--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think that the Pulitzer should be…" description: "\"I don't think that the Pulitzer should be given the way it is. I think the competition should be anonymous. I think completely different people would w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d28/john-corigliano-33085_competition_i-don-t-think-that-the-pulitzer-should-b_2056825.jpg" --- # I don't think that the Pulitzer should be given the way it… ![“I don't think that the Pulitzer should be given the way it is. I think the competition should be anonymous. I think completely different people would win it if the names were taken off because a lot of it is done on relationships and names.” quote by John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d28/john-corigliano-33085_competition_i-don-t-think-that-the-pulitzer-should-b_2056825.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d28/john-corigliano-33085_competition_i-don-t-think-that-the-pulitzer-should-b_2056825.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d28/john-corigliano-33085_competition_i-don-t-think-that-the-pulitzer-should-b_2056825.jpg) > “I don't think that the Pulitzer should be given the way it is. I think the competition should be anonymous. I think completely different people would win it if the names were taken off because a lot of it is done on relationships and names.” [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The award system favors known names and connections, suggesting anonymity could yield more merit‑based outcomes. **In simple terms:** Current Pulitzer favors fame; anonymity might improve fairness. Key Takeaway Advocate for blind judging. Themes fairness recognition bias literature Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - Literary awards - journalistic integrity - cultural prestige Key Concepts award committees author reputation selection criteria Questions to Reflect On - Would anonymity change your work? - What biases exist in your field? A Different Perspective Changing the process may face institutional resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Competition Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition-anonymous-3903694/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-people/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Names Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names-taken-2809732/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulitzer/) [Pulitzer Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulitzer-given-3903693/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Think Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-pulitzer-1190197/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It seemed impossible that a scrappy book like 'Goon Squad' could win an award like that. It's such an iconic honor. I think what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/it-seemed-impossible-that-a-scrappy-book-like-goon-squad-could-win-an/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I think that the Pulitzer Prize is definitely a blessing, but it's also a curse. Because I think that it is a blessing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nilo-cruz/i-think-that-the-pulitzer-prize-is-definitely-a-blessing-but-it-s/) [Nilo Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nilo-cruz/) > [When I look at Perfidia, I think, "That's a Pulitzer Prize winner. That's a National Book Award winner." It's not going to get it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/when-i-look-at-perfidia-i-think-that-s-a-pulitzer-prize-winner-that-s/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [The history of Buenos Aires is written in its telephone directory. Pompey Romanov, Emilio Rommel, Crespina D. Z. de Rose, Ladislao Radziwil, and Elizabeta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/the-history-of-buenos-aires-is-written-in-its-telephone-directory/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [“Perhaps when we die our names are taken from us by a divine magnet and are free to flutter here and there within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/perhaps-when-we-die-our-names-are-taken-from-us-by-a-divine-magnet/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [I'm glad I won it because when I grew up the Pulitzer was the award that every composer wanted and I was like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/i-m-glad-i-won-it-because-when-i-grew-up-the-pulitzer-was-the-award/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [You become a great composer when you win a Pulitzer. But I think that now it's a completely meaningless award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/you-become-a-great-composer-when-you-win-a-pulitzer-but-i-think-that/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [It's like a series of waves hitting you. First, getting excerpted in the 'New Yorker' last summer, then getting published, then the best-seller list,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/it-s-like-a-series-of-waves-hitting-you-first-getting-excerpted-in/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [If you are making money writing, you are doing great. If you can support yourself writing, you are a success. I don't care if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/if-you-are-making-money-writing-you-are-doing-great-if-you-can/) [Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/) > [The Pulitzer has nothing to do with me; it's more about people's perceptions of me, whatever they may be. I'm not being humble -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay-abaire/the-pulitzer-has-nothing-to-do-with-me-it-s-more-about-people-s/) [David Lindsay-Abaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay-abaire/) > [“Annie Dillard was a pioneer in her Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1974. Among other notable examples are David…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/annie-dillard-was-a-pioneer-in-her-pilgrim-at-tinker-creek-which-won/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > ['To Kill a Mockingbird' appeared to highly favorable reviews and quickly climbed to the top of bestseller lists, where it remained for more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-j-shields/to-kill-a-mockingbird-appeared-to-highly-favorable-reviews-and/) [Charles J. Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-j-shields/) > [I knew from experience at the Negro Ensemble Company that it wasn't until there was a place controlled by black artists... that Pulitzer Prize-winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/i-knew-from-experience-at-the-negro-ensemble-company-that-it-wasn-t/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) > [Winning the Pulitzer is wonderful and it's an honor and I feel so humbled and so grateful, but I think that I'll think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhumpa-lahiri/winning-the-pulitzer-is-wonderful-and-it-s-an-honor-and-i-feel-so/) [Jhumpa Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhumpa-lahiri/) > [The Pulitzer Prize was established when Joseph Pulitzer died in 1911, leaving a bequest to create the eponymous award. An immigrant from Hungary, Pulitzer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-scovell/the-pulitzer-prize-was-established-when-joseph-pulitzer-died-in-1911/) [Nell Scovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-scovell/) ## More by John Corigliano > [You become a great composer when you win a Pulitzer. But I think that now it's a completely meaningless award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/you-become-a-great-composer-when-you-win-a-pulitzer-but-i-think-that/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [The structural thinking I use in the concert hall is unnecessary to most film projects, and most film composers make better use of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/the-structural-thinking-i-use-in-the-concert-hall-is-unnecessary-to/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [Eighty percent of my pieces gravitate towards an A, as a tonal thing, not at the beginning, but somewhere in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/eighty-percent-of-my-pieces-gravitate-towards-an-a-as-a-tonal-thing/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [I think art can reflect tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/i-think-art-can-reflect-tragedy/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [I find respect for a mediocre British composer, as opposed to a really good American, ridiculous because they automatically respect a composer if he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/i-find-respect-for-a-mediocre-british-composer-as-opposed-to-a-really/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [I think it's good for the composer to teach because you always have new students and you have to begin at the beginning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/i-think-it-s-good-for-the-composer-to-teach-because-you-always-have/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [I always conceive a piece as a different set of challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/i-always-conceive-a-piece-as-a-different-set-of-challenges/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [I have tremendous respect for film composers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/i-have-tremendous-respect-for-film-composers/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [Jazz is not the popular culture. Jazz is in the same position in our culture as classical music. A very small minority of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/jazz-is-not-the-popular-culture-jazz-is-in-the-same-position-in-our/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [I'm glad I won it because when I grew up the Pulitzer was the award that every composer wanted and I was like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/i-m-glad-i-won-it-because-when-i-grew-up-the-pulitzer-was-the-award/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [What I think of as style - and I've gotten to this over years of really thinking about it - is that style is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/what-i-think-of-as-style-and-i-ve-gotten-to-this-over-years-of-really/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [If you take a violin, you can make it sound 50 different ways. Not just pizzicato and played by the bow, but ponticello, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/if-you-take-a-violin-you-can-make-it-sound-50-different-ways-not-just/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [The French Revolution is the ultimate modernist statement. Destroy everything. Don't build on the past. There is no past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/the-french-revolution-is-the-ultimate-modernist-statement-destroy/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) > [Art is not only about angst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corigliano/art-is-not-only-about-angst/) [John Corigliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) [Explore all 15 John Corigliano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corigliano/) ## More Competition quotes > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. 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