--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wish life could be edited as deftly as…" description: "\"“I wish life could be edited as deftly as prose. It would be nice to go back and write a better story, correcting weaknesses and follies in the light o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/sue-grafton-1640_dark-matter_i-wish-life-could-be-edited-as-deftly-as_1682401.png" --- # I wish life could be edited as deftly as prose. It would… ![“I wish life could be edited as deftly as prose. It would be nice to go back and write a better story, correcting weaknesses and follies in the light of what I now know. What I've noticed though is that any attempt to trim out the dark matter takes away some of the good that was also buried in the…” quote by Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/sue-grafton-1640_dark-matter_i-wish-life-could-be-edited-as-deftly-as_1682401.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/sue-grafton-1640_dark-matter_i-wish-life-could-be-edited-as-deftly-as_1682401.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/sue-grafton-1640_dark-matter_i-wish-life-could-be-edited-as-deftly-as_1682401.png) > ““I wish life could be edited as deftly as prose. It would be nice to go back and write a better story, correcting weaknesses and follies in the light of what I now know. What I've noticed though is that any attempt to trim out the dark matter takes away some of the good that was also buried in the muck. The past is a package deal and I don't believe there's a way to tell some of the truth without telling most.Wisdom comes at a price, and I have paid dearly for mine.”” [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot edit our lives without losing both dark and bright parts; wisdom comes with costly experience. **In simple terms:** Life cannot be neatly edited; both good and bad shape us. Key Takeaway Accept past wholly, learn from it. Themes reflection wisdom acceptance Mood reflective thoughtful melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - self‑assessment - healing - decision making Key Concepts Narrative editing cost of knowledge integrated experience Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor past mistakes while moving forward? - What parts of your history are essential to your identity? A Different Perspective Changing the past is impossible; focusing on editing may hinder present action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dark matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-matter/) [Edited Deftly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edited-deftly-971464/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Edited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-edited-971462/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Story Correcting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-correcting-971463/) [Telling Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-wisdom-971461/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Awkwardness is part of life but it's edited out of what we consume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/awkwardness-is-part-of-life-but-it-s-edited-out-of-what-we-consume/) [Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/) > [“I know that Facebook offers an idealised version of life, edited and primped to show the world what we want it to see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marshall/i-know-that-facebook-offers-an-idealised-version-of-life-edited-and/) [Laura Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marshall/) > [I found that life has to be edited to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-found-that-life-has-to-be-edited-to-continue/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“Time throws you out of its dimensionless planar like a boomerang. It unites with you again in death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwanath-s-j/time-throws-you-out-of-its-dimensionless-planar-like-a-boomerang-it/) [Vishwanath S J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishwanath-s-j/) > [I did not set out to explain the extinction of the dinosaurs. I'm a particle physicist, and I was actually thinking about dark matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/i-did-not-set-out-to-explain-the-extinction-of-the-dinosaurs-i-m-a/) [Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/) > [Science has proved that everything is energy, and now they have dark energy, dark matter. They don't call it all-embracing consciousness; they call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-davies/science-has-proved-that-everything-is-energy-and-now-they-have-dark/) [Dave Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-davies/) > [“Examples of fractals are everywhere in nature. They can be found in the patterns of trees, branches, and ferns, in which each part appears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/examples-of-fractals-are-everywhere-in-nature-they-can-be-found-in/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [In terms of the most astonishing fact about which we know nothing, there is dark matter and dark energy. We don't know what either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-terms-of-the-most-astonishing-fact-about-which-we-know-nothing/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Advice for a human. 87. Dark matter is needed to hold galaxies together. Your mind is a Galaxy. More dark than light. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/advice-for-a-human-87-dark-matter-is-needed-to-hold-galaxies-together/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [From a scientific point of view, our mission is to seek answers to the fundamental questions about the universe. Many are open - we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabiola-gianotti/from-a-scientific-point-of-view-our-mission-is-to-seek-answers-to-the/) [Fabiola Gianotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabiola-gianotti/) > [“For the moment we might very well can them DUNNOS (for Dark Unknown Nonreflective Nondetectable Objects Somewhere).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/for-the-moment-we-might-very-well-can-them-dunnos-for-dark-unknown/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [I spent most of my career doing high-energy physics, quarks, dark matter, string theory and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-west/i-spent-most-of-my-career-doing-high-energy-physics-quarks-dark/) [Geoffrey West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-west/) > [“Christopher Savage have calculated that in reasonable models, we expect about ten dark-matter particles to interact with the atoms in a typical human body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-carroll/christopher-savage-have-calculated-that-in-reasonable-models-we/) [Sean Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-carroll/) > [You're entitled to say, if you're so smart, why don't you tell me what that dark matter is? And I'll have to confess I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-peebles/you-re-entitled-to-say-if-you-re-so-smart-why-don-t-you-tell-me-what/) [Jim Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-peebles/) > [The best theory comes from string theory, which states that dark matter is nothing but a higher vibration of the string. We are, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/the-best-theory-comes-from-string-theory-which-states-that-dark/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) ## More by Sue Grafton > [“Life is hard. Life hurts. So what? You tough it out. You get through and then you'll feel good again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/life-is-hard-life-hurts-so-what-you-tough-it-out-you-get-through-and/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“nothing wrong with a lie or two when the situation demanded it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/nothing-wrong-with-a-lie-or-two-when-the-situation-demanded-it/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“I can just about promise you Philip Marlowe was never as dainty as I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/i-can-just-about-promise-you-philip-marlowe-was-never-as-dainty-as-i/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“You can always push people around, but it's not a good idea. Better to let them volunteer information for reasons of their own. