This quote by Flaubert emphasizes the importance of carefully observing things for writers. This is because the writer’s duty and responsibility is to pay attention to their surroundings and be aware of details that others may not notice and then to detail them accurately in their writing. This means that they must observe their environment intensely and mindfully in order to create the most vivid and accurate images in the reader’s mind. In essence, the writer’s duty as a storyteller is to pay close attention to their surroundings and use their observations to create detailed and meaningful stories.