--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Books are never finished, They are merely…" description: "\"Books are never finished, They are merely abandoned.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/oscar-wilde-16_abandoned_books-are-never-finished-they-are-merely_1043488.jpg" --- # Books are never finished, They are merely abandoned. ![“Books are never finished, They are merely abandoned.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/oscar-wilde-16_abandoned_books-are-never-finished-they-are-merely_1043488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/oscar-wilde-16_abandoned_books-are-never-finished-they-are-merely_1043488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/079/oscar-wilde-16_abandoned_books-are-never-finished-they-are-merely_1043488.jpg) > “Books are never finished, They are merely abandoned.” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Works are never truly complete; they are simply set aside when the author moves on. **In simple terms:** Books are abandoned, not finished. Key Takeaway Accept unfinished projects. Themes creativity completion abandonment Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing process - project management - artistic evolution Key Concepts literary criticism authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - Why do we fear finishing? - When is abandonment appropriate? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandoned/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-writing/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-finished-1778621/) [Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished/) [Finished Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished-merely-2452252/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Merely Abandoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-abandoned-2452251/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing from the heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-from-the-heart/) ## Related quotes > [A work of art is never finished. It is merely abandoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/a-work-of-art-is-never-finished-it-is-merely-abandoned/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [“After ten standard months I was done, acknowledging the ancient aphorism to the effect that no book or poem is ever finished, merely abandoned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/after-ten-standard-months-i-was-done-acknowledging-the-ancient/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [No book or poem is ever finished, merely abandoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/no-book-or-poem-is-ever-finished-merely-abandoned/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Going off the grid is always good for me. It's the way that I've started books and finished books and gotten myself out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/going-off-the-grid-is-always-good-for-me-it-s-the-way-that-i-ve/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [No one reads my books until they're finished because I don't want feedback. It confuses me, and it changes things; if I get too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-foster-blake/no-one-reads-my-books-until-they-re-finished-because-i-don-t-want/) [Zoe Foster Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-foster-blake/) > [“I learned that books are never finished, that it is possible for stories to go on writing themselves without an author.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/i-learned-that-books-are-never-finished-that-it-is-possible-for/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [Yes, it has made me happier. Finishing them has made me happier. Before I wrote the Potter books, I'd never finished a novel. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/yes-it-has-made-me-happier-finishing-them-has-made-me-happier-before/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Books are finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/books-are-finished/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [“Furlough?” He said. “What?” said the first hood irritably. Despereaux shuddered. His own brother was delivering him to the dungeon. His heart stopped beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/furlough-he-said-what-said-the-first-hood-irritably-despereaux/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [“When you have nothing left to lose, it's easy to dive deep into those deep, dark hidden places and write your truth. I'm there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lesko/when-you-have-nothing-left-to-lose-it-s-easy-to-dive-deep-into-those/) [Lori Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lesko/) > [“I am broken the way most writers are, stories leaking through the cracks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/i-am-broken-the-way-most-writers-are-stories-leaking-through-the/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end it's about enriching the lives of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/writing-isn-t-about-making-money-getting-famous-getting-dates-getting/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Sometimes a story catches your imagination so much it has to be told. That is what I love about writing. It lets the images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-smith/sometimes-a-story-catches-your-imagination-so-much-it-has-to-be-told/) [S.E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-smith/) > [“Write it. Just write it. Write it on receipts in the car while you wait for your kid to finish their piano lessons, scribble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melodie-ramone/write-it-just-write-it-write-it-on-receipts-in-the-car-while-you-wait/) [Melodie Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melodie-ramone/) > [“To achieve works of meaning, a writer (or any artist) must cut into himself and leave his soul on the canvas, exposed for anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardra-sikora/to-achieve-works-of-meaning-a-writer-or-any-artist-must-cut-into/) [Mardra Sikora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardra-sikora/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Abandoned quotes > [“I'm surprised when I walk right into yet another abandoned hunters' camp. Tattered plastic sheeting still hangs askew here and there. Blackened aerosol cans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bass/i-m-surprised-when-i-walk-right-into-yet-another-abandoned-hunters/) [Rick Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bass/) > [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [In Russia there is an emigration of intelligence: émigrés cross the frontier in order to read and to write good books. But in doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-russia-there-is-an-emigration-of-intelligence-migr-s-cross-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Early on in my life, I had a broken soul. I was abused by my father, abandoned by my mother and ended up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/early-on-in-my-life-i-had-a-broken-soul-i-was-abused-by-my-father/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We should be recklessly abandoned to Jesus, and just turn it over to Him. Through the support I think the sacrifices will be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacie-orrico/we-should-be-recklessly-abandoned-to-jesus-and-just-turn-it-over-to/) [Stacie Orrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacie-orrico/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [The whole force of the respectable circles to which I belonged, that respectable circle which knew as I did notthe value of security won,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/the-whole-force-of-the-respectable-circles-to-which-i-belonged-that/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [Barack Obama became president, and he abandoned Iraq. He left, and when he left Al Qaida was done for. ISIS was created because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/barack-obama-became-president-and-he-abandoned-iraq-he-left-and-when/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [“The desperate loneliness is nothing compared to the torture of falling in love and then being abandoned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-nuest/the-desperate-loneliness-is-nothing-compared-to-the-torture-of/) [A.J. Nuest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-nuest/) > [Through it all, this wild life on and off the road , through Jordanian deserts , Spanish islands, German prisons, Caribbean tax scams, halls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-burdon/through-it-all-this-wild-life-on-and-off-the-road-through-jordanian/) [Eric Burdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-burdon/) > [I've never been keen on open adoption. 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