I never went to college, so I went to the library.
Ray BradburyRead
I've written about 2,000 short stories; I've only published 300 and I feel I'm still learning. Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he'll eventually make some kind of career for himself as a writer. Ray Bradbury, 1967 interview (Doing the Math - that means for every story he sold, he wrote six "un-publishable" ones. Keep typing!)
Interpretation
What this quote means
Persistence and hard work lead to success, regardless of immediate recognition.
In this quote, Ray Bradbury emphasizes the importance of dedication and continuous effort in the pursuit of writing. He acknowledges that while not every piece of work may be published or recognized, the consistent practice and hard work are what ultimately contribute to a writer's success and career development.
Themes
PersistenceHard WorkSuccessWritingLearning
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on creativity, one might quote this to inspire writers to keep churning out content.
More from Ray Bradbury
All quotes →There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.
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I think the sun is a flower, That blooms for just one hour.
Ray BradburyRead
The first thing a writer should be is - excited. He should be a thing of fevers and enthusiasms. Without such vigor, he might as well be out picking peaches or digging ditches; God knows it'd be better for his health.
Ray BradburyRead
You can't try to do things; you simply must do them.
Ray BradburyRead
Ask no guarantees, ask for no security, there never was such an animal. And if there was it would be related to the great sloth which hangs upside down in a tree all day every day, sleeping its life away.
Ray BradburyRead
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