Computers Quote by Laura Z. Hobson
““He who could write so easily, who could spend a thousand words down along his plunging fingers on the green-rubber keyboard of his machine, had stumbled like a first-grader over this single paragraph. A dozen times he had begun it and written into it a naked desperation; a dozen times he had begun it and written into it the frosted mathematics of logic. Finally he'd written out quickly the sentences that kept cropping up in all the versions. Those must be, to whatever censor there was in him, the most acceptable ones. He sealed it without rereading it and went out to mail it. An hour later he despised himself for having sent it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Townsmen, 1975
The writer struggles with self‑censorship, repeatedly revising a paragraph until it feels acceptable, then sends it despite lingering doubt.
In simple terms: Self‑doubt leads to endless revisions before submission.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfection and trust your work.
Themes
self‑doubt
creative process
perfectionism
Mood
anxious
determined
reflective
Type
advice
literary
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- email drafts
- creative projects
- first‑draft submissions
Key Concepts
censorship
writer’s block
confidence
Questions to Reflect On
- What would happen if you sent work without over‑editing?
- How does fear of judgment shape your writing?
A Different Perspective
Perfectionism can stall progress and erode confidence.
