--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has been often said that writing is 99…" description: "\"“It has been often said that writing is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration. In my experience, this is true. But, in my opinion, it is us..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/robert-fanney-15561_inspiration_it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-9_2459303.jpg" --- # It has been often said that writing is 99 percent… ![“It has been often said that writing is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration. In my experience, this is true. But, in my opinion, it is useless without that 1 percent. It's like an engine without fuel -- can't get anywhere without it. Or like a lighthouse without a light on top…” quote by Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/robert-fanney-15561_inspiration_it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-9_2459303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/robert-fanney-15561_inspiration_it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-9_2459303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/robert-fanney-15561_inspiration_it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-9_2459303.jpg) > ““It has been often said that writing is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration. In my experience, this is true. But, in my opinion, it is useless without that 1 percent. It's like an engine without fuel -- can't get anywhere without it. Or like a lighthouse without a light on top -- doesn't guide anyone in to home or safe harbor.”” [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inspiration alone is insufficient; effort fuels the creative process, like fuel powers an engine. **In simple terms:** Inspiration needs effort to work. Key Takeaway Combine inspiration with hard work. Themes creativity effort inspiration Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing - artistic projects - entrepreneurship - academic research Key Concepts motivation productivity Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your creative process? - How balance balance inspiration and work? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on effort may cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Percent Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent-inspiration-610826/) [Percent Perspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent-perspiration-610828/) [Perspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspiration/) [Perspiration Percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspiration-percent-637117/) [Safe harbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe-harbor/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing 99](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-99-637118/) ## Related quotes > [People often say that writing is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration. This is nonsense, of course. It's pretty much one hundred percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caprice-crane/people-often-say-that-writing-is-ten-percent-inspiration-and-ninety/) [Caprice Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caprice-crane/) > [“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-ninety-nine-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“If genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, then as a culture we tend to lionize the one percent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/if-genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-ninety-nine-percent/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“The idea itself is the ten percent inspiration; the hammering it into a viable, successful, memorable story is the ninety percent perspiration that follows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-idea-itself-is-the-ten-percent-inspiration-the-hammering-it-into/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [The secret to a masterpiece is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/the-secret-to-a-masterpiece-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90-percent/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) > [Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-edison/genius-is-99-percent-perspiration-and-1-percent-inspiration/) [Thomas Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-edison/) > [Genius defined: of inspiration 1% percent, of perspiration, 99%.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-defined-of-inspiration-1-percent-of-perspiration-99/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [That adage about genius being 5 percent inspiration and 95 perspiration - it's true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/that-adage-about-genius-being-5-percent-inspiration-and-95/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-1-percent-inspiration-99-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Persistence isn't very glamorous. If genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, then as a culture we tend to lionize the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/persistence-isn-t-very-glamorous-if-genius-is-one-percent-inspiration/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Writing is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent elimination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brooks/writing-is-1-percent-inspiration-and-99-percent-elimination/) [Louise Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brooks/) > [“Genius is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent perspiration.” To make great ideas a reality, we must act, experiment, fail, adapt, and learn on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/genius-is-1-percent-inspiration-and-99-percent-perspiration-to-make/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-ninety-nine-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-99-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) ## More by Robert Fanney > [“As an opener, I'd like to state that elves are certainly NOT cliché. It doesn't matter if they all have pointy ears, or they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/as-an-opener-i-d-like-to-state-that-elves-are-certainly-not-clich-it/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“To all those women -- strong enough to be heroes; fair enough to be ladies. This song is for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/to-all-those-women-strong-enough-to-be-heroes-fair-enough-to-be/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“Without realizing what she was doing and more on an impulse than anything else, she leaned forward and kissed him. It was a simple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/without-realizing-what-she-was-doing-and-more-on-an-impulse-than/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“Luthiel: I cannot change what will happen. I can only change how I act in the face of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/luthiel-i-cannot-change-what-will-happen-i-can-only-change-how-i-act/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“Silent. So it should be. You have no place in this world, Luthiel. And there is no other.' Zalos reached out and lifted a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/silent-so-it-should-be-you-have-no-place-in-this-world-luthiel-and/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“A song she heard Of cold that gathers Like winter's tongue Among the shadows It rose like blackness In the sky That on volcano's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/a-song-she-heard-of-cold-that-gathers-like-winter-s-tongue-among-the/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“I would rather live than die. I would rather die than survive as a monster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/i-would-rather-live-than-die-i-would-rather-die-than-survive-as-a/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“May your feet ever walk in the light of two suns... and may the moonshadow never fall on you... ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/may-your-feet-ever-walk-in-the-light-of-two-suns-and-may-the/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“It is the very design of life to support life. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/it-is-the-very-design-of-life-to-support-life/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“Leowin: Don't worry Luthiel. 'Truth's existence never depended upon belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/leowin-don-t-worry-luthiel-truth-s-existence-never-depended-upon/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“Mithorden: 'We become what we do, Zalos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/mithorden-we-become-what-we-do-zalos/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“It is the curse of the powerful to be blind to their own faults.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/it-is-the-curse-of-the-powerful-to-be-blind-to-their-own-faults/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“Dominance. Control. These things the unjust seek most of all. And so it is the duty of the just to defy dominance and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/dominance-control-these-things-the-unjust-seek-most-of-all-and-so-it/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“Wars are won in the will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/wars-are-won-in-the-will/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“If I could make a dream real, I would not kill anything unless it could never be changed at heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/if-i-could-make-a-dream-real-i-would-not-kill-anything-unless-it/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) [Explore all 42 Robert Fanney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) ## More Inspiration quotes > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/) [Nelly sanaba .c](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-sanaba-c/) > [Loving you is the best feeling have ever had, and you loving me is the greater gift I have..I will be brave, I wont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/loving-you-is-the-best-feeling-have-ever-had-and-you-loving-me-is-the/) [Fash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fash/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-have-learned-that-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want-to-go-and-do/) [C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/) > [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“Complete - Yourself! Others may only enhance your completeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lashauna-d-hinton/complete-yourself-others-may-only-enhance-your-completeness/) [Lashauna D. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lashauna-d-hinton/) [Browse all 17,129 Inspiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It has been often said that writing is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration. In my experience, this is true. But, in my opinion, it is useless without that 1 percent. It's like an engine without fuel -- can't get anywhere without it. Or like a lighthouse without a light on top -- doesn't guide anyone in to home or safe harbor.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Fanney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-99-percent-perspiration-and-1/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-99-percent-perspiration-and-1/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/robert-fanney-15561_inspiration_it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-9_2459303.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/robert-fanney-15561_inspiration_it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-9_2459303.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/robert-fanney-15561_inspiration_it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-9_2459303.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It has been often said that writing is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration. In my experience…” — Robert Fanney", "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 Fanney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It has been often said that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-99-percent-perspiration-and-1/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-99-percent-perspiration-and-1/#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 } } ] } ```