Criticism Quote by John Steinbeck
“Writing to me is a deeply personal, even a secret function and when the product I turned loose it is cut off from me and I have no sense of its being mine. Consequently criticism doesn't mean anything to me. As a disciplinary matter, it is too late.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Personal Correspondence, 1940
The writer loses ownership once the work is released, making external critique irrelevant; the creative act becomes detached from the author.
In simple terms: Once shared, work isn’t yours; criticism loses power.
Key Takeaway
Accept that art belongs to its audience.
Themes
creativity
ownership
criticism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- publishing a novel
- sharing a poem
- online content creation
Key Concepts
detachment
authorial intent
public domain
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you feel ownership over published work?
- Can external feedback improve your craft?
A Different Perspective
Criticism can still guide improvement despite perceived detachment.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
