--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Few writers in history have ever been…" description: "\"Few writers in history have ever been 'politically correct' (a notion that rapidly changes in any case), and there's no reason to imagine that gay writ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/edmund-white-2376_any_few-writers-in-history-have-ever-been-po_2106668.png" --- # Few writers in history have ever been 'politically… ![“Few writers in history have ever been 'politically correct' (a notion that rapidly changes in any case), and there's no reason to imagine that gay writers will ever suit their readers, especially since that readership is splintered into ghettos within ghettos.” quote by Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/edmund-white-2376_any_few-writers-in-history-have-ever-been-po_2106668.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/edmund-white-2376_any_few-writers-in-history-have-ever-been-po_2106668.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/edmund-white-2376_any_few-writers-in-history-have-ever-been-po_2106668.png) > “Few writers in history have ever been 'politically correct' (a notion that rapidly changes in any case), and there's no reason to imagine that gay writers will ever suit their readers, especially since that readership is splintered into ghettos within ghettos.” [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers cannot fully satisfy all readers, especially as audiences fragment into niche groups, making universal appeal impossible. **In simple terms:** Writers can’t please everyone due to fragmented audiences. Key Takeaway Accept diverse readerships and write authentically. Themes literature identity politics audience fragmentation Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - publishing - marketing - community building - reader engagement - social media discourse Key Concepts cultural studies sexuality political correctness Questions to Reflect On - How do niche communities shape literary trends? - Can writers balance authenticity with broad appeal? A Different Perspective It overlooks the value of targeted, niche audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Politically correct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politically-correct/) [Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [How many writers in history have ever been as famous as Stephen King? He casts an awfully long shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-golden/how-many-writers-in-history-have-ever-been-as-famous-as-stephen-king/) [Christopher Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-golden/) > [I think writers are the history keepers, right? We're the ones who are bearing witness to what's going on in the world. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-think-writers-are-the-history-keepers-right-we-re-the-ones-who-are/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I had this sense that I was part of, sort of a lineage of artists and writers through history that have had mood disorders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-forney/i-had-this-sense-that-i-was-part-of-sort-of-a-lineage-of-artists-and/) [Ellen Forney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-forney/) > [Maybe the most interesting thing gay writers can do is show the tension between the breadth of gay experiences and the unity of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vestal-mcintyre/maybe-the-most-interesting-thing-gay-writers-can-do-is-show-the/) [Vestal McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vestal-mcintyre/) > [Directly after Rock Hudson's death came the fears that gay writers and actors and directors would be denied jobs; who knew if they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shnayerson/directly-after-rock-hudson-s-death-came-the-fears-that-gay-writers/) [Michael Shnayerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shnayerson/) > [The writers who have been serious about recreating American literature have always been far and few between. What we do have at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/the-writers-who-have-been-serious-about-recreating-american/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [I don't think of gay writers. I mean if you were to say to me who are the straight writers, well, you wouldn't ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/i-don-t-think-of-gay-writers-i-mean-if-you-were-to-say-to-me-who-are/) [Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/) > [“Amply described blowjobs and anal scenes may stigmatise gay writers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graves/amply-described-blowjobs-and-anal-scenes-may-stigmatise-gay-writers/) [Michael Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graves/) > [Gay writers now have both a sense of history and the fables that allows them to dwell in the realms of the ridiculous and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/gay-writers-now-have-both-a-sense-of-history-and-the-fables-that/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [It does seem like between the groundbreaking writing of Edmund White's generation and the work of younger gay writers in their twenties and thirties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-greenwell/it-does-seem-like-between-the-groundbreaking-writing-of-edmund-white/) [Garth Greenwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-greenwell/) > [I try really hard to ask people to take a look at their bookshelves. 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In France, it is different; writers are called upon to comment on everything. 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