Many causes may vitiate a writer's judgement of his own…
“Many causes may vitiate a writer's judgement of his own works. On that which has cost him much labour he sets a high value, because he is unwilling to think that he has been diligent in vain: what has been produced without toilsome efforts is considered with delight as a proof of vigorous faculties and fertile invention; and the last work, whatever it be, has necessarily most of the grace of novelty.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Writers overvalue works that required great effort, assuming difficulty equals quality, while neglecting easier, possibly better pieces.
In simple terms: Hard work is mistaken for quality.
Key Takeaway
Beware equating effort with merit.
Themes
valuation
eff
selfbias
Mood
introspective
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- self‑assessment
- publication decisions
Key Concepts
effort bias
selfdeception
creative judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you judge work by its difficulty?
- Can simplicity be superior?
A Different Perspective
Effort does not guarantee excellence.