--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most accomplished literary work would…" description: "\"The most accomplished literary work would be reduced to nothing by carping criticism, if the author would listen to all critics and allow every one to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_accomplished_the-most-accomplished-literary-work-woul_2050556.png" --- # The most accomplished literary work would be reduced to… ![“The most accomplished literary work would be reduced to nothing by carping criticism, if the author would listen to all critics and allow every one to erase the passage which pleases him the least.” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_accomplished_the-most-accomplished-literary-work-woul_2050556.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_accomplished_the-most-accomplished-literary-work-woul_2050556.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bee/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_accomplished_the-most-accomplished-literary-work-woul_2050556.png) > “The most accomplished literary work would be reduced to nothing by carping criticism, if the author would listen to all critics and allow every one to erase the passage which pleases him the least.” [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listening to every critic and letting them erase disliked passages destroys artistic integrity. **In simple terms:** Heeding all criticism erases a work. Key Takeaway Protect creative vision. Themes art criticism integrity Mood reflective defensive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - editing - publishing - literary criticism Key Concepts authorial intent creative control Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance feedback with personal vision? - When should an artist ignore critics? A Different Perspective Too many opinions can dilute original purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Critic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critic/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-author-3861222/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Critics Allow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics-allow-3861223/) [Erase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erase/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Listen Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-critics-258657/) [Literary works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-works/) [Passages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passages/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [The worst advice? 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No other criterion exists for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/i-divide-all-literary-works-into-two-categories-those-i-like-and/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Great books are readable anyway. Dickens is readable. Jane Austen is readable. John Updike's readable. Hawthorne's readable. It's a meaningless term. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/great-books-are-readable-anyway-dickens-is-readable-jane-austen-is/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [It's still true that literary works by women, gays, and writers of color are often framed as specific, rather than universal, small rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/it-s-still-true-that-literary-works-by-women-gays-and-writers-of/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) ## More by Jean de la Bruyere > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [The unfaithful woman, if she is known for such by the person concerned, is only unfaithful. 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