Books Quote by Gaston Bachelard
““Here the phenomenologist has nothing in common with the literary critic who, as has frequently been noted, judges a work that he could not create and, if we are to believe certain facile condemnations, would not want to create. A literary critic is a reader who is necessarily severe. By turning inside out like a glove an overworked complex that has become debased to the point of being part of the vocabulary of statesmen, we might say that the literary critic and the professor of rhetoric, who know-all and judge-all, readily go in for a simplex of superiority. As for me, being an addict of felicitous reading, I only read and re-read what I like, with a bit of reader's pride mixed in with much enthusiasm.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Phenomenology of Criticism” by Gaston Bachelard, 1965
Critics often claim authority without creating, leading to a superiority complex; true appreciation comes from personal enthusiasm and selective reading.
In simple terms: Critics can be elitist; personal joy matters.
Key Takeaway
Read what you love and stay humble.
Themes
criticism
elitism
personal taste
humility
reading practice
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- academic reviews
- personal reading habits
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Phenomenology
literary theory
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be a “good” critic?
- How can humility improve literary analysis?
A Different Perspective
Superiority can blind genuine insight.
