--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things may not be immediately discernible…" description: "\"Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, and in this sometimes he is fortunate; but eventually they are quite clear and by these..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/ernest-hemingway-83_alchemy_things-may-not-be-immediately-discernibl_784814.jpg" --- # Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man… ![“Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, and in this sometimes he is fortunate; but eventually they are quite clear and by these and the degree of alchemy that he possesses he will endure or be forgotten.” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/ernest-hemingway-83_alchemy_things-may-not-be-immediately-discernibl_784814.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/ernest-hemingway-83_alchemy_things-may-not-be-immediately-discernibl_784814.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/ernest-hemingway-83_alchemy_things-may-not-be-immediately-discernibl_784814.jpg) > “Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, and in this sometimes he is fortunate; but eventually they are quite clear and by these and the degree of alchemy that he possesses he will endure or be forgotten.” [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’s true character emerges over time; initial ambiguity gives way to clarity, determining lasting fame or obscurity. **In simple terms:** A writer’s true self shows with time, affecting legacy. Key Takeaway Observe how consistent work reveals character. Themes literature legacy authenticity Mood contemplative inquisitive Type literary reflective When to use this quote - publishing - creative writing workshops - literary criticism Key Concepts character development time recognition alchemy of writing Questions to Reflect On - What hidden qualities become evident in a creator’s work? - How does time test artistic authenticity? A Different Perspective Initial impressions can be misleading; lasting impact requires depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alchemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy/) [Alchemy Possesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy-possesses-6039970/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Discernible Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discernible-man-6039968/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Fortunate Eventually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate-eventually-6039969/) [Man Writes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-writes-271993/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writes Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writes-fortunate-6039971/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“How good a book is should be judged by the man who writes it by the excellence of the material that he eliminates.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/how-good-a-book-is-should-be-judged-by-the-man-who-writes-it-by-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“A man who writes a book, thinks himself wiser or wittier than the rest of mankind; he supposes that he can instruct or amuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-man-who-writes-a-book-thinks-himself-wiser-or-wittier-than-the-rest/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more a man writes, the more he can write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-more-a-man-writes-the-more-he-can-write/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“The man who writes about himself and his own time is the only man who writes about all people and all time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-man-who-writes-about-himself-and-his-own-time-is-the-only-man-who/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [To exact of every man who writes that he should say something new, would be to reduce authors to a small number; to oblige…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-exact-of-every-man-who-writes-that-he-should-say-something-new/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“What they, in their innocence, cannot comprehend is that a properly constituted, healthy, decent man never writes, acts, or composes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/what-they-in-their-innocence-cannot-comprehend-is-that-a-properly/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [A man writes to throw off the poison which he has accumulated because of his false way of life. He is trying to recapture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/a-man-writes-to-throw-off-the-poison-which-he-has-accumulated-because/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“Never trust a man who writes more than he reads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/never-trust-a-man-who-writes-more-than-he-reads/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A man who writes for a living does not have to go anywhere in particular, and he could rarely afford to if he wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-forester/a-man-who-writes-for-a-living-does-not-have-to-go-anywhere-in/) [C. S. Forester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-forester/) > [It is safer to quote what is written than what is spoken. What a man writes it is fair to presume he believes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/it-is-safer-to-quote-what-is-written-than-what-is-spoken-what-a-man/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Nothing a man writes can please him as profoundly as something he does with his back, shoulders and hands. For writing is an artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/nothing-a-man-writes-can-please-him-as-profoundly-as-something-he/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) > [It is not difficult to conceive, however, that for many reasons a man writes much better than he lives. For without entering into refined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-not-difficult-to-conceive-however-that-for-many-reasons-a-man/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [ “He \[Augustine\] admitted: 'I am the sort of man who writes because he has made progress, and who makes progress by writing.' ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/he-augustine-admitted-i-am-the-sort-of-man-who-writes-because-he-has/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [Everything a man writes about himself is instructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glassco/everything-a-man-writes-about-himself-is-instructive/) [John Glassco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glassco/) > [If a man writes a brilliant enough play in praise of something that is universally loathed, the play, if it is good and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/if-a-man-writes-a-brilliant-enough-play-in-praise-of-something-that/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## 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 Alchemy quotes > [“I went because I was interested in the alchemy of issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-went-because-i-was-interested-in-the-alchemy-of-issues/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“...the world is only the visible aspect of God. And that what alchemy does is to bring spiritual perfection into contact with the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-is-only-the-visible-aspect-of-god-and-that-what-alchemy/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Art is Alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-nicolai/art-is-alchemy/) [ELLE NICOLAI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-nicolai/) > [“You must learn to bend to open windows, my friend. That is why artists and dancers are closest to God. They clench their chests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-must-learn-to-bend-to-open-windows-my-friend-that-is-why-artists/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Every human being has gone through a tragedy of sorts. And the idea is that you have two paths you can take, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/every-human-being-has-gone-through-a-tragedy-of-sorts-and-the-idea-is/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [“Introspection does not need to be a still life. It can be an active alchemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/introspection-does-not-need-to-be-a-still-life-it-can-be-an-active/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [ Everybody can close their eyes, picture a dream house or a perfect place \[where\] they'd like to have a picnic. But actually creating it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everybody-can-close-their-eyes-picture-a-dream-house-or-a-perfect/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [“She pushed the book towards them, and Harry and Ron read: The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/she-pushed-the-book-towards-them-and-harry-and-ron-read-the-ancient/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [For I am every dead thing In whom love wrought new alchemy For his art did express A quintessence even from nothingness, From dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/for-i-am-every-dead-thing-in-whom-love-wrought-new-alchemy-for-his/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Arya Maloney updates the basis and practice of transpersonal psychology by using the spiritual principles of India's masters and the transformational alchemy inherent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-mindell/arya-maloney-updates-the-basis-and-practice-of-transpersonal/) [Arnold Mindell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-mindell/) > [“To follow our bliss and dive deeply into the mysteries of fragrance, color, and taste; blend with the magnificent diversity of mother nature; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prana-gogia/to-follow-our-bliss-and-dive-deeply-into-the-mysteries-of-fragrance/) [Prana Gogia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prana-gogia/) > [ I want to explain the new alchemy \[in the "From Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to a New Vision of Mind and Time"\], which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/i-want-to-explain-the-new-alchemy-in-the-from-earth-air-fire-and/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) > [We swung over the hills and over the town and back again, and I saw how a man can be master of a craft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/we-swung-over-the-hills-and-over-the-town-and-back-again-and-i-saw/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We find that alchemy has to do with magicians or magic and may even have roots in the Chaldean people who lived in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/we-find-that-alchemy-has-to-do-with-magicians-or-magic-and-may-even/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) [Browse all 349 Alchemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alchemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, and in this sometimes he is fortunate; but eventually they are quite clear and by these and the degree of alchemy that he possesses he will endure or be forgotten.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest Hemingway" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/things-may-not-be-immediately-discernible-in-what-a-man-writes-and-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alchemy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/things-may-not-be-immediately-discernible-in-what-a-man-writes-and-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/ernest-hemingway-83_alchemy_things-may-not-be-immediately-discernibl_784814.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/ernest-hemingway-83_alchemy_things-may-not-be-immediately-discernibl_784814.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/ernest-hemingway-83_alchemy_things-may-not-be-immediately-discernibl_784814.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, and in this sometimes he is fortunate; but…” — 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": "Things may not be immediately discernible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/things-may-not-be-immediately-discernible-in-what-a-man-writes-and-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/things-may-not-be-immediately-discernible-in-what-a-man-writes-and-in/#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 } } ] } ```