The dull people decided years and years ago, as everyone…
“The dull people decided years and years ago, as everyone knows, that novel-writing was the lowest species of literary exertion, and that novel reading was a dangerous luxury and an utter waste of time.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker dismisses novel writing and reading as lowbrow and wasteful, reflecting a disdain for popular literature.
In simple terms: Novels are seen as trivial and harmful.
Question the value of popular fiction.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- book clubs
- publishing industry
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do some consider novels lowbrow?
- What benefits do novels provide?
Such views ignore novels’ social and artistic contributions.