--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Style matters, but the real force of…" description: "\"Style matters, but the real force of writing is ideas, not style.\" — Douglas Brunt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/douglas-brunt-18401_ideas_style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writ_2407364.jpg" --- # Style matters, but the real force of writing is ideas, not… ![“Style matters, but the real force of writing is ideas, not style.” quote by Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/douglas-brunt-18401_ideas_style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writ_2407364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/douglas-brunt-18401_ideas_style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writ_2407364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/douglas-brunt-18401_ideas_style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writ_2407364.jpg) > “Style matters, but the real force of writing is ideas, not style.” [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas are the core power of writing; style is secondary and should serve the ideas, not dominate them. **In simple terms:** Ideas matter more than style. Key Takeaway Prioritize ideas over decorative prose. Themes writing creativity communication Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - blog posts - academic papers Key Concepts literary theory cognitive focus Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance style with clarity? - When does style enhance ideas? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on style can obscure meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I am not that far apart from Jurgen Klopp in terms of our ideas about a style of football. That's no secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralf-rangnick/i-am-not-that-far-apart-from-jurgen-klopp-in-terms-of-our-ideas-about/) [Ralf Rangnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralf-rangnick/) > [I must not step into too spruce a style for serious matters; and yet I approve not the dull insipid way of writing practised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/i-must-not-step-into-too-spruce-a-style-for-serious-matters-and-yet-i/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) > [You cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/you-cannot-hope-to-sweep-someone-else-away-by-the-force-of-your/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“If I loved him, would I censor my writing to please him? If I married him, would I force my writing to be married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/if-i-loved-him-would-i-censor-my-writing-to-please-him-if-i-married/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [It turns out that style matters in programming for the same reason that it matters in writing. It makes for better reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crockford/it-turns-out-that-style-matters-in-programming-for-the-same-reason/) [Douglas Crockford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crockford/) > [The secret of force in writing lies not so much in the pedigree of nouns and adjectives and verbs, as in having something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-secret-of-force-in-writing-lies-not-so-much-in-the-pedigree-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Some may say that I won the first MP elections as I am a celebrity. But, the second time, one's working style matters to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirron-kher/some-may-say-that-i-won-the-first-mp-elections-as-i-am-a-celebrity/) [Kirron Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirron-kher/) > [The hardest part of writing is not to get the ideas but to remember, why it is important to get them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/the-hardest-part-of-writing-is-not-to-get-the-ideas-but-to-remember/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [If you look around at the news industry, there are more and more sites clamoring for that kind of writing, whether it's an Ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-carmody/if-you-look-around-at-the-news-industry-there-are-more-and-more-sites/) Tim Carmody > [I was constantly in the studio at my home writing ideas that would later become 'Hotel California' or 'Victim of Love.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/i-was-constantly-in-the-studio-at-my-home-writing-ideas-that-would/) [Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/) > [Writing is for stories to be read, books to be published, poems to be recited, plays to be acted, songs to be sung, newspapers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-smith/writing-is-for-stories-to-be-read-books-to-be-published-poems-to-be/) [Frank Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-smith/) > [Ideas mostly come from the work itself. Often when I'm drawing, the words will be bouncing around in my head, and when I'm writing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-rae-perkins/ideas-mostly-come-from-the-work-itself-often-when-i-m-drawing-the/) [Lynne Rae Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-rae-perkins/) > [I draw inspiration from many different places - my own life and other media that I absorb - TV, films, books, and other songs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-peters/i-draw-inspiration-from-many-different-places-my-own-life-and-other/) [Maisie Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-peters/) > [In fiction writing ideas have to be handled extremely carefully. You can't let your characters just be mouthpieces for your ideas. They have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-fiction-writing-ideas-have-to-be-handled-extremely-carefully-you/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [When I'm writing, those ideas are seldom inspired by music itself. I won't often listen to an artist and come up with an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/when-i-m-writing-those-ideas-are-seldom-inspired-by-music-itself-i/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) ## More by Douglas Brunt > [It's common knowledge that professional athletes earn extraordinary incomes. What is less known or understood is how the advent of these riches has seeped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/it-s-common-knowledge-that-professional-athletes-earn-extraordinary/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [D.C. is a small town with some big-town features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/d-c-is-a-small-town-with-some-big-town-features/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I like to write in the mornings, so I try to protect 9 A.M. - 12 P.M. for me. I can drop our older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-like-to-write-in-the-mornings-so-i-try-to-protect-9-a-m-12-p-m-for/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I do like Pat Conroy, and 'The Great Santini' is an iconic book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-do-like-pat-conroy-and-the-great-santini-is-an-iconic-book/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [The last book I read before I wrote my first book - 'Ghosts of Manhattan' - was 'The Gold Coast' by DeMille. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/the-last-book-i-read-before-i-wrote-my-first-book-ghosts-of-manhattan/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I'm really troubled by the prevalence of single-sport specializations. I want my kids to do as many things for as long as they can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-m-really-troubled-by-the-prevalence-of-single-sport-specializations/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [When the kids are down, I have a drink and watch 'The Kelly File.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/when-the-kids-are-down-i-have-a-drink-and-watch-the-kelly-file/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I've seen terrorism close up, but I don't live in a state of terror at all. I'm comfortable going to the Manhattan Thanksgiving Day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-ve-seen-terrorism-close-up-but-i-don-t-live-in-a-state-of-terror-at/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [I've been pretty damn happy since 2001. More apparent danger than real danger for me, and even the apparent danger hasn't kept me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-ve-been-pretty-damn-happy-since-2001-more-apparent-danger-than-real/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [Dad met Mom in 1983 during the lead-up to the 1984 games. She was an Olympic downhill skier. In those days, the winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/dad-met-mom-in-1983-during-the-lead-up-to-the-1984-games-she-was-an/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [The important thing is to write when your brain is at its best. Work edits or do outside reading with the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/the-important-thing-is-to-write-when-your-brain-is-at-its-best-work/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [A tennis racket lurks in my earliest memories like a sick relative who had come to live with us. When I look at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/a-tennis-racket-lurks-in-my-earliest-memories-like-a-sick-relative/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [If you look at top players - Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi - so many had a parent who was domineering to the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/if-you-look-at-top-players-steffi-graf-andre-agassi-so-many-had-a/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [The job for cable is to give the news and then also give the 'so what.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/the-job-for-cable-is-to-give-the-news-and-then-also-give-the-so-what/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [Wall Street has played a role in everyone's life, and it has been vilified by everyone, but I think that the average trader didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/wall-street-has-played-a-role-in-everyone-s-life-and-it-has-been/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) [Explore all 35 Douglas Brunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) ## More Ideas quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Style matters, but the real force of writing is ideas, not style.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Brunt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writing-is-ideas-not-style/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ideas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writing-is-ideas-not-style/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/douglas-brunt-18401_ideas_style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writ_2407364.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/douglas-brunt-18401_ideas_style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writ_2407364.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/douglas-brunt-18401_ideas_style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writ_2407364.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Style matters, but the real force of writing is ideas, not style.” — Douglas Brunt", "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": "Douglas Brunt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Style matters, but the real force...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writing-is-ideas-not-style/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/style-matters-but-the-real-force-of-writing-is-ideas-not-style/#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 } } ] } ```