--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a lot harder to write a good book…" description: "\"It is a lot harder to write a good book or a good column in a persuasive way without making fun of someone or ridiculing them.\" — Kirsten Powers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/kirsten-powers-9672_book_it-is-a-lot-harder-to-write-a-good-book_1659108.png" --- # It is a lot harder to write a good book or a good column… ![“It is a lot harder to write a good book or a good column in a persuasive way without making fun of someone or ridiculing them.” quote by Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/kirsten-powers-9672_book_it-is-a-lot-harder-to-write-a-good-book_1659108.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/kirsten-powers-9672_book_it-is-a-lot-harder-to-write-a-good-book_1659108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/039/kirsten-powers-9672_book_it-is-a-lot-harder-to-write-a-good-book_1659108.png) > “It is a lot harder to write a good book or a good column in a persuasive way without making fun of someone or ridiculing them.” [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing persuasively without mockery is difficult because humor often eases resistance, but it can undermine credibility and alienate audiences. **In simple terms:** Hard to be persuasive without ridicule. Key Takeaway Avoid mockery; use respectful arguments. Themes ethics communication humor persuasion Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice reflective When to use this quote - journalism - opinion pieces - public speaking - debate Key Concepts rhetoric empathy integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can you convey strong points without sarcasm? - When does humor enhance persuasion? A Different Perspective Humor can be a useful tool, but overreliance may backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Column Persuasive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/column-persuasive-738642/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-book/) [Harder Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-write-317060/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Making fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-fun/) [Persuasive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuasive/) [Persuasive Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuasive-way-738643/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Write Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-good/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [People will buy snake oil from anybody who seems to be selling it in a persuasive way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-will-buy-snake-oil-from-anybody-who-seems-to-be-selling-it-in/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Find the simple story in the product, and present it in an articulate and intelligent, persuasive way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/find-the-simple-story-in-the-product-and-present-it-in-an-articulate/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [“using other people’s standards is a highly persuasive way to achieve your goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-diamond/using-other-people-s-standards-is-a-highly-persuasive-way-to-achieve/) [Stuart Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-diamond/) > [“To me, lyrics are harder to write when you have to invent the feelings behind them. 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But in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-pierce/in-an-odd-way-i-thought-i-was-lowering-the-bar-for-myself-in-saying/) [Jason Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-pierce/) > [A lot of people who don't write for kids think it's easy, because they think kids aren't as smart as they are, or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/a-lot-of-people-who-don-t-write-for-kids-think-it-s-easy-because-they/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More by Kirsten Powers > [Illiberal feminists turn simple ideological disagreements, whether about the federal budget or the Second Amendment or anything else, into excuses to engage in character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/illiberal-feminists-turn-simple-ideological-disagreements-whether/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or-his-supporters-are-speaking/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Protesters can't violate First Amendment rights. 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But electoral politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/it-s-true-that-americans-are-less-than-thrilled-with-president-obama/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women likely are rejecting Trump because they know the presidential race isn't just about taxes or ISIL or immigration. It's about their place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-likely-are-rejecting-trump-because-they-know-the-presidential/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Bernie is a problem Hillary can't figure out how to solve, perhaps because he's not the problem. She is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/bernie-is-a-problem-hillary-can-t-figure-out-how-to-solve-perhaps/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Perhaps all of our anxiety is not caused by broken brains but by working nonstop, missing out on time with our friends and families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/perhaps-all-of-our-anxiety-is-not-caused-by-broken-brains-but-by/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I've been harassed or on the receiving end of sexist and inappropriate behavior almost every place I've ever worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-ve-been-harassed-or-on-the-receiving-end-of-sexist-and/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Trump may not like the fact that 20-plus anonymous sources provided the 'Times' with an unflattering portrait of his campaign, but that doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-may-not-like-the-fact-that-20-plus-anonymous-sources-provided/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Donald Trump has a curious understanding of what freedom of speech means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/donald-trump-has-a-curious-understanding-of-what-freedom-of-speech/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I know I deal with it, I'm sure a lot of other people deal with it: you have that little funny dig you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-know-i-deal-with-it-i-m-sure-a-lot-of-other-people-deal-with-it-you/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [People are really nice at Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/people-are-really-nice-at-fox/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) [Explore all 71 Kirsten Powers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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