--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing you write, if you hope to be…" description: "\"Nothing you write, if you hope to be good, will ever come out as you first hoped.\" — Lillian Hellman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/lillian-hellman-4752_hope_nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good_107513.jpg" --- # Nothing you write, if you hope to be good, will ever come… ![“Nothing you write, if you hope to be good, will ever come out as you first hoped.” quote by Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/lillian-hellman-4752_hope_nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good_107513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/lillian-hellman-4752_hope_nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good_107513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/lillian-hellman-4752_hope_nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good_107513.jpg) > “Nothing you write, if you hope to be good, will ever come out as you first hoped.” [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work rarely matches the ideal vision at first; the process of revision reshapes it into something different, often better. **In simple terms:** First drafts rarely meet expectations. Key Takeaway Writing evolves through revision. Themes writing creativity revision expectation Mood reflective determined Type creative advice When to use this quote - Drafting a research paper - Composing a song lyric - Designing a product prototype Key Concepts process of artistic development imperfection Practical Applications - Embrace iterative editing - Set realistic expectations for initial output Questions to Reflect On - When does revision become over‑editing? - How can you know when a piece is 'good enough'? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress if revisions become endless. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“I have not come for what you hoped to do, I've come for what you've done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-for-vendetta/i-have-not-come-for-what-you-hoped-to-do-i-ve-come-for-what-you-ve/) V for Vendetta > [“Everybody was hoping for something, talking about our new life to come and all that they hoped from it. Fresh air, whatever that’s supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/everybody-was-hoping-for-something-talking-about-our-new-life-to-come/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [My intent was to gain experience for fiction I eventually hoped to write. But there's no question I was drawn in by the hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rachman/my-intent-was-to-gain-experience-for-fiction-i-eventually-hoped-to/) [Tom Rachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rachman/) > [“I write to express myself, I write to be a voice for those who can not speak I write to inspire change in positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-tareyton/i-write-to-express-myself-i-write-to-be-a-voice-for-those-who-can-not/) [Criss Tareyton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-tareyton/) > [“I can’t and won’t write without hope. I’d rather never write again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-can-t-and-won-t-write-without-hope-i-d-rather-never-write-again/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I took William Zinsser's advice that you write to yourself and you hope that there are people out there who are like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-took-william-zinsser-s-advice-that-you-write-to-yourself-and-you/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I know the world is filled with troubles and many injustices. But reality is as beautiful as it is ugly. I think it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/i-know-the-world-is-filled-with-troubles-and-many-injustices-but/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [“At night you write out of guilt, but in the morning you write out of hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakin/at-night-you-write-out-of-guilt-but-in-the-morning-you-write-out-of/) [Roger Deakin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakin/) > [“I write because I hope.I write because I have faith. Hope.Hope alike a fresh flower grows in the sand of my heart . Faith.Faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katerina-kostaki/i-write-because-i-hope-i-write-because-i-have-faith-hope-hope-alike-a/) [Katerina Kostaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katerina-kostaki/) > [Write me of hope and love, and hearts that endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/write-me-of-hope-and-love-and-hearts-that-endured/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I am dissatisfied with everything I have ever written and regard it all only as a preparation for that one work which probably I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/i-am-dissatisfied-with-everything-i-have-ever-written-and-regard-it/) [Ruth Prawer Jhabvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-prawer-jhabvala/) > [You must write for yourself, above all. That is your only hope of creating something beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/you-must-write-for-yourself-above-all-that-is-your-only-hope-of/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“ I do write. I hope I do, to do and to always do. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-an-elo/i-do-write-i-hope-i-do-to-do-and-to-always-do/) [Bela Anĝelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-an-elo/) > [I do want to write again. I hope to. But it's also important for me to realize, as I get older, that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/i-do-want-to-write-again-i-hope-to-but-it-s-also-important-for-me-to/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [“And so instead, when you write, I hope you fall in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-ys-perez/and-so-instead-when-you-write-i-hope-you-fall-in-love/) [R. YS Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-ys-perez/) ## More by Lillian Hellman > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Failure in the theater is more dramatic and uglier than any other form of writing. It costs so much, you feel so guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-dramatic-and-uglier-than-any-other/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [A man should be jailed for telling lies to the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/a-man-should-be-jailed-for-telling-lies-to-the-young/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I don't think many writers like their best-known piece of work, particularly when it was written a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/i-don-t-think-many-writers-like-their-best-known-piece-of-work/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I live in a room and I go to work and I play a game called getting through the day while you wait for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/i-live-in-a-room-and-i-go-to-work-and-i-play-a-game-called-getting/) [LILLIAN HELLMAN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [There are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it like in the Bible with the locusts. And other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/there-are-people-who-eat-the-earth-and-eat-all-the-people-on-it-like/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Decision by democratic majority vote is a fine form of government, but it's a stinking way to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/decision-by-democratic-majority-vote-is-a-fine-form-of-government-but/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Haven't you lived in the South long enough to know that nothing is ever anybody's fault?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/haven-t-you-lived-in-the-south-long-enough-to-know-that-nothing-is/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [We will not think noble because we are not noble. We will not live in beautiful harmony because there is no such thing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/we-will-not-think-noble-because-we-are-not-noble-we-will-not-live-in/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [It was an unspoken pleasure, that having come together so many years, ruined so much and repaired a little, we had endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/it-was-an-unspoken-pleasure-that-having-come-together-so-many-years/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Intellectuals can tell themselves anything, sell themselves any bill of goods, which is why they were so often patsies for the ruling classes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/intellectuals-can-tell-themselves-anything-sell-themselves-any-bill/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Courtesy is breeding. Breeding is an excellent thing. Always remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/courtesy-is-breeding-breeding-is-an-excellent-thing-always-remember/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [You lose your manners when you're poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/you-lose-your-manners-when-you-re-poor/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Fashions in sin change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/fashions-in-sin-change/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Rebels seldom make good revolutionaries, because organized action, even union with other people, is not possible for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/rebels-seldom-make-good-revolutionaries-because-organized-action-even/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) [Explore all 106 Lillian Hellman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) ## More Hope quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stop trying to give me hope ... I have no room left for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-f/stop-trying-to-give-me-hope-i-have-no-room-left-for-it/) [Jenn F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-f/) > [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/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I am at a point in my life where everything I have worked for starts to look like a burden, a weight on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-abou-samra/i-am-at-a-point-in-my-life-where-everything-i-have-worked-for-starts/) Simone Abou Samra > [Im really happy that I met you I hope you know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/im-really-happy-that-i-met-you-i-hope-you-know-that/) Im Nothing > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 24,868 Hope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing you write, if you hope to be good, will ever come out as you first hoped.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lillian Hellman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good-will-ever-come-out-as-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hope" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good-will-ever-come-out-as-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/lillian-hellman-4752_hope_nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good_107513.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/lillian-hellman-4752_hope_nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good_107513.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/lillian-hellman-4752_hope_nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good_107513.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing you write, if you hope to be good, will ever come out as you first hoped.” — Lillian Hellman", "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": "Lillian Hellman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing you write, if you hope...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good-will-ever-come-out-as-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/nothing-you-write-if-you-hope-to-be-good-will-ever-come-out-as-you/#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 } } ] } ```