"Littera scripta manet - 'The written word will remain'. That's true, but it won't be that much comfort to me"

Christopher Hitchens, understood for his sharp wit and profound insights, typically reviewed themes around death, tradition, and the permanence-- or impermanence-- of human undertakings. The quote "Littera scripta manet - 'The written word will stay'. That's true, however it won't be that much convenience to me" encapsulates a nuanced viewpoint on the value of the composed word.

The Latin phrase "Littera scripta manet" communicates the concept that words, once devoted to paper or another medium, endure beyond their author's temporal life. It recommends a form of immortality, as composed records can outlive human memory and private life-spans, preserving ideas, concepts, and expressions for future generations. In this sense, the act of composing offers a semblance of permanence in a transient world, offering a way to communicate throughout time.

However, Hitchens, with his characteristic skepticism, complicates this notion. By admitting that this permanence will not provide "that much convenience", he suggests an acknowledgment that the physical durability of composed work is not equivalent to personal solace or satisfaction. This could reflect an understanding that while one's words may continue, the private experiences, emotions, and awareness that birthed those words do not.

Moreover, Hitchens might be recommending a detach between public tradition and personal existential consolation. The endurance of one's words offers little reassurance in the face of personal mortality; the composed word's survival can't accompany the author into oblivion or provide comfort in death. It raises existential concerns about the true worth of tradition and the human desire for ongoing relevance or influence.

In essence, Hitchens' reflection implies that while literature and composed expressions can bridge generations, offering wisdom and guidance, they eventually do little to alleviate the instant, existential issues of the writer confronted with their death. The long-lasting power of the written word is acknowledged, yet concurrently critiqued for its limitations in supplying real convenience to its developer.