--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The writer who aims at producing the…" description: "\"The writer who aims at producing the platitudes which are \"not for an age, but for all time\" has his reward in being unreadable inall ages… The man who..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/george-bernard-shaw-68_age_the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-pla_1736689.png" --- # The writer who aims at producing the platitudes which are… ![“The writer who aims at producing the platitudes which are "not for an age, but for all time" has his reward in being unreadable inall ages… The man who writes about himself and his own time is the only sort of man who writes about all people and about all time.” quote by George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/george-bernard-shaw-68_age_the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-pla_1736689.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/george-bernard-shaw-68_age_the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-pla_1736689.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/george-bernard-shaw-68_age_the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-pla_1736689.png) > “The writer who aims at producing the platitudes which are "not for an age, but for all time" has his reward in being unreadable inall ages… The man who writes about himself and his own time is the only sort of man who writes about all people and about all time.” [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing timeless truths makes work unreadable; personal, contemporary writing connects to all people across ages. **In simple terms:** Timeless writing is obscure; personal writing is universal. Key Takeaway Write about present experiences to reach future readers. Themes timelessness personal relevance universality Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - journalism - public speaking - teaching Key Concepts literary criticism authorial voice historical context Questions to Reflect On - What makes a work both timeless and readable? - How does personal perspective broaden appeal? A Different Perspective Timeless ideals may alienate readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Ages Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages-man-609780/) [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [All time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-time/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Man Writes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-writes-271993/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Platitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/platitudes/) [Platitudes Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/platitudes-age-1481012/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Aims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-aims-1481011/) [Writes People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writes-people-504736/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The man who writes about himself and his own time is the only man who writes about all people and about all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-man-who-writes-about-himself-and-his-own-time-is-the-only-man-who-2/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“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/) > [While the novel-writer aims at an eminently natural method of transcription, the author of the short story adopts a very artificial one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-seidel-canby/while-the-novel-writer-aims-at-an-eminently-natural-method-of/) [Henry Seidel Canby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-seidel-canby/) > [In America ... the seven ages of man have become preschooler, Pepsi generation, baby boomer, mid-lifer, empty-nester, senior citizen, and organ donor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/in-america-the-seven-ages-of-man-have-become-preschooler-pepsi/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [There are five great ages of man - five moments when you need to reevaluate everything, clear out the cupboard and the wardrobe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/there-are-five-great-ages-of-man-five-moments-when-you-need-to/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [The three ages of man: youth, middle age and 'my word you do look well'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-whitfield/the-three-ages-of-man-youth-middle-age-and-my-word-you-do-look-well/) [June Whitfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-whitfield/) > [You've heard of the three ages of man - youth, age, and you are looking wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ve-heard-of-the-three-ages-of-man-youth-age-and-you-are-looking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You know the three Ages of Man, don’t you?” Hodges asks. Pete shakes his head, grinning. “Youth, middle age, and you look fuckin terrific.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/you-know-the-three-ages-of-man-don-t-you-hodges-asks-pete-shakes-his/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-needham/the-seven-ages-of-man-spills-drills-thrills-bills-ills-pills-and-wills/) [Richard J. Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-needham/) > [It's people stories that make good reading. I don't feel like I'm a sportswriter. I feel like I'm a guy who writes about people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-reilly/it-s-people-stories-that-make-good-reading-i-don-t-feel-like-i-m-a/) [Rick Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-reilly/) > [“When did people begin to wear clothing with writing on it? Was this not significant? I visit a beach resort. There is a fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-todd/when-did-people-begin-to-wear-clothing-with-writing-on-it-was-this/) [Richard Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-todd/) > [A good journalist is not the one that writes what people say, but the one that writes what he is supposed to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todor-zhivkov/a-good-journalist-is-not-the-one-that-writes-what-people-say-but-the/) [Todor Zhivkov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todor-zhivkov/) > [A writer writes what other people only think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-stein/a-writer-writes-what-other-people-only-think/) [Sol Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-stein/) > [A popular writer writes about what people think. A wise writer offers them something to think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-popular-writer-writes-about-what-people-think-a-wise-writer-offers/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A popular author is one who writes what the people think. Genius invites them to think something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-popular-author-is-one-who-writes-what-the-people-think-genius/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More by George Bernard Shaw > [I love little children too but I don't cut off their heads and stick them in vases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-love-little-children-too-but-i-don-t-cut-off-their-heads-and-stick/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Blasphemy and sedition (meaning the truth about Church and State).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/blasphemy-and-sedition-meaning-the-truth-about-church-and-state/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [In the arts of life, man invents nothing; but in the arts of death he outdoes Nature herself, and produces by chemistry and machinery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-the-arts-of-life-man-invents-nothing-but-in-the-arts-of-death-he/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“My religious convictions and scientific views cannot at present be more specifically defined than as those of a believer in creative evolution. I desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/my-religious-convictions-and-scientific-views-cannot-at-present-be/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [What a man believes may be ascertained, not from his creed, but from the assumptions on which he habitually acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/what-a-man-believes-may-be-ascertained-not-from-his-creed-but-from/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [You are my inspiration and my folly. You are my light across the sea, my million nameless joys, and my day's wage. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-are-my-inspiration-and-my-folly-you-are-my-light-across-the-sea/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Men have to do some awfully mean things to keep up their respectability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/men-have-to-do-some-awfully-mean-things-to-keep-up-their/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The schoolmaster is the person who takes the children off the parents' hands for a consideration. That is to say, he establishes a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-schoolmaster-is-the-person-who-takes-the-children-off-the-parents/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [As long as I have a want, I have a reason for living. Satisfaction is death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/as-long-as-i-have-a-want-i-have-a-reason-for-living-satisfaction-is/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The camera can represent flesh so superbly that, if I dared, I would never photograph a figure without asking that figure to take its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-camera-can-represent-flesh-so-superbly-that-if-i-dared-i-would/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [A man who is not a communist at the age of twenty is a fool. Any man who is still communist at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-man-who-is-not-a-communist-at-the-age-of-twenty-is-a-fool-any-man/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [But to admire a strong person and to live under that strong person’s thumb are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/but-to-admire-a-strong-person-and-to-live-under-that-strong-person-s/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/socialism-is-the-same-as-communism-only-better-english/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The person who is ignorant enough to believe that his nourishment depends on meat is in a horrible dilemma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-person-who-is-ignorant-enough-to-believe-that-his-nourishment/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [In the arts of peace Man is a bungler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-the-arts-of-peace-man-is-a-bungler/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) [Explore all 1,640 George Bernard Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The writer who aims at producing the platitudes which are \"not for an age, but for all time\" has his reward in being unreadable inall ages… The man who writes about himself and his own time is the only sort of man who writes about all people and about all time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Bernard Shaw" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-platitudes-which-are-not-for-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-platitudes-which-are-not-for-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/george-bernard-shaw-68_age_the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-pla_1736689.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/george-bernard-shaw-68_age_the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-pla_1736689.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/george-bernard-shaw-68_age_the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-pla_1736689.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The writer who aims at producing the platitudes which are \"not for an age, but for all time\" has his reward…” — George Bernard Shaw", "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": "George Bernard Shaw", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The writer who aims at producing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-platitudes-which-are-not-for-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-writer-who-aims-at-producing-the-platitudes-which-are-not-for-an/#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 } } ] } ```