Books Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
“In the nineteenth century one had to give all sorts of guarantees and lead an exemplary life in order to cleanse oneself in the eyes of the bourgeois of the sin of writing, for literature is, in essence, heresy. The situation has not changed except that it is now the Communists, that is, the qualified representatives of the proletariat, who as a matter of principle regard the writer as suspect.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Literary Critic and the Bourgeois," 1930s
Literature is viewed as subversive, judged by prevailing powers, whether bourgeois or communist, making writers perpetually suspect.
In simple terms: Writing is seen as dangerous and judged by those in power.
Key Takeaway
Be aware of how authority shapes artistic perception.
Themes
art
politics
authority
creativity
Mood
critical
defiant
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- publishing
- censorship
- career decisions
- public reception
Key Concepts
subversion
social control
ideology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does power influence artistic expression?
- Can writers maintain integrity under scrutiny?
A Different Perspective
Even with regime change, suspicion persists, limiting freedom.
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