--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To my mind, the prose in a non-fiction…" description: "\"To my mind, the prose in a non-fiction work that's going to endure has to be of the same quality as the prose in a work of fiction that endures.\" — Rob..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/robert-caro-11059_endure_to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-wo_3045026.jpg" --- # To my mind, the prose in a non-fiction work that's going… ![“To my mind, the prose in a non-fiction work that's going to endure has to be of the same quality as the prose in a work of fiction that endures.” quote by Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/robert-caro-11059_endure_to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-wo_3045026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/robert-caro-11059_endure_to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-wo_3045026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/robert-caro-11059_endure_to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-wo_3045026.jpg) > “To my mind, the prose in a non-fiction work that's going to endure has to be of the same quality as the prose in a work of fiction that endures.” [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enduring non‑fiction prose must match the quality of lasting fiction, implying high literary standards for factual works. **In simple terms:** Non‑fiction should be as well‑written as great fiction. Key Takeaway Strive for narrative excellence in factual writing. Themes writing quality literature Mood inspirational analytical Type literary educational When to use this quote - editing - research - storyboarding - publishing - peer review Key Concepts narrative nonfiction style craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - How can writers balance accuracy with artistry? - What practices improve nonfiction prose? A Different Perspective Market pressure may prioritize speed over depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Non fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-fiction/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction endures is that it is, at its core, an optimistic genre. What it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that-science-fiction-endures-is/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > ['At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom' by Amy Hempel showed me the lean quality of prose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/at-the-gates-of-the-animal-kingdom-by-amy-hempel-showed-me-the-lean/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [To my mind, most prose poems are more prose than poetry. They don't possess most of the qualities of a poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pattiann-rogers/to-my-mind-most-prose-poems-are-more-prose-than-poetry-they-don-t/) [Pattiann Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pattiann-rogers/) > [At the emergence of the modern novel with Rabelais and Cervantes, all kinds of things were possible in a long-form prose work. Within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/at-the-emergence-of-the-modern-novel-with-rabelais-and-cervantes-all/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [“A prose work of some length that has something wrong with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/a-prose-work-of-some-length-that-has-something-wrong-with-it/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [On a piece of prose, you have to work at least six hours a day. I don't know how you can do that and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/on-a-piece-of-prose-you-have-to-work-at-least-six-hours-a-day-i-don-t/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [There's a perception that good writing is writing which runs smoothly. But smooth-running prose can work against what you're trying to express in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/there-s-a-perception-that-good-writing-is-writing-which-runs-smoothly/) [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) > [Autobiographical writings, essays, interviews, various other things... All the non-fiction prose I wanted to keep, that was the idea behind this collected volume, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/autobiographical-writings-essays-interviews-various-other-things-all/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [In high school, in 1956, at the age of sixteen, we were not taught "creative writing." We were taught literature and grammar. So no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/in-high-school-in-1956-at-the-age-of-sixteen-we-were-not-taught/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I've always felt that no one understands why some books of non-fiction endure and some don't, because there's not much understanding among many non-fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/i-ve-always-felt-that-no-one-understands-why-some-books-of-non/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Many Americans have never owned a book. And others have never owned a non-fiction book. Providing them with a 300-page paperback would get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-loewen/many-americans-have-never-owned-a-book-and-others-have-never-owned-a/) [James W. Loewen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-loewen/) > [When you play a non-fiction character it is more responsibility than when you are playing a fiction character because that person lived, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/when-you-play-a-non-fiction-character-it-is-more-responsibility-than/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I lay on my floor crying again¦ shaking. Searching for inner strength and coming up empty. My eyes burned and my mouth was dry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-daniels/i-lay-on-my-floor-crying-again-shaking-searching-for-inner-strength/) Nathan Daniels > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) ## More by Robert Caro > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [There's a theory, and I think the theory is right, that in order to make a change you've got to make the whole language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/there-s-a-theory-and-i-think-the-theory-is-right-that-in-order-to/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Everyone believed the Senate could not really be led. It used to take so long to rise up through seniority. In two years Lyndon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/everyone-believed-the-senate-could-not-really-be-led-it-used-to-take/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [I try to have a mood or a rhythm for a chapter,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/i-try-to-have-a-mood-or-a-rhythm-for-a-chapter/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [I really wanted there to be something in my life that I enjoy just for the beauty