Writing fiction is… an endless and always defeated effort to capture some quality of life without killing it.

Meaning of the quote

Writing fiction is like trying to catch a butterfly without hurting it. You want to capture the beauty and wonder of life, but you can never fully put it into words without losing some of its magic. It's a never-ending challenge, but one that writers keep trying to overcome, knowing they'll never fully succeed.

About Rose Wilder Lane

Rose Wilder Lane was an influential American writer and the daughter of author Laura Ingalls Wilder. She was one of the key advocates of the American libertarian movement, alongside other female writers like Ayn Rand and Isabel Paterson.

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