Achieve Quote by Willa Cather
“If [the writer] achieves anything noble, anything enduring, it must be by giving himself absolutely to his material. And this gift of sympathy is his great gift; is the fine thing in him that alone can make his work fine.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Writer's Craft, 1920
True artistic achievement requires total devotion to the material, and empathy is the key that makes the work sincere and lasting.
In simple terms: Dedication to content and empathy create lasting art.
Commit fully to your subject and empathize.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- novel drafting
- teaching
- personal journaling
- collaborative projects
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to give oneself completely to material?
- How can empathy shape the quality of a work?
It may ignore external constraints like market pressures.