The only way you can write the truth is to assume that what you set down will never be read. Not by any other person, and not even by yourself at some later date. Otherwise you begin excusing yourself. You must see the writing as emerging like a long scroll of ink from the index finger of your right hand; you must see your left hand erasing it.

Summary

This quote implies that true and honest writing can only be achieved when one writes without the expectation of it being read. The author suggests that anticipating an audience leads to self-censorship and the temptation to make excuses. To write truthfully, one must detach themselves from future scrutiny, imagining their words flowing freely from their fingertips and simultaneously being erased by their other hand. By disregarding the reader's judgment and one's own self-criticism, a writer can boldly express their thoughts without inhibition or compromise.

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