of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/i-really-wanted-there-to-be-something-in-my-life-that-i-enjoy-just/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [We're taught Lord Acton's axiom: all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I believed that when I started these books, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/we-re-taught-lord-acton-s-axiom-all-power-corrupts-absolute-power/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [What would be the good of rushing? You want these books to last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/what-would-be-the-good-of-rushing-you-want-these-books-to-last/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Ballet is sort of a mystery to me. And I don't want to unravel that mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/ballet-is-sort-of-a-mystery-to-me-and-i-don-t-want-to-unravel-that/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Among the reasons that you go into journalism, I suppose, are some rather idealistic, even foolish reasons. In my case one of the reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/among-the-reasons-that-you-go-into-journalism-i-suppose-are-some/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [My interest is in power. How power works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/my-interest-is-in-power-how-power-works/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whenever I go to work I wear a jacket and a tie, because I'm inherently quite lazy, and my books take so long to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/whenever-i-go-to-work-i-wear-a-jacket-and-a-tie-because-i-m/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the guy always wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/when-you-have-enough-power-to-do-what-you-always-wanted-to-do-then/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [As you get older, you sometimes feel that it's harder and harder to get something new and wonderful to come into your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/as-you-get-older-you-sometimes-feel-that-it-s-harder-and-harder-to/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [The New York City Ballet is obviously speaking to a whole new generation and bringing it the same wonder and beauty that it brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/the-new-york-city-ballet-is-obviously-speaking-to-a-whole-new/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Robert Moses wasn't elected to anything. We're taught that in a democracy power comes from being elected. He had more power than anyone, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/robert-moses-wasn-t-elected-to-anything-we-re-taught-that-in-a/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) [Explore all 62 Robert Caro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) ## More Endure quotes > [So many things beat upon us in a lifetime that simply enduring may seem almost beyond us… But the test a loving God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/so-many-things-beat-upon-us-in-a-lifetime-that-simply-enduring-may/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-man-is-immortal-simply-because-he-will/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [It is well for a man when he has learned to endure what he cannot change, and to give up with dignity what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-well-for-a-man-when-he-has-learned-to-endure-what-he-cannot/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-art-of-life-is-to-know-how-to-enjoy-a-little-and-to-endure-very/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Life is not a PG feel-good movie. Real life often ends badly. Literature tries to document this reality, while showing us it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/life-is-not-a-pg-feel-good-movie-real-life-often-ends-badly/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [It is impossible to build enduring institutions without solid values. For us, the fundamental value is that associated with democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-henrique-cardoso/it-is-impossible-to-build-enduring-institutions-without-solid-values/) [Fernando Henrique Cardoso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-henrique-cardoso/) > [I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-will-love-the-light-for-it-shows-me-the-way-yet-i-will-endure-the/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [“This is how they are able to continue and endure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-how-they-are-able-to-continue-and-endure/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [There are many who say they want to be victorious Christians, but few are willing to endure the discipline necessary to make one a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-are-many-who-say-they-want-to-be-victorious-christians-but-few/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [“Whatever befalls us, we will endure it together. I clutch my longbow and dagger close to my side. My last thoughts linger on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noce/whatever-befalls-us-we-will-endure-it-together-i-clutch-my-longbow/) [Mark Noce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noce/) > [“One by one, I'll face the tasks before me and complete them as best I can. Focusing on each stride forward, but at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/one-by-one-i-ll-face-the-tasks-before-me-and-complete-them-as-best-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) Browse all 2,549 Endure quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To my mind, the prose in a non-fiction work that's going to endure has to be of the same quality as the prose in a work of fiction that endures.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Caro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-work-that-s-going-to-endure-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Endure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-work-that-s-going-to-endure-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/robert-caro-11059_endure_to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-wo_3045026.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/robert-caro-11059_endure_to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-wo_3045026.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/robert-caro-11059_endure_to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-wo_3045026.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To my mind, the prose in a non-fiction work that's going to endure has to be of the same quality as the…” — Robert Caro", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Caro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To my mind, the prose in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-work-that-s-going-to-endure-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-work-that-s-going-to-endure-has/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```