He that tries to recommend (Shakespeare) by select…
“He that tries to recommend (Shakespeare) by select quotations, will succeed like the pedant in "Hierocles", who, when he offered his house to sale, carried a brick in his pocket as a specimen”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Selective quoting reduces complex works to pedantic fragments, missing their full value.
In simple terms: Selective quotes miss the whole work.
Key Takeaway
Engage with complete texts, not fragments.
Themes
literature
quotation
pedantry
depth
Mood
critical
educational
Type
essayistic
historical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- book clubs
- teaching
Key Concepts
critical theory
literary analysis
education
Questions to Reflect On
- How does context change meaning?
- When is quoting appropriate?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on quotes can oversimplify.