Quote wall: Barack Obama

On the bulletin board above my desk, I keep a handful of quotes that have taught me something, or that I hope to learn from.

Here's one:

Better is really good.

—Barack Obama, on The Wilderness podcast

Our former president was, of course, referring to the slow and difficult improvement of our democracy. But I like this quote from an editing perspective: With each draft, I aim for better. It's not always explosive or even visible, but it's there, a little stronger than it was before.