Revision Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old revision quotes, revision sayings, and revision proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

That’s the magic of revisions – every cut is necessary, and every cut hurts, but something new always grows. Kelly Barnhill
One great aim of revision is to cut out. In the exuberance of composition it is natural to throw in - as one does in speaking - a number of small words that add nothing to meaning but keep up the flow and rhythm of thought. In writing, not only does this surplusage not add to meaning, it subtracts from it. Read and revise, reread and revise, keeping reading and revising until your text seems adequate to your thought. Jacques Barzun
God Himself has reserved no right of revision of His own laws nor is there any need for Him for any such revision. Mahatma Gandhi
But revision is a creative act, not merely an analytical imposition of rules of style on a more creative first draft. That's a myth - that the first draft is more creative and everything after that is ruining creativity. K. M. Soehnlein
Revision is its own reward. Marianne Moore
Revision is one of the exquisite pleasures of writing. Bernard Malamud
The moment clients realize that revisions are not an all-you-can-eat buffet, suddenly they realize they are not hungry. Lester Beall
The novel is never really in the first draft. The novel really happens in the revisions. Tama Janowitz
The writer’s life is a life of revisions. Jonathan Franzen
Revision is not the end of the creative process, but a new beginning. It's a chance not just to clean up and edit, but to open up and discover. John Dufresne
The great thing about revision is that it's your opportunity to fake being brilliant. Will Shetterly
Revision, once well done, becomes a sort of automatic itch which you scratch in the next work without thinking about it. Romulus Linney
In revision, your imagination becomes deeply engaged with your material. It's when you come to know your characters and begin to perceive their motivations and values. John Dufresne
Revision is a good impulse to have. Rigoberto Gonzalez
Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change. Richard Branson
Revision is not going back and fussing around, but going forward into the process of creation May Sarton
Writing is revision. All prose responds to work. Tracy Kidder