For, how could you expect me not to feel uneasy about what…
““For, how could you expect me not to feel uneasy about what that ancient lawgiver they call the Public will say when it sees me, after slumbering so many years in the silence of oblivion, coming out now with all my years upon my back, and with a book as dry as a rush, devoid of invention, meagre in style, poor in thoughts, wholly wanting in learning and wisdom, without quotations in the margin or annotations at the end, after the fashion of other books I see, which, though all fables and profanity, are so full of maxims from Aristotle, and Plato, and the whole herd of philosophers, that they fill the readers with amazement and convince them that the authors are men of learning, erudition, and eloquence. And””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator laments the dryness and lack of originality in contemporary works, contrasting them with classical philosophers.
In simple terms: Critique of modern books as dull and unoriginal.
Key Takeaway
Seek depth and originality in reading.
Themes
literature
critique
history
Mood
critical
scholarly
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- academic study
- writing workshops
Key Concepts
classical influence
literary standards
authorial intent
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a work timeless?
- How can modern authors honor classics?
A Different Perspective
Not all modern works lack merit.