--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Luckily, I remembered something Malcolm…" description: "\"Luckily, I remembered something Malcolm Cowley had taught us at Stanford - perhaps the most important lesson a writing class (not a writer, understand,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/ken-kesey-1034_be-kind_luckily-i-remembered-something-malcolm-c_1858498.jpg" --- # Luckily, I remembered something Malcolm Cowley had taught… ![“Luckily, I remembered something Malcolm Cowley had taught us at Stanford - perhaps the most important lesson a writing class (not a writer, understand, but a class) can ever learn. 'Be gentle with one another's efforts,' he often admonished us. 'Be kind and considerate with your criticism. Always…” quote by Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/ken-kesey-1034_be-kind_luckily-i-remembered-something-malcolm-c_1858498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/ken-kesey-1034_be-kind_luckily-i-remembered-something-malcolm-c_1858498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/ken-kesey-1034_be-kind_luckily-i-remembered-something-malcolm-c_1858498.jpg) > “Luckily, I remembered something Malcolm Cowley had taught us at Stanford - perhaps the most important lesson a writing class (not a writer, understand, but a class) can ever learn. 'Be gentle with one another's efforts,' he often admonished us. 'Be kind and considerate with your criticism. Always remember that it's just as hard to write a bad book as it is to write a good book.'” [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shares a lesson on gentle criticism, emphasizing kindness and empathy in evaluating others' work. **In simple terms:** Be kind and considerate with criticism. Key Takeaway Practice compassionate feedback. Themes writing empathy criticism Mood thoughtful encouraging Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - workshop critiques - peer reviews - editing sessions Key Concepts constructive feedback creative process collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance honesty with kindness? - What impact does gentle feedback have on creativity? A Different Perspective Kindness may dilute honest critique needed for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Good book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-book/) [Important lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-lessons/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I never took a writing class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-never-took-a-writing-class/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [The next thing I wrote was in a writing class at night school. It was about a poor woman who worked at a dime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/the-next-thing-i-wrote-was-in-a-writing-class-at-night-school-it-was/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) > [My first sketch-writing class was with Kevin Allison from 'The State.' It was so cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-helbig/my-first-sketch-writing-class-was-with-kevin-allison-from-the-state/) [Grace Helbig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-helbig/) > [The first time I took a fiction writing class was sophomore year. And I just found myself taking that extremely seriously, in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brandon/the-first-time-i-took-a-fiction-writing-class-was-sophomore-year-and/) [John Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brandon/) > [I really like my writing class. It's like Freedom Writers but less chocolate people and more social awkwardness. Same amount of teen moms though...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-like-my-writing-class-it-s-like-freedom-writers-but-less/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In history class, I wrote a poem, 'The Royalists and the Roundheads.' I would write poems about driftwood in art class and little stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/in-history-class-i-wrote-a-poem-the-royalists-and-the-roundheads-i/) [Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/) > [I took a writing class in college, liked it, and my first year out of school I couldn't get a job, so I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-took-a-writing-class-in-college-liked-it-and-my-first-year-out-of/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I've taken every writing class I've had available. I took classes in high school, and I took English and writing classes in community college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-ve-taken-every-writing-class-i-ve-had-available-i-took-classes-in/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [We really had the whole piece laid out in like a Word file, just from beginning to end. It was kind of more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crowder/we-really-had-the-whole-piece-laid-out-in-like-a-word-file-just-from/) [Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crowder/) > [In my writing class, we never, ever talk about the writing - ever. We never address a story that's been read. I also won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/in-my-writing-class-we-never-ever-talk-about-the-writing-ever-we/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“the teacher should model by writing—and think out loud while writing—in front of the class.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-gallagher/the-teacher-should-model-by-writing-and-think-out-loud-while-writing/) [Kelly Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-gallagher/) > [I never went to school for writing, never took a writing class, but when you're in a room with David Simon and Ed Burns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-never-went-to-school-for-writing-never-took-a-writing-class-but/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [A creative writing class may be one of the last places you can go where your life still matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/a-creative-writing-class-may-be-one-of-the-last-places-you-can-go/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [I started a writing class, not in service of writing a script or writing anything specific. I've just really been enjoying that, and oddly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemarie-dewitt/i-started-a-writing-class-not-in-service-of-writing-a-script-or/) [Rosemarie DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemarie-dewitt/) > [I'm a poor artist. Through brute force, I brought myself up to mediocre. I've never taken a writing class, but I can write okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/i-m-a-poor-artist-through-brute-force-i-brought-myself-up-to-mediocre/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## More by Ken Kesey > [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The Grateful Dead are faster than light drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-grateful-dead-are-faster-than-light-drive/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“Okay, stand outa the way. Sometimes when I go to exertin' myself I use up all the air nearby and grown men faint from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/okay-stand-outa-the-way-sometimes-when-i-go-to-exertin-myself-i-use/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The frontiers we broke into in the '60s are still largely unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-frontiers-we-broke-into-in-the-60s-are-still-largely-unexplored/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [There's something about taking a plow and breaking new ground. It gives you energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/there-s-something-about-taking-a-plow-and-breaking-new-ground-it/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [The best of all possible cages.' Ben stepped back to regard the job with a sad smile. 