Book Quote by John Updike
“I did feel as though a number of critics had appointed themselves, when they sat down with a new book of mine, to rectify what they felt to be was my inflated reputation and so that the book in hand was not really given a chance but made a kind of weapon in the general attempt to bring me down to size.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: New York Times, 1975
Critics often try to diminish an author's reputation by preemptively attacking new work rather than evaluating it fairly.
In simple terms: Critics may try to bring an author down before the work is judged.
Key Takeaway
Beware of bias; judge works on their own merits.
Themes
criticism
reputation
bias
literary culture
Mood
defensive
reflective
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- book reviews
- author interviews
- literary debates
Key Concepts
ego
power dynamics
defensiveness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you separate constructive criticism from personal attack?
- What impact does pre‑emptive bias have on artistic creation?
A Different Perspective
Critics may have valid concerns about quality that are dismissed.
