---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't get discouraged because there's a…"
description: "\"Don't get discouraged because there's a lot of mechanical work to writing. I rewrote the first part of Farewell to Arms at least fifty times.\" — Ernest..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/ernest-hemingway-83_arms_don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a_3040442.jpg"
---

#  Don't get discouraged because there's a lot of mechanical…

![“Don't get discouraged because there's a lot of mechanical work to writing. I rewrote the first part of Farewell to Arms at least fifty times.” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/ernest-hemingway-83_arms_don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a_3040442.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/ernest-hemingway-83_arms_don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a_3040442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/ernest-hemingway-83_arms_don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a_3040442.jpg)

> “Don't get discouraged because there's a lot of mechanical work to writing. I rewrote the first part of Farewell to Arms at least fifty times.”

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

## About This Quote

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

Writing requires relentless revision; perseverance is essential.

**In simple terms:** Writing is hard work.

Key Takeaway

Embrace revision.

Themes

writing perseverance craft

Mood

determined inspired

Type

creative motivational

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- academic papers
- blogging

Key Concepts

creative process literature

Questions to Reflect On

- How many drafts are enough?
- What fuels continued effort?

A Different Perspective

Perfectionism can stall progress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) [Farewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farewell/) [Farewell to arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farewell-to-arms/) [Fifty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fifty/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Rewrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewrote-1310515/) [Rewrote Farewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewrote-farewell-5008926/) [Work Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-writing-898895/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Rewrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-rewrote-5008925/)

## Related quotes

> [I rewrote the ending of 'Farewell to Arms' 39 times before I was satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-rewrote-the-ending-of-farewell-to-arms-39-times-before-i-was/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [I rewrote the ending to 'Farewell to Arms,' the last page of it, thirty-nine times before I was satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-rewrote-the-ending-to-farewell-to-arms-the-last-page-of-it-thirty/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“When asked about rewriting, Ernest Hemingway said that he rewrote the ending to A Farewell to Arms thirty-nine times before he was satisfied. Vladimir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-m-tiberghien/when-asked-about-rewriting-ernest-hemingway-said-that-he-rewrote-the/)

[Susan M. Tiberghien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-m-tiberghien/)

> [Abstract words such as glory, honor, courage, or hallow were obscene beside the concrete names of villages, the numbers of roads, the names of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/abstract-words-such-as-glory-honor-courage-or-hallow-were-obscene/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [The things of the night cannot be explained in the day, because they do not then exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-things-of-the-night-cannot-be-explained-in-the-day-because-they/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [The brave dies perhaps two thousand deaths if he's intelligent. He simply doesn't mention them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-brave-dies-perhaps-two-thousand-deaths-if-he-s-intelligent-he/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [I had seen nothing sacred, and the things that were glorious had no glory and the sacrifices were like the stockyards at Chicago if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-had-seen-nothing-sacred-and-the-things-that-were-glorious-had-no/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [There were many words that you could not stand to hear and finally only the names of places had dignity. Abstract words such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-were-many-words-that-you-could-not-stand-to-hear-and-finally/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [All stories, if continued far enough, end in death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/all-stories-if-continued-far-enough-end-in-death/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [When I was 17, I rewrote the songs for a musicalized version of 'Love's Labour's Lost.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/when-i-was-17-i-rewrote-the-songs-for-a-musicalized-version-of-love-s/)

[Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/)

> ['One With You' was the hardest book I have ever written. I rewrote it three times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/one-with-you-was-the-hardest-book-i-have-ever-written-i-rewrote-it/)

[Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/)

> [I quarreled with every word, every phrase and expression, every image and letter as if they were the last I was ever going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/i-quarreled-with-every-word-every-phrase-and-expression-every-image/)

[Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/)

> [To be honest, I rewrote 'Wicked Nights' a number of times. I just wasn't happy with the end result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/to-be-honest-i-rewrote-wicked-nights-a-number-of-times-i-just-wasn-t/)

[Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/)

> [I want to go home. Then he mentally underlined the last sentence three times, rewrote it in huge letters in red ink, and circled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-want-to-go-home-then-he-mentally-underlined-the-last-sentence-three/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [I rewrote it and I took all your notes. Read it again, that kind of persistence paid off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-rewrote-it-and-i-took-all-your-notes-read-it-again-that-kind-of/)

[David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/)

## More by Ernest Hemingway

> [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“There was no wind, and, outside now of the warm air of the cave, heavy with smoke of both tobacco and charcoal, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-was-no-wind-and-outside-now-of-the-warm-air-of-the-cave-heavy/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-was-not-brilliant-bull-fighting-it-was-only-perfect-bull-fighting/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“Viva my husband who was Mayor of this town”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/viva-my-husband-who-was-mayor-of-this-town/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“The earth gets tired of being exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-earth-gets-tired-of-being-exploited/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“We drove out along the coast road. There was the green of the headlands, the white, red-roofed villas, patches of forest, and the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-drove-out-along-the-coast-road-there-was-the-green-of-the/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [Oh, darling, I've been so miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/oh-darling-i-ve-been-so-miserable/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [I read my own books sometimes to cheer me when it is hard to write, and then I remember that it was always difficult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-read-my-own-books-sometimes-to-cheer-me-when-it-is-hard-to-write/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“You find everything on earth at Harry's." "Yes, my Colonel. Except, possibly, happiness." "I'll damn well find happiness, too," the Colonel assured him. "Happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-find-everything-on-earth-at-harry-s-yes-my-colonel-except/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“No. It's bad for me. Cole Porter wrote the words and the music. This knowledge that you're going mad for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/no-it-s-bad-for-me-cole-porter-wrote-the-words-and-the-music-this/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

[Explore all 1,464 Ernest Hemingway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

## More Arms quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

[Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

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

> [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/)

[Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/)

[Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/)

[Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

[Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Don't get discouraged because there's a lot of mechanical work to writing. I rewrote the first part of Farewell to Arms at least fifty times.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ernest Hemingway"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a-lot-of-mechanical-work-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a-lot-of-mechanical-work-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/ernest-hemingway-83_arms_don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a_3040442.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/ernest-hemingway-83_arms_don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a_3040442.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/ernest-hemingway-83_arms_don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a_3040442.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Don't get discouraged because there's a lot of mechanical work to writing. I rewrote the first part of…” — Ernest Hemingway",
                "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": "Ernest Hemingway",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Don't get discouraged because there's a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a-lot-of-mechanical-work-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/don-t-get-discouraged-because-there-s-a-lot-of-mechanical-work-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