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/you-can-always-push-people-around-but-it-s-not-a-good-idea-better-to/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [You can't make anyone love you and you can't stop anyone from dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/you-can-t-make-anyone-love-you-and-you-can-t-stop-anyone-from-dying/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“Some people die accidentally. It's a fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/some-people-die-accidentally-it-s-a-fact/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Thinking is hard work, which is why you don't see many people doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/thinking-is-hard-work-which-is-why-you-don-t-see-many-people-doing-it/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Pay enough for anything and it passes for taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/pay-enough-for-anything-and-it-passes-for-taste/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“It’s hard to have faith in your fellow man when you’re forced to look at some of his handiwork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/it-s-hard-to-have-faith-in-your-fellow-man-when-you-re-forced-to-look/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Insecure people have a special sensitivity for anything that finally confirms their own low opinion of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/insecure-people-have-a-special-sensitivity-for-anything-that-finally/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“I wondered if I'd ever be nice enough to volunteer for anything. I was hoping not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/i-wondered-if-i-d-ever-be-nice-enough-to-volunteer-for-anything-i-was/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Ideas are easy. It's the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/ideas-are-easy-it-s-the-execution-of-ideas-that-really-separates-the/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“You can't believe everything you hear. Sometimes, you can't even believe your eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/you-can-t-believe-everything-you-hear-sometimes-you-can-t-even/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“It wasn’t about finding the right answer; it was about patience and diligence. I surrendered to the process, ascribing the same importance to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/it-wasn-t-about-finding-the-right-answer-it-was-about-patience-and/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“Life is simple. You're the one making things complex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/life-is-simple-you-re-the-one-making-things-complex/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) [Explore all 217 Sue Grafton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) ## More Dark matter quotes > [The best theory comes from string theory, which states that dark matter is nothing but a higher vibration of the string. We are, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/the-best-theory-comes-from-string-theory-which-states-that-dark/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [You're entitled to say, if you're so smart, why don't you tell me what that dark matter is? And I'll have to confess I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-peebles/you-re-entitled-to-say-if-you-re-so-smart-why-don-t-you-tell-me-what/) [Jim Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-peebles/) > [“Christopher Savage have calculated that in reasonable models, we expect about ten dark-matter particles to interact with the atoms in a typical human body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-carroll/christopher-savage-have-calculated-that-in-reasonable-models-we/) [Sean Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-carroll/) > [I spent most of my career doing high-energy physics, quarks, dark matter, string theory and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-west/i-spent-most-of-my-career-doing-high-energy-physics-quarks-dark/) [Geoffrey West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-west/) > [“For the moment we might very well can them DUNNOS (for Dark Unknown Nonreflective Nondetectable Objects Somewhere).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/for-the-moment-we-might-very-well-can-them-dunnos-for-dark-unknown/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [From a scientific point of view, our mission is to seek answers to the fundamental questions about the universe. Many are open - we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabiola-gianotti/from-a-scientific-point-of-view-our-mission-is-to-seek-answers-to-the/) [Fabiola Gianotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabiola-gianotti/) > [“Advice for a human. 87. Dark matter is needed to hold galaxies together. Your mind is a Galaxy. More dark than light. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/advice-for-a-human-87-dark-matter-is-needed-to-hold-galaxies-together/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [In terms of the most astonishing fact about which we know nothing, there is dark matter and dark energy. We don't know what either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-terms-of-the-most-astonishing-fact-about-which-we-know-nothing/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Examples of fractals are everywhere in nature. They can be found in the patterns of trees, branches, and ferns, in which each part appears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/examples-of-fractals-are-everywhere-in-nature-they-can-be-found-in/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Science has proved that everything is energy, and now they have dark energy, dark matter. They don't call it all-embracing consciousness; they call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-davies/science-has-proved-that-everything-is-energy-and-now-they-have-dark/) [Dave Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-davies/) > [I did not set out to explain the extinction of the dinosaurs. I'm a particle physicist, and I was actually thinking about dark matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/i-did-not-set-out-to-explain-the-extinction-of-the-dinosaurs-i-m-a/) [Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/) > [“Time throws you out of its dimensionless planar like a boomerang. It unites with you again in death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwanath-s-j/time-throws-you-out-of-its-dimensionless-planar-like-a-boomerang-it/) [Vishwanath S J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishwanath-s-j/) > [That culture is a a critical resource the organization ignores. Competely mystifying. The organization continues to act as if culture were dark matter, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-david-mccracken/that-culture-is-a-a-critical-resource-the-organization-ignores/) [Grant David McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-david-mccracken/) > [“Most astrophysicists believe that the force holding stars and galaxies together—the thing that makes our whole universe work—comes from a theoretical substance we can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-crouch/most-astrophysicists-believe-that-the-force-holding-stars-and/) [Blake Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-crouch/) > [“In the vast spectrum of space-time’s coeternal continuum, I am but a glint of bundled energy held together by the translucent fiber of creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/in-the-vast-spectrum-of-space-time-s-coeternal-continuum-i-am-but-a/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) [Browse all 119 Dark matter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-matter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I wish life could be edited as deftly as prose. It would be nice to go back and write a better story, correcting weaknesses and follies in the light of what I now know. What I've noticed though is that any attempt to trim out the dark matter takes away some of the good that was also buried in the muck. 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