--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything written is as good as it is…" description: "\"Everything written is as good as it is dramatic. It need not declare itself in form, but it is drama or nothing.\" — Robert Frost" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/robert-frost-371_drama_everything-written-is-as-good-as-it-is-d_2937140.png" --- # Everything written is as good as it is dramatic. It need… ![“Everything written is as good as it is dramatic. It need not declare itself in form, but it is drama or nothing.” quote by Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/robert-frost-371_drama_everything-written-is-as-good-as-it-is-d_2937140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/robert-frost-371_drama_everything-written-is-as-good-as-it-is-d_2937140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/robert-frost-371_drama_everything-written-is-as-good-as-it-is-d_2937140.png) > “Everything written is as good as it is dramatic. It need not declare itself in form, but it is drama or nothing.” [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All written work must possess dramatic quality; without drama, it lacks substance. **In simple terms:** Writing needs drama to be effective. Key Takeaway Infuse drama into writing. Themes literature drama creativity Mood analytical instructive Type literary critical When to use this quote - novels - screenplays - poetry - advertising Key Concepts narrative theory artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - When is subtlety more appropriate? - How does drama affect different audiences? A Different Perspective Not all writing benefits from overt drama. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Real life’ does not speak for itself. It has to be turned into words, stories, and plots. It is only when these are lifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-poole/real-life-does-not-speak-for-itself-it-has-to-be-turned-into-words/) Adrian Poole > [“It’s a plié. You do it on all the positions. It’s very good for dramatic moments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/it-s-a-pli-you-do-it-on-all-the-positions-it-s-very-good-for-dramatic/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [The more you're able to understand how to do a good dramatic performance, that can inform your comedy. It all informs one another. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kroll/the-more-you-re-able-to-understand-how-to-do-a-good-dramatic/) [Nick Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kroll/) > [Anything well written with good language and clarity and honesty is worth doing. It comes out of the same tradition as Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/anything-well-written-with-good-language-and-clarity-and-honesty-is/) [Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/) > [If something is well-written, it has a chance to be good and if it's not well-written, it will not be good. It could even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/if-something-is-well-written-it-has-a-chance-to-be-good-and-if-it-s/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [“I’m convinced if I keep going one day I will write something decent. On very bad days I will observe that I must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-m-convinced-if-i-keep-going-one-day-i-will-write-something-decent/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [If you read the biographies of people who have written good books, you often see the point where they suddenly come into themselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/if-you-read-the-biographies-of-people-who-have-written-good-books-you/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [ When I finished \[writing it\], I was crying. I knew at long last, after ten years of trying, I had written something good. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/when-i-finished-writing-it-i-was-crying-i-knew-at-long-last-after-ten/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've written good love songs when I have been in love and I've written good love songs when I haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-ve-written-good-love-songs-when-i-have-been-in-love-and-i-ve/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Sometimes I pick up a book and I say: Well, so you've written it first, have you? Good for you. O.K., then I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/sometimes-i-pick-up-a-book-and-i-say-well-so-you-ve-written-it-first/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“I can never go back on what I've written. If it was not good, it was true; if it was not artistic, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-can-never-go-back-on-what-i-ve-written-if-it-was-not-good-it-was/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Right from day one, you know when you've written a good song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/right-from-day-one-you-know-when-you-ve-written-a-good-song/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [Catch me on a good day, I think half of my books aren't too bad. Catch me on a bad day, I think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/catch-me-on-a-good-day-i-think-half-of-my-books-aren-t-too-bad-catch/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [You know, looking at it objectively, I've written one or two good books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/you-know-looking-at-it-objectively-i-ve-written-one-or-two-good-books/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I have written much about many good places. But the best places of all, I have never mentioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/i-have-written-much-about-many-good-places-but-the-best-places-of-all/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## More by Robert Frost > [The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working when you get up in the morning, and doesn't stop until you get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-brain-is-a-wonderful-organ-it-starts-working-when-you-get-up-in/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [When I see birches bend to left and right... I like to think some boy's been swinging them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/when-i-see-birches-bend-to-left-and-right-i-like-to-think-some-boy-s/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“The promising young poets, the hopefuls? I'd name Richard Wilbur, Peter Viereck, Karl Shapiro, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, John Ciardi...Leonard Bacon...but it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-promising-young-poets-the-hopefuls-i-d-name-richard-wilbur-peter/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Lord, I have loved Your sky, Be it said against or for me, Have loved it clear and high, Or low and stormy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/lord-i-have-loved-your-sky-be-it-said-against-or-for-me-have-loved-it/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Let him that is without stone among you cast the first thing he can lay his hands on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/let-him-that-is-without-stone-among-you-cast-the-first-thing-he-can/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [It is only a moment here and a moment there that the greatest writer has. Some cognizance of the fact must be taken in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/it-is-only-a-moment-here-and-a-moment-there-that-the-greatest-writer/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [And of course there must be something wrong In wanting to silence any song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/and-of-course-there-must-be-something-wrong-in-wanting-to-silence-any/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/there-are-two-kinds-of-teachers-the-kind-that-fill-you-with-so-much/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [The rose is a rose, And was always a rose. But now the theory goes That the apple's a rose, And the pear is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-rose-is-a-rose-and-was-always-a-rose-but-now-the-theory-goes-that/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Forgive, O Lord, my little jokes on Thee, and I'll forgive Thy great big joke on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/forgive-o-lord-my-little-jokes-on-thee-and-i-ll-forgive-thy-great-big/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [What an exciting age it is we live in With all this talk about the hope of youth And nothing made of youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/what-an-exciting-age-it-is-we-live-in-with-all-this-talk-about-the/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [The footpath down to the well is healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-footpath-down-to-the-well-is-healed/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [There is the fear that we shan't prove worthy in the eyes of someone who knows us at least as well as we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/there-is-the-fear-that-we-shan-t-prove-worthy-in-the-eyes-of-someone/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [It's God - I recognised him from Blake's picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/it-s-god-i-recognised-him-from-blake-s-picture/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Create and stir other people to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/create-and-stir-other-people-to-create/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) [Explore all 624 Robert Frost quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) ## More Drama quotes > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [I never wanted to be the lead on a TV drama. It just robs you of your life, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-noth/i-never-wanted-to-be-the-lead-on-a-tv-drama-it-just-robs-you-of-your/) [Chris Noth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-noth/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [Dont hate me cause ur man want me dont be jealouse cause hes thinking of when he says he loves u dont hate him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/dont-hate-me-cause-ur-man-want-me-dont-be-jealouse-cause-hes-thinking/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [I hadn't been to drama school. I hadn't been to university and acted there. I had no qualifications behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-hadn-t-been-to-drama-school-i-hadn-t-been-to-university-and-acted/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) > [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [They say that art comes from the soul. The more drama in an artist's life, the more he can draw on for his art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/they-say-that-art-comes-from-the-soul-the-more-drama-in-an-artist-s/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [I would love to do a love story or a socially relevant drama. Something on the lines of Netflix originals. I would love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roop-durgapal/i-would-love-to-do-a-love-story-or-a-socially-relevant-drama/) [Roop Durgapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roop-durgapal/) > [“Thinking about the weather was one way of shutting out of his mind the appalling bloody human mess sprawled out over the bed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ellis/thinking-about-the-weather-was-one-way-of-shutting-out-of-his-mind/) [Mark Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ellis/) [Browse all 5,150 Drama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everything written is as good as it is dramatic. 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