Age Quote by George Bernard Shaw
“The writer who aims at producing the platitudes which are "not for an age, but for all time" has his reward in being unreadable inall ages… The man who writes about himself and his own time is the only sort of man who writes about all people and about all time.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Quintessence of Drama, 1905
Writing timeless truths makes work unreadable; personal, contemporary writing connects to all people across ages.
In simple terms: Timeless writing is obscure; personal writing is universal.
Key Takeaway
Write about present experiences to reach future readers.
Themes
timelessness
personal relevance
universality
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- journalism
- public speaking
- teaching
Key Concepts
literary criticism
authorial voice
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a work both timeless and readable?
- How does personal perspective broaden appeal?
A Different Perspective
Timeless ideals may alienate readers.
