Quote by Ernest Hemingway

There is seven-eights of it under water for every part that shows. Anything you know you can eliminate and it only strengthens your iceberg. It is the part that doesn't show. If a writer omits something because he does not know it then there is a hole in the story.(Interview with , 1958)

There is seven-eights of it under water for every part that

Summary

This quote emphasizes the idea that the majority of what makes up a story or piece of writing is not explicitly stated or visible. Just like an iceberg, only a small portion is visible above the surface while the larger part remains hidden beneath. The quote suggests that by expanding our knowledge and including more details and context, we strengthen and enrich our writing. Conversely, if a writer leaves an important part out of their story because they lack knowledge about it, it creates an incomplete narrative or a "hole" in the story.

Topics

Writing Creative Process Completeness Omission

By Ernest Hemingway

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