Of course, there are those critics - New York critics as a…
“Of course, there are those critics - New York critics as a rule - who say, 'Well, Maya Angelou has a new book out and of course it's good but then she's a natural writer.' Those are the ones I want to grab by the throat and wrestle to the floor because it takes me forever to get it to sing. I work at the language.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She expresses frustration with critics who label her work as naturally good, feeling compelled to prove its artistic merit.
In simple terms: She is annoyed by critics calling her work naturally good.
Key Takeaway
Earn respect through effort.
Themes
creativity
criticism
artistic integrity
Mood
defensive
determined
Type
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- book launches
- author talks
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
literary criticism
self‑validation
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you think talent alone is enough?
- How can artists balance confidence and humility?
A Different Perspective
Critics may have valid points about innate talent.