Being true Quote by John Dos Passos
![“[Hemingway] always used to bawl me out for including so much topical stuff. He always claimed that was a great mistake, that in fifty years nobody would understand. He may have been right; it's getting to be true.” quote by John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a9/john-dos-passos-3598_being-true_hemingway-always-used-to-bawl-me-out-for_2555058.jpg)
“[Hemingway] always used to bawl me out for including so much topical stuff. He always claimed that was a great mistake, that in fifty years nobody would understand. He may have been right; it's getting to be true.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Literary Talk, 1975
A writer warns that contemporary references may become obscure, suggesting timeless themes endure better.
In simple terms: Trendy references can age quickly.
Key Takeaway
Focus on universal ideas.
Themes
writing
timelessness
culture
relevance
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- editing
- teaching literature
- publishing
Key Concepts
literary criticism
historical perspective
legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- Will your work still speak in fifty years?
- How to balance modernity and timelessness?
A Different Perspective
Balancing relevance with longevity is challenging.
![“He [Hemingway] used a stand-up work place he had fashioned out of the top of of a bookcase near his bed. His portable typewriter was snugged in there and papers were spread along the top of the bookcase on either side of it. He used a reading board for longhand writing.” quote by A. E. Hotchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e00/a-e-hotchner-43437_bed_he-hemingway-used-a-stand-up-work-place_2685045.jpg)
