All kinds Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
“A writer need not devour a whole sheep in order to know what mutton tastes like, but he must at least eat a chop. Unless he gets his facts right, his imagination will lead him into all kinds of nonsense, and the facts he is most likely to get right are the facts of his own experience.”
About This Quote
Writers must sample reality in small portions; accurate facts prevent imaginative errors.
In simple terms: Writers need small facts to avoid wild imagination.
Key Takeaway
Gather concrete facts before creating.
Themes
writing
truth
imagination
experience
Mood
thoughtful
instructive
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- research
- journalism
- fiction writing
- academic work
Key Concepts
epistemology
creative process
Questions to Reflect On
- What small fact will ground your story?
- How much imagination is too much?
A Different Perspective
Facts alone cannot guarantee truth.
![“In fact a favourite problem of [John Tyndall] is—Given the molecular forces in a mutton chop, deduce Hamlet or Faust therefrom. He is confident that the Physics of the Future will solve this easily.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/552/anonymous-1_facts_in-fact-a-favourite-problem-of-john-tynd_545785.jpg)
