--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: every short story is an experiment - what…" description: "\"every short story is an experiment - what one must ask is not only, did it come off, but was it, as an experiment, worth making?\" — Elizabeth Bowen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/elizabeth-bowen-1197_asks_every-short-story-is-an-experiment-what_1982956.png" --- # every short story is an experiment - what one must ask is… ![“every short story is an experiment - what one must ask is not only, did it come off, but was it, as an experiment, worth making?” quote by Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/elizabeth-bowen-1197_asks_every-short-story-is-an-experiment-what_1982956.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/elizabeth-bowen-1197_asks_every-short-story-is-an-experiment-what_1982956.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/elizabeth-bowen-1197_asks_every-short-story-is-an-experiment-what_1982956.png) > “every short story is an experiment - what one must ask is not only, did it come off, but was it, as an experiment, worth making?” [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A short story should be treated as an experiment; its success is measured not just by execution but by its artistic value. **In simple terms:** Stories are experiments that must be worthwhile. Key Takeaway Assess both execution and purpose. Themes creativity evaluation literature Mood reflective analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - story analysis - creative writing classes Key Concepts experimental narrative artistic merit authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - Does a technically perfect story always succeed? - How to balance form and purpose? A Different Perspective Focus on execution can neglect deeper meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiment/) [Experiment Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiment-ask-3395333/) [Experiment Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiment-worth-1054440/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-experiment-1244582/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [An experiment not worth doing is not worth doing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/an-experiment-not-worth-doing-is-not-worth-doing-well/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [WARNING If you dare to read this story, you become part of the Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/warning-if-you-dare-to-read-this-story-you-become-part-of-the-2/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“WARNING If you dare to read this story, you become part of the Experiment. I know that sounds a little mysterious – but it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/warning-if-you-dare-to-read-this-story-you-become-part-of-the/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“If you dare to read this story, you become part of the Experiment. I know that sounds a little mysterious – but it’s all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dare-to-read-this-story-you-become-part-of-the-experiment-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you’re not prepared to perform the experiment yourself, at least think about the implications. Imagine that you’ve modified the way in which you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-egan/if-you-re-not-prepared-to-perform-the-experiment-yourself-at-least/) [Greg Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-egan/) > [What will the greatest experiment discover? I have no idea!, maybe nothing!, If we won't check, we will never know. In science there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/what-will-the-greatest-experiment-discover-i-have-no-idea-maybe/) [Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) > [“There is a time and place for electromagnetic shielding and I regard it as a last resort due to the long term biological problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-is-a-time-and-place-for-electromagnetic-shielding-and-i-regard/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I don't really know who I am as an actor: the best thing would be to experiment with it for the next 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-don-t-really-know-who-i-am-as-an-actor-the-best-thing-would-be-to/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [In the Indian film industry, especially those of us who are in mainstream cinema, we invariably play a typical hero's role. More often than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-bachchan/in-the-indian-film-industry-especially-those-of-us-who-are-in/) [Abhishek Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-bachchan/) > [Your presence here is is only a matter of conducting an experiment in limits, reminding yourself of what you aren’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/your-presence-here-is-is-only-a-matter-of-conducting-an-experiment-in/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [Continued experiment with dog today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-gill/continued-experiment-with-dog-today/) [Eric Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-gill/) > [There is no need to argue if an experiment can be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/there-is-no-need-to-argue-if-an-experiment-can-be-made/) [Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/) > [All life is an experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/all-life-is-an-experiment/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [. . . in the full tide of successful experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-the-full-tide-of-successful-experiment/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your responsibility as an artist is to experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/squarepusher/your-responsibility-as-an-artist-is-to-experiment/) [Squarepusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/squarepusher/) ## More by Elizabeth Bowen > [Temperamentally, the writer exists on happenings, on contacts, conflicts, action and reaction, speed, pressure, tension. Were he acontemplative purely, he would not write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/temperamentally-the-writer-exists-on-happenings-on-contacts-conflicts/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [“Are you really an orphan? Yes, I am, said Portia a shade shortly. Are you? No, not at present, but I suppose it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/are-you-really-an-orphan-yes-i-am-said-portia-a-shade-shortly-are-you/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [It is not our exalted feelings, it is our sentiments that build the necessary home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/it-is-not-our-exalted-feelings-it-is-our-sentiments-that-build-the/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [Every love has a poetic relevance of its own; each love brings to light only what to it is relevant. 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It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. 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