first 15 or 20 years of authorship, I was almost never asked to give a speech or an interview. The written work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/in-my-first-15-or-20-years-of-authorship-i-was-almost-never-asked-to/)

[John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/)

> [I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/i-have-written-my-work-not-as-an-essay-which-is-to-win-the-applause/)

[Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/)

> [The words we read and words we write never say exactly what we mean. The people we love are never just as we desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-carson/the-words-we-read-and-words-we-write-never-say-exactly-what-we-mean/)

[Anne Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-carson/)

> [ We can translate word and letter into color - \[Arthur\] Rimbaud stated that in his color vowels, words quote "words" can be read in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/we-can-translate-word-and-letter-into-color-arthur-rimbaud-stated/)

[William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/)

> [“What is that you express in your eyes? It seems to me more than all the words I have read in my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/what-is-that-you-express-in-your-eyes-it-seems-to-me-more-than-all-2/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [I'm a man of few words." "If you read more, you might have a larger vocabulary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/i-m-a-man-of-few-words-if-you-read-more-you-might-have-a-larger/)

[Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/)

> [I want the words to be read in conjunction with the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/i-want-the-words-to-be-read-in-conjunction-with-the-music/)

[Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/)

> [“To begin, look over the chapters by glancing at the content on the pages. Set aside about 30 minutes every four to five hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-porter-thomas/to-begin-look-over-the-chapters-by-glancing-at-the-content-on-the/)

[Caroline Porter Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-porter-thomas/)

> [“It is strange to hear my words Read back to me. I don't think I wrote them To have them ever leave the page.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stasia-ward-kehoe/it-is-strange-to-hear-my-words-read-back-to-me-i-don-t-think-i-wrote/)

[Stasia Ward Kehoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stasia-ward-kehoe/)

## More by Daniel Kemp

> [“God gave you a brain to use as well as a tongue, Frankie. Some people know more about what you're telling them than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/god-gave-you-a-brain-to-use-as-well-as-a-tongue-frankie-some-people/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“If one totally accepts reality as being the only physical concept then one is denying the existence of imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/if-one-totally-accepts-reality-as-being-the-only-physical-concept/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“Thought moves with the different whereas silence lives inside those with the loudest voice”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/thought-moves-with-the-different-whereas-silence-lives-inside-those/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“It’s not that I don’t write fairy stories because I don’t believe in fairies. I don’t write fairy stories because fairies don’t like me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-write-fairy-stories-because-i-don-t-believe-in/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“The man who spreads hatred will become hated but it doesn’t follow that the man who spreads love will be loved. He will become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/the-man-who-spreads-hatred-will-become-hated-but-it-doesn-t-follow/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“The wind forgets. It will always forget as it never stays still long enough in one place for a memory to remain. A flame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/the-wind-forgets-it-will-always-forget-as-it-never-stays-still-long/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“If you ever reach that stage in life where you really couldn't give a toss about what others think of you, then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/if-you-ever-reach-that-stage-in-life-where-you-really-couldn-t-give-a/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“Intellect counts for nothing if it doesn't wear a designer label.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/intellect-counts-for-nothing-if-it-doesn-t-wear-a-designer-label/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“I don’t charge for the words I write. I charge for joining them together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/i-don-t-charge-for-the-words-i-write-i-charge-for-joining-them/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“Curiosity is a weapon of the modest Indifference is a badge of the pompous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/curiosity-is-a-weapon-of-the-modest-indifference-is-a-badge-of-the/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“There are easier ways to die than just live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/there-are-easier-ways-to-die-than-just-live/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“A Word If one adds a word to a blank sheet of paper but leaves it on its own it means nothing. If it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/a-word-if-one-adds-a-word-to-a-blank-sheet-of-paper-but-leaves-it-on/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“I've known you a very short time and although it's not always true about first impressions making the biggest impact, I don't think I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/i-ve-known-you-a-very-short-time-and-although-it-s-not-always-true/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“For a lie to add piquancy to a story the story would be factual. Fantasy needs no lie to stimulate or excite. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/for-a-lie-to-add-piquancy-to-a-story-the-story-would-be-factual/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

> [“There is nothing as stale as an empty mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/there-is-nothing-as-stale-as-an-empty-mind/)

[Daniel Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

[Explore all 21 Daniel Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/)

## More Writing quotes

> [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/)

[Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/)

> [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

> [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/)

[Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/)

> [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [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 love religion is all that is written here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-love-religion-is-all-that-is-written-here/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/)

[Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/)

[Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/)

> [Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it's addressed to someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-of-us-can-read-the-writing-on-the-wall-we-just-assume-it-s/)

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

> [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/)

[Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/)

> [If I don't know who I'm writing for, I make it up and pick somebody I'm writing for. That's really the only way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/if-i-don-t-know-who-i-m-writing-for-i-make-it-up-and-pick-somebody-i/)

[Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/)

> [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/)

[Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/)

[Browse all 64,355 Writing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The value of any written work should not simply be judged on the words that can be read. It should also be judged on the memories it leaves in the heart.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Daniel Kemp"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not-simply-be-judged-on-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Writing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not-simply-be-judged-on-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/daniel-kemp-26543_writing_the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not_2196023.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/daniel-kemp-26543_writing_the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not_2196023.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a1/daniel-kemp-26543_writing_the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not_2196023.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The value of any written work should not simply be judged on the words that can be read. It should also be…” — Daniel Kemp",
                "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": "Daniel Kemp",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemp/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The value of any written work...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not-simply-be-judged-on-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemp/the-value-of-any-written-work-should-not-simply-be-judged-on-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
