“That's the trouble with good writers. Only the bad ones make you want to do the human thing and look away.”

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Meaning

The speaker is saying that strong writers are so compelling that you keep reading even when their work is uncomfortable. Weak writers are easier to ignore because they do not hold your attention in the same way. The line also suggests that good writing can be hard to turn away from, even when it feels emotionally demanding.

When It Was Said

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Who It Was Said To

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Historical Context

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Source

Stuff I've Been Reading (2013)

Original Language & Translation

Originally said in English.

Did They Really Say It?

The phrase appears in the book "Stuff I've Been Reading (2013)" by Nick Hornby (Google Books snippet); no earlier source was checked.

Did You Know?

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About Nick Hornby

English writer

Nick Hornby is an English writer. He is best known for the memoir Fever Pitch and the novels High Fidelity and About a Boy, all three of which were adapted into feature films. His work often returns to music, sport, and the restless or obsessive lives of his characters. His books had sold more than 5 million copies worldwide by 2018. In a 2004 BBC poll, he was named the 29th most influential person in British culture, and he received Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay for An Education and Brooklyn.

More from Nick Hornby (213 quotes) →

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Books by Nick Hornby

High Fidelity

2000

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About a Boy

2002

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How to Be Good

2001

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Fever Pitch

2001

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A Long Way Down

2005

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