--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are a professional writer - i.e…" description: "\"If you are a professional writer - i.e., if someone else is getting paid to worry about how your words are formatted and printed - Emacs outshines all ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/neal-stephenson-362_bigger_if-you-are-a-professional-writer-i-e-if_2437948.png" --- # If you are a professional writer - i.e., if someone else… ![“If you are a professional writer - i.e., if someone else is getting paid to worry about how your words are formatted and printed - Emacs outshines all other editing software in approximately the same way that the noonday sun does the stars. It is not just bigger and brighter; it simply makes…” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/neal-stephenson-362_bigger_if-you-are-a-professional-writer-i-e-if_2437948.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/neal-stephenson-362_bigger_if-you-are-a-professional-writer-i-e-if_2437948.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/neal-stephenson-362_bigger_if-you-are-a-professional-writer-i-e-if_2437948.png) > “If you are a professional writer - i.e., if someone else is getting paid to worry about how your words are formatted and printed - Emacs outshines all other editing software in approximately the same way that the noonday sun does the stars. It is not just bigger and brighter; it simply makes everything else vanish.” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emacs is portrayed as overwhelmingly superior, eclipsing all other editors much like the sun outshines stars. **In simple terms:** Emacs outshines other editors dramatically. Key Takeaway Choose Emacs for unmatched power. Themes productivity technology software comparison Mood enthusiastic confident Type technical comparative When to use this quote - programming - academic writing - technical documentation - creative writing - system administration Key Concepts text editing software superiority user experience Questions to Reflect On - Do you need the most powerful editor or a simpler tool? - How does tool choice affect your workflow? A Different Perspective May be intimidating for beginners; learning curve is steep. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) [Brighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brighter/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) [Editing software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing-software-53083/) [Emacs Outshines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emacs-outshines-364090/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Outshines Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outshines-editing-364092/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Printed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/printed/) [Printed Emacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/printed-emacs-364091/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My wife convinced me to try doing the restorations digitally. I thought I could learn the photo editing software over the Thanksgiving weekend. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-lambert/my-wife-convinced-me-to-try-doing-the-restorations-digitally-i/) [Donald Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-lambert/) > [If you're into writing and making people laugh, or just want to video blog something, you should get a simple digital video camera. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-cruikshank/if-you-re-into-writing-and-making-people-laugh-or-just-want-to-video/) [Lucas Cruikshank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-cruikshank/) > [What would the world be like if you had to develop a power yourself before you could use it? Just as a silly example:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-wright/what-would-the-world-be-like-if-you-had-to-develop-a-power-yourself/) [John C. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-wright/) > [Individuals, too, who cultivate a variety of skills seem brighter, more energetic and more adaptable than those who know how to do one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shea/individuals-too-who-cultivate-a-variety-of-skills-seem-brighter-more/) [Robert Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shea/) > [But when this happens to you - and I think other people would identify with this - suddenly, colors are brighter. You see everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-redgrave/but-when-this-happens-to-you-and-i-think-other-people-would-identify/) [Lynn Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-redgrave/) > [Until things are brighter.. I'm the man in black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/until-things-are-brighter-i-m-the-man-in-black/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [To show the potentialities of a brighter future we must first resuscitate the visions of a better past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bernstein/to-show-the-potentialities-of-a-brighter-future-we-must-first/) [Josh Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bernstein/) > [Setting is preliminary to brighter rising; decay is a process of advancement; death is the condition of higher and more fruitful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/setting-is-preliminary-to-brighter-rising-decay-is-a-process-of/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Gerry Fialka's annual PXL THIS is a reliably surprising and seductive round-up of recent work achieved with the PXL 2000 camera. This humble outdated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-almereyda/gerry-fialka-s-annual-pxl-this-is-a-reliably-surprising-and-seductive/) [Michael Almereyda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-almereyda/) > [My computer screen is brighter than my future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/my-computer-screen-is-brighter-than-my-future/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [Had I been brighter, the ladies been gentler, the Scotch been weaker, had the gods been kinder, had the dice been hotter, this could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/had-i-been-brighter-the-ladies-been-gentler-the-scotch-been-weaker/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [In my books and in romance as a genre, there is a positive, uplifting feeling that leaves the reader with a sense of encouragement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/in-my-books-and-in-romance-as-a-genre-there-is-a-positive-uplifting/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [This world o' God's is brighter Than we ever dream or know; Its burdens growin' lighter- An' it's Love that makes 'em so! An'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lebby-stanton/this-world-o-god-s-is-brighter-than-we-ever-dream-or-know-its-burdens/) [Frank Lebby Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lebby-stanton/) > [I'm lucky because I have the ability to look at the brighter side of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaneesh-murthy/i-m-lucky-because-i-have-the-ability-to-look-at-the-brighter-side-of/) [Phaneesh Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaneesh-murthy/) > [“Life is brighter on the lighter side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-fields/life-is-brighter-on-the-lighter-side/) [L.M. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-fields/) ## More by Neal Stephenson > [“I study dead languages for a living,” I said. “That’s why you hired me. Why should I be up to speed on your line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-study-dead-languages-for-a-living-i-said-that-s-why-you-hired-me/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Other people - store clerks, burger flippers, software engineers, the whole vocabulary of meaningless jobs that make up Life in America - other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/other-people-store-clerks-burger-flippers-software-engineers-the/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“It is what you don’t expect,” he’d said, “that most needs looking for.” “Do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-is-what-you-don-t-expect-he-d-said-that-most-needs-looking-for-do/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“...the insects here see you as a big slab of animated but not very well defended food. 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But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/see-the-world-is-full-of-things-more-powerful-than-us-but-if-you-know/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Hey,” Shaftoe says, “if we surrender to you, you’ll kill us. Right?” “Yes.” “If you guys surrender to us, we won’t kill you. Promise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/hey-shaftoe-says-if-we-surrender-to-you-you-ll-kill-us-right-yes-if/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“My men think you are dead now, and won’t waste balls on you,” Jack said. “In fact I have let you live, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/my-men-think-you-are-dead-now-and-won-t-waste-balls-on-you-jack-said/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“You’ve probably heard the expression that the Industry feeds off of biomass, like a whale straining krill from the ocean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/you-ve-probably-heard-the-expression-that-the-industry-feeds-off-of/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. 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Likewise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/and-people-could-only-make-sense-of-complicated-matters-through/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Van Eck phreaking,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/van-eck-phreaking/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“When the Deliverator puts the hammer down, shit happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/when-the-deliverator-puts-the-hammer-down-shit-happens/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) [Explore all 633 Neal Stephenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## More Bigger quotes > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [I just think structure can make a book feel so much bigger. It's the architecture. You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Sometimes people can write really great scenes and even a great episode, but they can't see the bigger picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/sometimes-people-can-write-really-great-scenes-and-even-a-great/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. 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And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) [Browse all 3,614 Bigger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are a professional writer - i.e., if someone else is getting paid to worry about how your words are formatted and printed - Emacs outshines all other editing software in approximately the same way that the noonday sun does the stars. 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