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If I were a first rate writer, I wouldn't mind a bit. What does depress me is this: it is so desperately hard and so obsessive and so lonely to write that, in return for all this work, one would like a little self satisfaction. And that is never going to come, for the simple reason that I do not deserve it. I cannot be a good enough writer. You see? I call it grim. But the future looks awfully clear to me.
Martha Gellhorn
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote expresses the struggle and loneliness that writers often feel while seeking validation for their work.

Martha Gellhorn reflects on the challenges of being a writer, highlighting the feelings of obsession and isolation that come with the craft. Despite the immense effort invested in writing, she conveys a sense of resignation regarding self-satisfaction and the belief that she may never reach the standard she aspires to. Yet, she ends on a note that suggests hope for the future, indicating a complex relationship with her art.

Themes

WritingLonelinessSelf-DoubtSatisfactionArtistic Struggle

In practice

Example use cases

In a creative writing workshop, to illustrate the difficulties of writing.

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Thousand got away to other countries; thousands returned to Spain tempted by false promises of kindness. By the tens of thousands, these Spaniards died of neglect in the concentration camps.
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