Choices Quote by Marguerite Yourcenar
“Writing is a perpetual choice between a thousand expressions, none of which satisfies me, none of which, above all, satisfies me without the others. Yet I ought to know that only music permits a succession of chords.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Memoirs of Hadrian, 1954
Writing demands choosing among many forms; only music offers seamless progression of ideas.
In simple terms: Writing is a series of hard choices.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the difficulty of artistic decisions.
Themes
writing
creativity
choice
Mood
thoughtful
inspired
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- authoring
- composing
- editing
- teaching writing
Key Concepts
artistic expression
music as metaphor
creative tension
Questions to Reflect On
- Which artistic form feels most fluid to you?
- How does music inspire your writing?
A Different Perspective
Perfectionism can stall creation.
