“The hardest thing to do is to write straight honest prose on human beings”

Simplified Meaning:

It's really tricky to write plain, truthful things about people. Just think about when you have to talk about your best friend. You know a lot about them, both good and bad. But it can be hard to sum them up without feeling like you’re leaving something important out or being unfair. Writing honestly about people means telling the truth about their strengths and flaws. For example, imagine a biography of a famous leader. It needs to highlight their achievements, like leading a country, but it also has to be clear about their mistakes and tough decisions. This balance is what makes writing about people so challenging because real people are complex. If you want to try this in your life, start by being straightforward and fair when you describe others. Don’t add things that aren’t true or leave out important details just because they’re unpleasant. This way, you'll respect both the person and the reader, and your writing will come across as genuine and trustworthy.