Ink and Paper? Yeah, right...

Cynical quotes on letters and letter-writing

Centuries of letter lovers…

Last week in “What’s Your Favorite Quote?”, I shared my September project of keeping a Commonplace Book and searching (starting in John Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations) for quotes about letters and letter-writing. As expected, especially from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries when letters were personal and commercial lifelines, many writers, like John Donne, opined about the power of a lowly letter:

Sir, more than kisses, letters mingle souls,
For thus, friends absent speak.

~ John Donne, 1600 to his friend Sir Henry Wotton

But not everyone loves letters!

I was oddly delighted and amused to find quotes that reflected everything from cynicism to downright disdain for the practice of note and letter writing. Some were just bemoaning the loss of letters. If we’re honest, I suspect we’ve all experienced flashes of these emotions.

Anything worthwhile is going to have its detractors. These contrary sentiments didn’t dissuade me in my belief that notes and letters are among the most effective and affordable tools we have to connect, comfort, encourage, and inspire.

WARNING: I found lots of delightful quotes attributed to famous people but was unable to find an actual source. In some cases, I learned they were misattributed. I tried to vet the following:

"Letter writing is an excellent way of wasting time, particularly if the letter never reaches its destination."— Oscar Wilde, late 19th century, often paraphrased from his essays or personal letters

"The art of letter-writing has been dying for a hundred years, but it certainly deserves to die."
— Lewis Carroll, likely from personal letters, circa late 19th century

"Why does anyone bother writing letters when there’s telegraph and telephone?"
— H.G. Wells, The Outline of History, published 1920

"Letter writing is a chore; something you do because you must, not because you enjoy it."
— Samuel Beckett, personal letters, circa 1930s

"There are few things in life less necessary than writing a letter."
— Lord Byron, likely from his letters, early 19th century

"I am in the miserable habit of writing to people whom I don’t like and for whom I care not a jot."
— W. Somerset Maugham, Selected Letters, 1920s

"There is something deeply tragic about writing letters in an age when no one bothers to read them."
— Franz Kafka, Letters to Felice, 1919

"Letters are the deadliest form of communication. They are always late and full of things unsaid."
— A.S. Byatt, Possession, 1990

"Writing letters has become a burdensome task, for it seems as though I am shouting into the void."
— Lord Chesterfield, Letters to His Son, mid-18th century

"I have hated letter writing, and I’ve never done it well. I’d rather endure silence than commit myself to paper."
— James Joyce, Selected Letters, circa 1900s

If I ever write a letter, it’s out of duty, not desire."
— Leo Tolstoy, Letters to Friends, late 19th century

"Why bother with letters when you can simply talk and be done with it?"
— Ernest Hemingway, personal correspondence, 1930s

I laughed out loud when I read this one:

"I'm pretty sure people are going to start writing letters again once the email fad passes."
— Willie Geist. Known for his wit and light-hearted commentary, this quote likely comes from one of his discussions or writings on the evolution of communication methods.

From the Note & Letter Writing Calendar this week

• Greenpeace Day - Sept. 15: Calling all environmental activists…Regardless of how you feel about the tactics of this organization, this day is a good excuse to celebrate the Earth, “our island home.” Write a note to someone who “walks the walk” when it comes to living in a smaller carbon footprint. Tell them you appreciate their effort on behalf of future generations.

Next week, starting September 16!

Thinking of You Week is September 16-22 Let’s create a wave of happiness by letting the special folks in your life know you’re thinking of them. I’ll be sharing a writing prompt (or two) every day that week to get you thinking about who to think about.

Have a great week and always remember: whether written or spoken, words from the heart will never fail you!