--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good story is obviously a difficult…" description: "\"A good story is obviously a difficult thing to invent, but its difficulty is a poor reason for despising it.\" — W. Somerset Maugham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/w-somerset-maugham-237_difficult_a-good-story-is-obviously-a-difficult-th_863785.jpg" --- # A good story is obviously a difficult thing to invent, but… ![“A good story is obviously a difficult thing to invent, but its difficulty is a poor reason for despising it.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/w-somerset-maugham-237_difficult_a-good-story-is-obviously-a-difficult-th_863785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/w-somerset-maugham-237_difficult_a-good-story-is-obviously-a-difficult-th_863785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/w-somerset-maugham-237_difficult_a-good-story-is-obviously-a-difficult-th_863785.jpg) > “A good story is obviously a difficult thing to invent, but its difficulty is a poor reason for despising it.” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating a compelling story is hard, but that difficulty shouldn't lead to dismissing it. **In simple terms:** Hard stories aren't bad because they're hard. Key Takeaway Value effort over ease. Themes creativity writing valuation Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary critical When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - teaching storytelling - literary criticism Key Concepts Narrative difficulty artistic merit Questions to Reflect On - What makes a story worthwhile despite difficulty? - How can we appreciate effort without bias? A Different Perspective Hard work doesn't guarantee quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-thing/) [Difficult things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-things/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Good story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-story/) [Invent Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent-difficulty-880512/) [Obviously Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obviously-difficult-880514/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Despising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-despising-880510/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [Obviously it's difficult not to compare one record success-wise, or sales-wise, or whatever, but I think you're always going to have moments - whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elly-jackson/obviously-it-s-difficult-not-to-compare-one-record-success-wise-or/) [Elly Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elly-jackson/) > [You try to stay as even-keel as possible; obviously, it's always more difficult when you're going through a tough season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howland/you-try-to-stay-as-even-keel-as-possible-obviously-it-s-always-more/) [Ben Howland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howland/) > [If you start a conversation with the assumption that you are right or that you must win, obviously it is difficult to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/if-you-start-a-conversation-with-the-assumption-that-you-are-right-or/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Those first few overs are obviously the most difficult time because you don't know what the ball is going to do in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-rahul/those-first-few-overs-are-obviously-the-most-difficult-time-because/) [K. 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