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a man who is well brought-up may read anything. The only…

“a man who is well brought-up may read anything. The only people who boggle at what is perfectly natural are those who are the worst swine and the finest experts in filth. In their utterly contemptible pseudo-morality they ignore the contents and madly attack individual words.” quote by Arkady Strugatsky
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““a man who is well brought-up may read anything. The only people who boggle at what is perfectly natural are those who are the worst swine and the finest experts in filth. In their utterly contemptible pseudo-morality they ignore the contents and madly attack individual words.””

Arkady Strugatsky

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Critique of moralistic critics who attack language superficially while ignoring deeper meaning.

In simple terms: Some critics focus on words, not substance.

Key Takeaway

Look beyond surface criticism to understand intent.

Themes

criticism language morality

Mood

skeptical analytical

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

  • literary analysis
  • public discourse
  • media criticism

Key Concepts

pseudo-morality semantic attack

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do people focus on word choice over ideas?
  • How can we balance linguistic precision with deeper understanding?
A Different Perspective

Such critiques can dismiss legitimate concerns about harmful language.

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