Appreciate Quote by John Cheever
“The poet or storyteller who feels that he is competing with a superb double play in the World Series is a lost man. One would not want as a reader a man who did not appreciate the finesse of a double play.”
About This Quote
The quote warns against writers who ignore the subtle craft of storytelling, likening them to a player who fails to recognize a perfect double play in baseball, thus missing the art of narrative finesse.
In simple terms: Neglecting narrative subtlety is a loss.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate craft, avoid superficiality.
Themes
craftsmanship
humility
literary criticism
sports metaphor
attention to detail
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
observation
advice
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- literary criticism
- author interviews
- reading groups
Key Concepts
storytelling
reading experience
authorial self-awareness
Practical Applications
- teaching narrative techniques
- guiding aspiring writers
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing subtlety improve your writing?
- What does the double‑play metaphor reveal about literary standards?
![“There is no second baseman in the game who can turn the double play better [than Mark Lemke]. Why are people always looking for offense at that position? What's more important is getting outs, and turning the double is a huge factor in getting outs.” quote by Tom Glavine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/911/tom-glavine-21376_factors_there-is-no-second-baseman-in-the-game-w_1182702.jpg)
![“One time in spring training, we had the hit-and-run on, and Carl Erskine threw me a curve and I struck out into a double play. I came back to the bench and Casey [Stengel] said, 'next time, tra-la-la.' I didn't know what tra-la-la meant, but next time up, I hit a line drive, right into a double…” quote by Whitey Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/98d/whitey-herzog-28696_benches_one-time-in-spring-training-we-had-the-h_818599.jpg)
