--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd rather write one good book than ten…" description: "\"I'd rather write one good book than ten mediocre ones.\" — Donna Tartt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/donna-tartt-391_book_i-d-rather-write-one-good-book-than-ten_2203238.jpg" --- # I'd rather write one good book than ten mediocre ones. ![“I'd rather write one good book than ten mediocre ones.” quote by Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/donna-tartt-391_book_i-d-rather-write-one-good-book-than-ten_2203238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/donna-tartt-391_book_i-d-rather-write-one-good-book-than-ten_2203238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/donna-tartt-391_book_i-d-rather-write-one-good-book-than-ten_2203238.jpg) > “I'd rather write one good book than ten mediocre ones.” [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preferring depth over quantity, it values a single excellent work more than many average ones. **In simple terms:** One great book beats many mediocre. Key Takeaway Focus on quality, not quantity. Themes quality creativity productivity Mood reflective determined Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - writing - publishing - career planning - creative projects Key Concepts excellence craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - What project could you improve by narrowing focus? - How does this view affect your creative process? A Different Perspective Quantity can dilute impact if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-mediocre-4848500/) [Good book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-book/) [Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre/) [Mediocre Ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre-ones-1249018/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-good/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [What makes a nation great is not primarily its great men, but the stature of its innumerable mediocre ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/what-makes-a-nation-great-is-not-primarily-its-great-men-but-the/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Scores only matter if they’re very good, no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/scores-only-matter-if-they-re-very-good-no-one-pays-much-attention-to/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Scores only matter if theyre very good, no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones. -Portia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunger-games/scores-only-matter-if-theyre-very-good-no-one-pays-much-attention-to/) [Hunger Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunger-games/) > [Making one brilliant decision and a whole bunch of mediocre ones isn't as good as making a whole bunch of generally smart decisions throughout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/making-one-brilliant-decision-and-a-whole-bunch-of-mediocre-ones-isn/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [“The good writers touch life. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-good-writers-touch-life-the-mediocre-ones-run-a-quick-hand-over/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“All great conductors are different. The mediocre ones are more or less the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mauceri/all-great-conductors-are-different-the-mediocre-ones-are-more-or-less/) [John Mauceri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mauceri/) > [“When you read and write good books a divine force will turn you good”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smart-oyejide/when-you-read-and-write-good-books-a-divine-force-will-turn-you-good/) [Smart Oyejide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smart-oyejide/) > [What separates the professionally successful ... from all the rest is their ability to stay steady, to have stamina. 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All of the years that you've lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/how-long-does-it-take-to-write-a-good-book-all-of-the-years-that-you/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [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/) > [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. 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