"I took five years on the first volume, five years on the second volume, and ten years on the third volume"

In this quote, author Shelby Foote is discussing the quantity of time it took him to compose each volume of his book. He points out that it took him 5 years to complete the first volume, another 5 years for the 2nd volume, and a longer duration of 10 years for the third volume. This might suggest that Foote put a lot of effort and time into each volume, perhaps showing the depth and complexity of his work. It might likewise suggest that the third volume was more challenging to write, as it took two times as long as the previous two. Overall, this quote highlights the dedication and commitment needed to produce a thorough and well-crafted literary work.