--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing better than good English…" description: "\"The only thing better than good English writing is - I can't think of anything. You just don't pour it pureed over your potatoes. You savor it as if it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/william-murchison-54025_chardonnay_the-only-thing-better-than-good-english_626182.jpg" --- # The only thing better than good English writing is - I… ![“The only thing better than good English writing is - I can't think of anything. You just don't pour it pureed over your potatoes. You savor it as if it were a find chardonnay. What on Earth does it matter if you stop and repeat a phrase, roll it around on your tongue, dart a few lines ahead and…” quote by William Murchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/william-murchison-54025_chardonnay_the-only-thing-better-than-good-english_626182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/william-murchison-54025_chardonnay_the-only-thing-better-than-good-english_626182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/william-murchison-54025_chardonnay_the-only-thing-better-than-good-english_626182.jpg) > “The only thing better than good English writing is - I can't think of anything. You just don't pour it pureed over your potatoes. You savor it as if it were a find chardonnay. What on Earth does it matter if you stop and repeat a phrase, roll it around on your tongue, dart a few lines ahead and then suddenly come back and reread it? If the phrase is good enough, you are supposed to stop and rejoice in it.” [William Murchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-murchison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously critiques over‑editing, suggesting that obsessively polishing prose can strip it of its natural flavor and spontaneity. **In simple terms:** Over‑editing kills the joy of writing. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfect drafts. Themes writing editing creativity Mood playful critical Type advice humorous When to use this quote - drafting - creative writing - editing workshops - self‑editing - publishing Key Concepts style voice authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Do you edit for clarity or for style? - When does revision become over‑editing? A Different Perspective Too much polishing can make writing feel forced and lose its original charm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chardonnay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chardonnay/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [English writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-writing/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The phrase "Be Good to Each Other" is very important to me and something that I wish had been said more when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-puth/the-phrase-be-good-to-each-other-is-very-important-to-me-and/) [Charlie Puth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-puth/) > [Asking someone to repeat a phrase you'd not only heard very clearly but were also exceedingly angry about was around Defcon II in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/asking-someone-to-repeat-a-phrase-you-d-not-only-heard-very-clearly/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Just repeat this phrase whenever you feel the urge to jump some other guy’s bones.” His mouth brushes my ear. “Loren Hale fucks better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/just-repeat-this-phrase-whenever-you-feel-the-urge-to-jump-some-other/) [Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/) > [I think I am less self-assured when I write English than I would be if I were writing in my first language. 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