--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best letters of our time are…" description: "\"The best letters of our time are precisely those that can never be published.\" — Virginia Woolf" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/virginia-woolf-49_letter_the-best-letters-of-our-time-are-precise_145051.jpg" --- # The best letters of our time are precisely those that can… ![“The best letters of our time are precisely those that can never be published.” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/virginia-woolf-49_letter_the-best-letters-of-our-time-are-precise_145051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/virginia-woolf-49_letter_the-best-letters-of-our-time-are-precise_145051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/virginia-woolf-49_letter_the-best-letters-of-our-time-are-precise_145051.jpg) > “The best letters of our time are precisely those that can never be published.” [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The most valuable letters are those that remain unpublished, preserving their intimacy. **In simple terms:** Unpublished letters hold greatest value. Key Takeaway Respect private thoughts over public exposure. Themes literature privacy intimacy expression value Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - archiving - literary criticism Key Concepts epistolary art personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - Why are some thoughts better kept private? - How does secrecy affect artistic impact? A Different Perspective Public exposure can diminish original intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I was lying in bed this morning and saying to myself, 'the remarkable thing about Ethel is her stupendous self-satisfaction' when in came your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-was-lying-in-bed-this-morning-and-saying-to-myself-the-remarkable/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [You have a touch in letter writing that is beyond me. 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I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-train-slows-and-lengthens-as-we-approach-london-the-centre-and-my/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword. On one side all is correct, definite, orderly; the paths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/across-the-broad-continent-of-a-woman-s-life-falls-the-shadow-of-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Other worshipful objects were content with worship; men, women, God, all let one kneel prostrate; but this form, were it only the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/other-worshipful-objects-were-content-with-worship-men-women-god-all/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Why does Samuel Butler say, 'Wise men never say what they think of women'? 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I think I could happily live here & read forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-vast-fertility-of-pleasure-books-hold-for-me-i-think-i-could/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“what a luxury to be alone once more,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-luxury-to-be-alone-once-more/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“...a woman writing thinks back through her mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-woman-writing-thinks-back-through-her-mothers/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“For one's children so often gave one's own perceptions a little thrust forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/for-one-s-children-so-often-gave-one-s-own-perceptions-a-little/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“She would not say of anyone in the world now that they were this or were that. 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You can't help it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-bateman/when-you-have-to-write-a-letter-you-re-automatically-put-into-a-state/) [Justine Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-bateman/) > [“ 134. Letters are Commonplace Letters are commonplace enough, yet what splendid things they are! When someone is in a distant province and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sei-shonagon/134-letters-are-commonplace-letters-are-commonplace-enough-yet-what/) [Sei Shonagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sei-shonagon/) > [“Clary, Despite everything, I can't bear the thought of this ring being lost forever, any more then I can bear the thought of leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-despite-everything-i-can-t-bear-the-thought-of-this-ring-being/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“My Dear Mrs Winter. 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