Authors Quote by Jack McClelland
““I would not employ an author to referee a Ping-Pong match. By their very nature they are biased and bloody-minded. Better put a fox in a henhouse than to ask an author to judge his peers. (in a letter to the Governor General about the GA's Literary Awards & his issue--among others--with the judging system, 1981)””
About This Quote
Source Letter to Governor General, 1981, Canada
Authors are inherently biased, making them unsuitable judges for literary awards; a fox in a henhouse illustrates the danger of trusting the compromised.
In simple terms: Authors can’t fairly judge peers.
Key Takeaway
Avoid using insiders as judges.
Themes
bias
fairness
literary awards
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
cautionary
analytical
When to use this quote
- award committees
- publishing houses
- peer review
- selection panels
Key Concepts
conflict of interest
judgment
integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure impartiality in award judging?
- What safeguards reduce bias?
A Different Perspective
Bias may be mitigated with transparent criteria, but personal stakes remain.
