Books Quote by Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve
““Nothing is more painful to me than the disdain with which people treat second-rate authors, as if there were room only for the first-raters.””
About This Quote
The speaker laments the cultural bias that elevates only top-tier writers, marginalizing competent but less celebrated authors.
In simple terms: Critique of literary elitism
Key Takeaway
Value all contributions
Themes
literary criticism
cultural bias
elitism
recognition
authorship
Mood
reflective
critical
empathetic
Type
observation
critique
reflection
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- academic curricula
- publishing decisions
- literary awards
- media reviews
Key Concepts
authorial merit
social hierarchy
valuation
inclusion
Practical Applications
- advocating inclusive literary criticism
- reforming award criteria
Questions to Reflect On
- How does elitism affect literary diversity?
- What criteria should define 'first-rate'?
![“The nearest approach to the infallible in literary judgment is represented in the colossal work of the teacher of all these three [Edmund Gosse, Edward Dowden and George Saintsbury], the greatest critic that ever lived - not an Englishman, but a Frenchman, the wonderful Sainte-Beuve.” quote by Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/74e/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve_approach_the-nearest-approach-to-the-infallible-i_848491.jpg)