'What more can one ask?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/the-best-of-all-possible-cages-ben-stepped-back-to-regard-the-job/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [Your trouble is, you keep trying to unscrew the unscrutable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/your-trouble-is-you-keep-trying-to-unscrew-the-unscrutable/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [That ain't me, that ain't my face. It wasn't even me when I was trying to be that face. I wasn't even really me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/that-ain-t-me-that-ain-t-my-face-it-wasn-t-even-me-when-i-was-trying/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [But if the strength ain't real, I recall thinking the very last thing that day, before I finally passed out, then the weakness sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/but-if-the-strength-ain-t-real-i-recall-thinking-the-very-last-thing/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“They think they know the book by its cover, but the book knows what it is. Now he knew better; if the book never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/they-think-they-know-the-book-by-its-cover-but-the-book-knows-what-it/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [More was revealed in a human face than a human being can bear face to face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/more-was-revealed-in-a-human-face-than-a-human-being-can-bear-face-to/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [If this glorious birth to death hassle is the only hassle we are ever to have ..if our grand exhilarating fight of life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/if-this-glorious-birth-to-death-hassle-is-the-only-hassle-we-are-ever/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“It's gonna burn me just that way, finally telling about all this, about the hospital, and her, and the guys- and about McMurphy. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/it-s-gonna-burn-me-just-that-way-finally-telling-about-all-this-about/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [When Shakespeare was writing, he wasn't writing for stuff to lie on the page; it was supposed to get up and move around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/when-shakespeare-was-writing-he-wasn-t-writing-for-stuff-to-lie-on/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“And then some guy wandering as lost as you would all of a sudden be right before your eyes, his face bigger and clearer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/and-then-some-guy-wandering-as-lost-as-you-would-all-of-a-sudden-be/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) [Explore all 295 Ken Kesey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) ## More Be kind quotes > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [Volunteer. Find ways to be useful. Be kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/volunteer-find-ways-to-be-useful-be-kind/) [Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/) > [Remember to be kind. Remember to be loving. Remember to feel all your feelings and to take care of yourself. But most of all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/remember-to-be-kind-remember-to-be-loving-remember-to-feel-all-your/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let me be patient, let me be kind, make me unselfish, without being blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/let-me-be-patient-let-me-be-kind-make-me-unselfish-without-being-blind/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [But I believed in starting over. There was finally, I knew, only rupture and hurt and falling short between all persons, but, Shirley, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/but-i-believed-in-starting-over-there-was-finally-i-knew-only-rupture/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I thought being in the wheelchair might be kind of limiting for me as an actor. It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [When you have the choice between being right and being kind just choose kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/when-you-have-the-choice-between-being-right-and-being-kind-just/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [What one thing does the world need most today-apart, that is, from the all-inclusive thing we call righteousness? Aren't you inclined to agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/what-one-thing-does-the-world-need-most-today-apart-that-is-from-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [At least with pets, and for all I know, people too, intelligence and quick-wittedness have nothing to do with a talent for being loved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baxter/at-least-with-pets-and-for-all-i-know-people-too-intelligence-and/) [Charles Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baxter/) > [“A part of a healthy conscience is being able to confront consciencelessness. When you teach your daughter, explicitly or by passive rejection, that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/a-part-of-a-healthy-conscience-is-being-able-to-confront/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) > [Don't let fear or insecurity stop you from trying new things. Believe in yourself. Do what you love. And most importantly, be kind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/don-t-let-fear-or-insecurity-stop-you-from-trying-new-things-believe/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [Technology has just been the major progression of the last 15 years - instant communication. That stuff has gone so global. That's what's interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/technology-has-just-been-the-major-progression-of-the-last-15-years/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) Browse all 873 Be kind quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Luckily, I remembered something Malcolm Cowley had taught us at Stanford - perhaps the most important lesson a writing class (not a writer, understand, but a class) can ever learn. 'Be gentle with one another's efforts,' he often admonished us. 'Be kind and considerate with your criticism. 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