China Quote by Stephen Leacock
“The writing of solid, instructive stuff fortified by facts and figures is easy enough. There is no trouble in writing a scientific treatise on the folk-lore of Central China, or a statistical enquiry into the declining population of Prince Edward Island. But to write something out of one's own mind, worth reading for its own sake, is an arduous contrivance only to be achieved in fortunate moments, few and far in between. Personally, I would sooner have written Alice in Wonderland than the whole Encyclopedia Britannica.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Writing, 1915
Writing factual, structured works is straightforward, but creating original, compelling ideas from imagination is rare and difficult.
In simple terms: Facts are easy; imagination is hard.
Key Takeaway
Value and nurture creative inspiration.
Themes
creativity
writing
originality
effort
inspiration
Mood
thoughtful
inspired
challenging
Type
analytical
motivational
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- fiction writing
- personal essays
- creative projects
Key Concepts
creative process
intellectual labor
literary value
Questions to Reflect On
- What conditions foster your most original thoughts?
- How can you cultivate more creative moments?
A Different Perspective
Original ideas require rare moments of insight and discipline.
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