--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a writer of prose knows enough about…" description: "\"“If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/ernest-hemingway-83_books_if-a-writer-of-prose-knows-enough-about_1638845.jpg" --- # If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing… ![“If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only…” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/ernest-hemingway-83_books_if-a-writer-of-prose-knows-enough-about_1638845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/ernest-hemingway-83_books_if-a-writer-of-prose-knows-enough-about_1638845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44d/ernest-hemingway-83_books_if-a-writer-of-prose-knows-enough-about_1638845.jpg) > ““If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water”” [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. A writer can convey unseen details by trusting the reader’s imagination, much like an iceberg’s hidden mass. **In simple terms:** Writers can imply more than they state. Key Takeaway Trust the reader’s mind to fill gaps. Themes writing imagination subtlety Mood thoughtful creative Type literary educational When to use this quote - novel writing - teaching writing - editing - literary analysis Key Concepts Narrative technique show don’t tell implicit meaning Questions to Reflect On - How can you use implication to deepen a story? - What details can you leave unsaid for impact? A Different Perspective Readers may miss nuances if not attentive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/if-a-writer-of-prose-knows-enough-about-what-he-is-writing-about-he/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature. 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