Casts Quote by Anne Bradstreet
“I am obnoxious to each carping tongue/ Who says my hand a needle better fits./ A poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong/ For such despite they cast on female wits;/ If what I do prove well, it won't advance,/ They'll say it's stolen, or else, it was by chance.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Author to Her Book", 1650
The poet anticipates criticism, attributing any perceived flaws to external judgments rather than her own skill, and worries that success will be dismissed as luck or theft.
In simple terms: She fears criticism will paint her work as flawed or stolen.
Key Takeaway
Accept criticism, trust your talent.
Themes
criticism
self‑doubt
authorial identity
gender bias
Mood
reflective
defiant
hopeful
Type
literary
feminist
personal.
When to use this quote
- publishing a manuscript
- presenting creative work
- receiving feedback
- defending artistic choices
Key Concepts
feminist literature
authorial voice
self‑perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish constructive criticism from bias?
- What steps can protect your work’s integrity?
A Different Perspective
Critics may be biased, and external validation can be unreliable.
