--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hardest thing to do is to write…" description: "\"The hardest thing to do is to write straight honest prose on human beings. First you have to know the subject; then you have to know how to write. Both..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/ernest-hemingway-83_cheating_the-hardest-thing-to-do-is-to-write-stra_2733654.jpg" --- # The hardest thing to do is to write straight honest prose… ![“The hardest thing to do is to write straight honest prose on human beings. First you have to know the subject; then you have to know how to write. Both take a lifetime to learn, and anybody is cheating who takes politics as a way out. All the outs are too easy, and the thing itself is too hard to…” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/ernest-hemingway-83_cheating_the-hardest-thing-to-do-is-to-write-stra_2733654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/ernest-hemingway-83_cheating_the-hardest-thing-to-do-is-to-write-stra_2733654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/ernest-hemingway-83_cheating_the-hardest-thing-to-do-is-to-write-stra_2733654.jpg) > “The hardest thing to do is to write straight honest prose on human beings. First you have to know the subject; then you have to know how to write. Both take a lifetime to learn, and anybody is cheating who takes politics as a way out. All the outs are too easy, and the thing itself is too hard to do.” [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 honest prose about humanity requires deep understanding and skill, not shortcuts. **In simple terms:** Honest writing is hard and takes a lifetime to master. Key Takeaway Commit to lifelong study of people and craft. Themes writing honesty craftsmanship Mood thoughtful determined Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - fiction - teaching - self‑improvement Key Concepts literature human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance truth and practicality? - What habits improve your observational skills? A Different Perspective Time constraints and political pressures can compromise integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“The hardest thing in the world to do is to write straight honest prose on human beings. 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