--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything is allowable in literature…" description: "\"Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.\" — Howard Jacobson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/howard-jacobson-1484_books_everything-is-allowable-in-literature-bu_4544.jpg" --- # Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not… ![“Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.” quote by Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/howard-jacobson-1484_books_everything-is-allowable-in-literature-bu_4544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/howard-jacobson-1484_books_everything-is-allowable-in-literature-bu_4544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/howard-jacobson-1484_books_everything-is-allowable-in-literature-bu_4544.jpg) > “Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.” [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Literature permits any imaginative scenario, but criticism must stay grounded in logical plausibility, avoiding objections based solely on probability. **In simple terms:** Literature is boundless; criticism must be rational. Key Takeaway Critique should focus on internal coherence, not external odds. Themes literary theory critical standards probability vs plausibility creative freedom analytical rigor Mood analytical thoughtful critical Type theoretical statement critical guideline When to use this quote - reviewing a fantastical novel - evaluating a speculative essay - teaching a creative writing class - debating a sci‑fi plot device Key Concepts imaginative scope critical methodology probability objections logical consistency Practical Applications - apply a two‑step critique: first assess narrative intent, then test logical consistency Questions to Reflect On - When does probability become a fair criticism? - How can critics balance imaginative liberty with analytical standards? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowable Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowable-criticism-291823/) [Allowable Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowable-literature-291824/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Objection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-objection-291825/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Literature Allowable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature-allowable-291826/) [Objection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objection/) [Probability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probability/) ## Related quotes > [Man's objection to love is that it dies hard; woman's, that when it is dead, it stays dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/man-s-objection-to-love-is-that-it-dies-hard-woman-s-that-when-it-is/) [H. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [The objection to conforming to usages that have become dead to you is, that it scatters your force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-objection-to-conforming-to-usages-that-have-become-dead-to-you-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/you-want-to-tell-me-and-i-have-no-objection-to-hearing-it/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [When you can not help me to correct my quotations than you have no right to remove my name from my best creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/when-you-can-not-help-me-to-correct-my-quotations-than-you-have-no/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [In Japan, I live in a little neighborhood in the middle of nowhere. I don't have a bicycle or a car or anything, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/in-japan-i-live-in-a-little-neighborhood-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-i/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“If you take an objection in the ‘relative’, it is intellectual rationalism. ‘We’ don’t have intellectual rationalism. ‘We’ are abuddha (do not have intellect)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-you-take-an-objection-in-the-relative-it-is-intellectual/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The commonest objection to birth control is that it is against nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-commonest-objection-to-birth-control-is-that-it-is-against-nature/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think my wife would take objection to any characterization of me as perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blair-henry/i-think-my-wife-would-take-objection-to-any-characterization-of-me-as/) [Peter Blair Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blair-henry/) > [I have no objection to the concept of domestic partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-have-no-objection-to-the-concept-of-domestic-partnership/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [I have spoken to many, many Indian chiefs who say they have no objection whatsoever to the nickname.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-spoken-to-many-many-indian-chiefs-who-say-they-have-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To a strong, proven salesperson, an objection is as welcomed as a rain shower on a hot day because it proves that the client…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-a-strong-proven-salesperson-an-objection-is-as-welcomed-as-a-rain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“An objection which applies to all conduct can be no valid objection to any conduct in particular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/an-objection-which-applies-to-all-conduct-can-be-no-valid-objection/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [My great objection to this government is, that it does not leave us the means of defending our rights, or of waging war against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/my-great-objection-to-this-government-is-that-it-does-not-leave-us/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“Whenever they are condemning weaves or breast implants, some people speak so passionately that their false teeth almost fall out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-they-are-condemning-weaves-or-breast-implants-some-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Howard Jacobson > [There's a simple arithmetical logic at work. 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If you don't believe anything with robustness, you're doing something more radical than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/a-novelist-should-make-you-realize-nothing-is-stable-if-you-don-t/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [The Stop The War Coalition is a sort of home to Jew-haters because its hate music about Israel is so catchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/the-stop-the-war-coalition-is-a-sort-of-home-to-jew-haters-because/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [I've always said if a woman is looking for a good husband, she should go for a Jewish man past 60. 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