--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though my short stories are the more…" description: "\"Though my short stories are the more readable, my novels do have more to say; and they will, if anyone has the patience for it, repay a rereading.\" — R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/r-a-lafferty-2-29805_books_though-my-short-stories-are-the-more-rea_2637264.jpg" --- # Though my short stories are the more readable, my novels… ![“Though my short stories are the more readable, my novels do have more to say; and they will, if anyone has the patience for it, repay a rereading.” quote by R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/r-a-lafferty-2-29805_books_though-my-short-stories-are-the-more-rea_2637264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/r-a-lafferty-2-29805_books_though-my-short-stories-are-the-more-rea_2637264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/r-a-lafferty-2-29805_books_though-my-short-stories-are-the-more-rea_2637264.jpg) > “Though my short stories are the more readable, my novels do have more to say; and they will, if anyone has the patience for it, repay a rereading.” [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Short stories are accessible, but novels demand patience and reward rereading with deeper insight. **In simple terms:** Novels are harder but more rewarding than short stories. Key Takeaway Invest time in novels for richer meaning. Themes literature patience depth Mood contemplative inquisitive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - book clubs - academic courses - personal reading plans Key Concepts narrative structure reader engagement literary value Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer quick reads? - How much effort is worth deeper insight? A Different Perspective Not everyone enjoys lengthy rereading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Short stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-stories/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [People read vampire novels and say, Oh I want to read another vampire novel. 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People read fantasy, and they're like, 'Oh I love fantasy.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/people-read-vampire-novels-and-say-oh-i-want-to-read-another-vampire/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I love rereading Shakespeare plays and Im constantly finding bits that Ive overlooked or not understood before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/i-love-rereading-shakespeare-plays-and-im-constantly-finding-bits/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) > [“I used to think rewatching and rereading were embarrassingly boring pastimes. But there is something to be said for how comforting it is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lord/i-used-to-think-rewatching-and-rereading-were-embarrassingly-boring/) [Emery Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lord/) > [So he lent her books. After all, one of life's best pleasures is reading a book of perfect beauty; more pleasurable still is rereading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-he-lent-her-books-after-all-one-of-life-s-best-pleasures-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm always nervous about going home, just as I am nervous about rereading books that have meant a lot to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-m-always-nervous-about-going-home-just-as-i-am-nervous-about/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“The process of continually rereading and drawing out new meanings from words would not have been possible unless the words themselves were already open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-process-of-continually-rereading-and-drawing-out-new-meanings/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“I probably reread novels more often than I read new ones. The novel form is made for rereading. Novels are by their nature too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-hadley/i-probably-reread-novels-more-often-than-i-read-new-ones-the-novel/) [Tessa Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-hadley/) > [When you're rereading or editing your book and you start to expect that this work is going to be reviewed, and you can sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/when-you-re-rereading-or-editing-your-book-and-you-start-to-expect/) [Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/) > [Each year is like writing a new chapter in a book, make each one worth rereading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-year-is-like-writing-a-new-chapter-in-a-book-make-each-one-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[People who have left the ISIS\] say that there comes a moment when the inconsistencies and apparent hypocrisies of their sheikh lets them down,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rukmini-maria-callimachi/people-who-have-left-the-isis-say-that-there-comes-a-moment-when-the/) [Rukmini Maria Callimachi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rukmini-maria-callimachi/) > [Thou shalt not let a day pass without rereading something great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vizinczey/thou-shalt-not-let-a-day-pass-without-rereading-something-great/) [Stephen Vizinczey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vizinczey/) > [Usually when I put together a book like this Death-Ray hardcover or that Ghost World special edition, then I have to reread it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-clowes/usually-when-i-put-together-a-book-like-this-death-ray-hardcover-or/) [Daniel Clowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-clowes/) > [Rereading Candide, I was struck by the link between optimism and the optimal, the idea that we have been placed in this optimal world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ravenhill/rereading-candide-i-was-struck-by-the-link-between-optimism-and-the/) [Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ravenhill/) ## More by R. A. Lafferty > [When you have shot and killed a man you have in some measure clarified your attitude toward him. You have given a definite answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/when-you-have-shot-and-killed-a-man-you-have-in-some-measure/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [The good stories, of course, write themselves. And somebody wants to know who are the really good writers, and how many of them there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/the-good-stories-of-course-write-themselves-and-somebody-wants-to/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [True love is that we should hate whatever interferes with our vision of the high and the lowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/true-love-is-that-we-should-hate-whatever-interferes-with-our-vision/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [The lowest common denominator of the universe is both low and common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/the-lowest-common-denominator-of-the-universe-is-both-low-and-common/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [An excess of science will leave none of us alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/an-excess-of-science-will-leave-none-of-us-alive/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [Strangers may not lodge complaints till they have been in residence here for ninety days," the Cacique said, "and no stranger has ever remained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/strangers-may-not-lodge-complaints-till-they-have-been-in-residence/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [Death is for a long time. Those of shallow thought say that it is forever. There is, at least, a long night of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/death-is-for-a-long-time-those-of-shallow-thought-say-that-it-is/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [The law of levity is allowed to supersede the law of gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/the-law-of-levity-is-allowed-to-supersede-the-law-of-gravity/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [There is a secret society of seven men that controls the finances of the world. This is known to everyone but the details are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/there-is-a-secret-society-of-seven-men-that-controls-the-finances-of/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [Learn the true topography; the monstrous and wonderful archetypes are not inside you, not inside your consciousness; you are inside them, trapped and howling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/learn-the-true-topography-the-monstrous-and-wonderful-archetypes-are/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [We must kill the Devil afresh every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/we-must-kill-the-devil-afresh-every-day/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [Every science is made up entirely of anomalies rearranged to fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/every-science-is-made-up-entirely-of-anomalies-rearranged-to-fit/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [When we travel we find how greatly our boyhood dreams are outstripped by reality .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/when-we-travel-we-find-how-greatly-our-boyhood-dreams-are-outstripped/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [Do not be deceived by the way men of bad faith misuse words and names … Things are set up as contraries that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/do-not-be-deceived-by-the-way-men-of-bad-faith-misuse-words-and-names/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [The best time to write a story is yesterday. The next best time is today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/the-best-time-to-write-a-story-is-yesterday-the-next-best-time-is/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) [Explore all 18 R. A. Lafferty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Though my short stories are the more readable, my novels do have more to say; and they will, if anyone has the patience for it, repay a rereading.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R. A. 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