Afternoon Quote by Robert Benchley
“If you are one of the hewers of wood and drawers of small weekly paychecks, your letters will have to contain some few items of news or they will be accounted dry stuff… But if you happen to be of a literary turn of mind, or are, in any way, likely to become famous, you may settle down to an afternoon of letter-writing on nothing more sprightly in the way of news than the shifting of the wind from south to south-east.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 1930s
A writer with modest means must fill letters with trivial news, while a literary mind can write about even the slightest change in wind
In simple terms: Small pay forces mundane content; artistic minds find depth in minutiae
Key Takeaway
Even mundane details can become meaningful when viewed creatively
Themes
focus on perspective
contentment
creativity
Mood
reflective
wry
Type
observational
literary
When to use this quote
- personal correspondence
- creative writing
- budget constraints
- literary reflection
Key Concepts
literary expression
economic constraints
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide what mundane detail is worth sharing?
- Can trivial observations become profound?
A Different Perspective
May lack audience interest if overly trivial; not all readers appreciate subtlety
