---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we've had rather too much dirt…"
description: "\"“I think we've had rather too much dirt rather than not enough. That's not a prudish English remark, but a statement of saturation. These up-and-coming..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/a-s-byatt-5275_nice-smile_i-think-we-ve-had-rather-too-much-dirt-r_2290199.jpg"
---

#  I think we've had rather too much dirt rather than not…

![“I think we've had rather too much dirt rather than not enough. That's not a prudish English remark, but a statement of saturation. These up-and-coming young men," she splutters. "Penelope Fitzgerald -- they think, 'Ah! Middle-aged lady with frizzy hair and a nice smile; she must be writing…” quote by A.S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/a-s-byatt-5275_nice-smile_i-think-we-ve-had-rather-too-much-dirt-r_2290199.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/a-s-byatt-5275_nice-smile_i-think-we-ve-had-rather-too-much-dirt-r_2290199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/a-s-byatt-5275_nice-smile_i-think-we-ve-had-rather-too-much-dirt-r_2290199.jpg)

> ““I think we've had rather too much dirt rather than not enough. That's not a prudish English remark, but a statement of saturation. These up-and-coming young men," she splutters. "Penelope Fitzgerald -- they think, 'Ah! Middle-aged lady with frizzy hair and a nice smile; she must be writing tastefully.' I say she's writing against taste, quite savagely. But they don't pick it up because they're brash young men poncing about, waving their blood and thunder and condoms!””

[A.S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She critiques the shallow, stereotypical expectations placed on older female writers, noting that younger men dismiss her work as merely tasteful, missing its fierce, unconventional nature.

**In simple terms:** Older women writers are unfairly judged by young men.

Key Takeaway

Challenge stereotypes and read beyond surface impressions.

Themes

gender age literary criticism stereotypes authorial intent

Mood

critical defiant

Type

analytical defensive

When to use this quote

- publishing industry
- academic discussions
- book clubs

Key Concepts

feminist critique literary analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- How does age affect literary reception?
- What biases influence your reading choices?

A Different Perspective

Young male readers may overlook depth due to bias.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dirt Prudish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt-prudish-5378011/) [Fitzgerald Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitzgerald-think-3442839/) [Nice smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-smile/) [Penelope Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penelope-fitzgerald-2142357/) [Prudish English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudish-english-5378012/) [Splutters Penelope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splutters-penelope-5378013/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/)

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## More by A.S. Byatt

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