As far as modern writing is concerned, it is rarely rewarding to translate it, although it might be easy. Translation is very much like copying paintings.

Summary

This quote suggests that translating modern writing may not be as fulfilling or valuable as it may appear to be, despite being a relatively simple task. The comparison made here is that translation is akin to duplicating paintings. Just as copying an artwork may lack the originality and depth of the original, translating modern writing may potentially miss out on the nuances and artistic elements of the original text. It implies that translating literature involves more than mere linguistic transfer and requires capturing the essence and creativity of the writing.

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