Art of life Quote by Harold Bloom
““Literary criticism, as I attempt to practice it, is in the first place 'literary', which is to say personal and passionate. It is not philosophy, politics, or institutionalised religion. At its strongest - Johnson, Hazlitt, Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve, and Paul Valéer, among others - it is a kind of wisdom literature, and so a meditation upon life. Yet any distinction between literature and life is misleading. Literature for me is not merely the best part of life; it is itself the form of life, which has no other form.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Western Canon, 1994
Literary criticism should be personal, passionate, and a meditation on life, not a detached academic discipline.
In simple terms: Criticism is personal, life‑like.
Key Takeaway
Read and write with heart.
Themes
literature
criticism
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- teaching
- book clubs
- creative writing
- academic courses
Key Concepts
personal voice
wisdom
meditation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your life inform your reading?
- Can criticism be both personal and scholarly?
A Different Perspective
Over‑personalization may limit objective analysis.
