--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [French] authors are more afraid of…" description: "\"[French] authors are more afraid of offending delicacy and rules, than ambitious of sublimity.\" — Horace Walpole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/horace-walpole-3357_ambitious_french-authors-are-more-afraid-of-offend_1281451.jpg" --- # \[French\] authors are more afraid of offending delicacy and… ![“[French] authors are more afraid of offending delicacy and rules, than ambitious of sublimity.” quote by Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/horace-walpole-3357_ambitious_french-authors-are-more-afraid-of-offend_1281451.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/horace-walpole-3357_ambitious_french-authors-are-more-afraid-of-offend_1281451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/horace-walpole-3357_ambitious_french-authors-are-more-afraid-of-offend_1281451.jpg) > “\[French\] authors are more afraid of offending delicacy and rules, than ambitious of sublimity.” [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. French authors prioritize delicacy over ambition, limiting artistic daring. **In simple terms:** Caution limits creativity. Key Takeaway Balance delicacy with boldness. Themes art culture creativity Mood reflective thoughtful Type historical literary When to use this quote - writing workshops - artistic direction - editorial policy - cultural studies Key Concepts literary criticism historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can artists maintain sensitivity while being bold? - What examples show successful balance? A Different Perspective Excessive caution can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Offending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-offending-4141894/) [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Authors Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authors-afraid-4141892/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Delicacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delicacy/) [French Authors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/french-authors-4141893/) [Offending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offending/) [Offending Delicacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offending-delicacy-4141895/) [Sublimity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sublimity/) ## Related quotes > [“Afraid of offending with an off word or the slightest insensitivity, I keep an unobtrusive and silent distance. Nevertheless, my pursed lips and offish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/afraid-of-offending-with-an-off-word-or-the-slightest-insensitivity-i/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [There is no official censorship in literature, but I feel a certain fear when I see that a kind of self-censorship is developing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-tokarczuk/there-is-no-official-censorship-in-literature-but-i-feel-a-certain/) [Olga Tokarczuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-tokarczuk/) > [With the passage of years, not all of Dicken's readers remained infatuated with his pathos. One generation's sublimity became another generation's kitsch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gay/with-the-passage-of-years-not-all-of-dicken-s-readers-remained/) [Peter Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gay/) > [The sublimity of wisdom is to do those things living that are desired when dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sublimity-of-wisdom-is-to-do-those-things-living-that-are-desired/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sublimity-of-administration-consists-in-knowing-the-proper-degree/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We sing lyrical excess, exacerbated expressionism, imponed objectivity, inventiveness, meta-baroque, extravaganza, super metaphor, sublimity, strident, exposure, super-pone, noise, super-objectivity, zillionism, fragmentation and aesthetics of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lepota-l-cosmo/we-sing-lyrical-excess-exacerbated-expressionism-imponed-objectivity/) [Lepota L. 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We are all reptiles, miserable, sinful creatures. It is piety alone that can distinguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/but-alas-my-lord-what-is-blood-what-is-nobility-we-are-all-reptiles/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-do-not-admire-politicians-but-when-they-are-excellent-in-their-way/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Alexander at the head of the world never tasted the true pleasure that boys of his own age have enjoyed at the head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/alexander-at-the-head-of-the-world-never-tasted-the-true-pleasure/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-whole-secret-of-life-is-to-be-interested-in-one-thing-profoundly/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The best philosophy is to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot; bless the goodness that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-best-philosophy-is-to-do-one-s-duties-take-the-world-as-it-comes/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/oh-that-i-were-seated-as-high-as-my-ambition-i-d-place-my-naked-foot/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) [Explore all 132 Horace Walpole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. 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