Assuming Quote by Arnold Bennett
“Nearly all bookish people are snobs, and especially the more enlightened among them. They are apt to assume that if a writer has immense circulation, if he is enjoyed by plain persons, and if he can fill several theatres at once, he cannont possibly be worth reading and merits only indifference and disdain.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Bookish Snob" (1905)
People often dismiss popular writers, assuming mass appeal means low quality, revealing elitist bias.
In simple terms: Popularity doesn't equal poor quality.
Key Takeaway
Judge works on merit, not audience size.
Themes
elitism
literary criticism
pop culture
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- reading clubs
- publishing decisions
- education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
cultural bias
value judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you value a work for its ideas or its popularity?
- How can you recognize bias in your reading choices?
A Different Perspective
Such sweeping judgments can overlook nuanced works.
