Books Quote by Hervey M. Cleckley
““They also bring to mind what sometimes seems to be a rapt predilection of small but influential cults of intellectuals or esthetes for what is generally regarded as perverse dispirited or distastefully unintelligible. The award of a Nobel Prize in literature to Andre Gide who in his work fervently and openly insists that pederasty is the superior and preferable way of life for adolescent boys furnishes a memorable example of such judgments. Renowned critics and some professors in our best universities reverently acclaim as the superlative expression of genius James Joyce's Finnegan's Wake a 628page collection of erudite gibberish indistinguishable to most people from the familiar word salad produced by hebephrenic patients on the back wards of any state hospital.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Critique of Literary Elitism, 1970s
The quote condemns the tendency of elite intellectual circles to praise works that are obscure, incomprehensible, and often morally questionable, using examples like Joyce and Gide.
In simple terms: Elitist circles glorify obscure, controversial art.
Key Takeaway
Question the value of obscurity in art.
Themes
elitism
literary criticism
morality
culture
obscurity
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic seminars
- book clubs
- art reviews
- university curricula
Key Concepts
aesthetic relativism
cultural capital
ethical judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a work truly valuable?
- Should moral content affect artistic merit?
A Different Perspective
Obscurity may alienate audiences and hinder meaningful dialogue.
