--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bartender put a notepad and a pencil…" description: "\"“The bartender put a notepad and a pencil before me. Breathing hard, the pencil trembling, I wrote: Dear Sinclair Lewis: You were once a god, but now y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a90/john-fante-6848_american-writer_the-bartender-put-a-notepad-and-a-pencil_654092.jpg" --- # The bartender put a notepad and a pencil before me… ![“The bartender put a notepad and a pencil before me. Breathing hard, the pencil trembling, I wrote: Dear Sinclair Lewis: You were once a god, but now you are a swine. I once reverenced you, admired you, and now you are nothing. I came to shake your hand in adoration, you, Lewis, a giant among…” quote by John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a90/john-fante-6848_american-writer_the-bartender-put-a-notepad-and-a-pencil_654092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a90/john-fante-6848_american-writer_the-bartender-put-a-notepad-and-a-pencil_654092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a90/john-fante-6848_american-writer_the-bartender-put-a-notepad-and-a-pencil_654092.jpg) > ““The bartender put a notepad and a pencil before me. Breathing hard, the pencil trembling, I wrote: Dear Sinclair Lewis: You were once a god, but now you are a swine. I once reverenced you, admired you, and now you are nothing. I came to shake your hand in adoration, you, Lewis, a giant among American writers, and you rejected it. I swear I shall never read another line of yours again. You are an ill-mannered boor. You have betrayed me. I shall tell H. L. Muller about you, and how you have shamed me. I shall tell the world. Arturo Bandini P.S. I hope you choke on your steak.”” [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer expresses deep disillusionment with a once‑admired author, turning admiration into contempt. **In simple terms:** A fan becomes angry at a writer they once revered. Key Takeaway Recognize that admiration can turn to disappointment. Themes disillusionment literary criticism personal betrayal Mood melancholic critical Type literary personal When to use this quote - literary reviews - personal essays - public debates Key Concepts author reputation creative influence emotional response Questions to Reflect On - How does personal disappointment shape public critique? - Can criticism remain constructive despite strong emotions? A Different Perspective Harsh criticism may alienate readers and peers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-writer/) [American writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-writers/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) ## Related quotes > [“He wrote: Dear ollever; yor ol twinkk has dun gode up the rivver. im gladd. yor friend jody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/he-wrote-dear-ollever-yor-ol-twinkk-has-dun-gode-up-the-rivver-im/) [Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/) > [Why is it so much easier to talk to a stranger? why do we feel we need to disconnect in order to connect? 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