--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A novel must be exceptionally good to…" description: "\"“A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat. – Lord Chesterfield, eighteenth-century statesman”\" — Julie Klassen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/julie-klassen-11599_books_a-novel-must-be-exceptionally-good-to-li_1746062.jpg" --- # A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the… ![“A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat. – Lord Chesterfield, eighteenth-century statesman” quote by Julie Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/julie-klassen-11599_books_a-novel-must-be-exceptionally-good-to-li_1746062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/julie-klassen-11599_books_a-novel-must-be-exceptionally-good-to-li_1746062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a27/julie-klassen-11599_books_a-novel-must-be-exceptionally-good-to-li_1746062.jpg) > ““A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat. – Lord Chesterfield, eighteenth-century statesman”” [Julie Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klassen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A novel must be exceptionally good to endure, like a cat's short life. **In simple terms:** Great novels must be outstanding. Key Takeaway Strive for excellence in storytelling. Themes literature quality longevity Mood reflective motivational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - publishing - creative writing - literary criticism - book clubs Key Concepts excellence timelessness craft Questions to Reflect On - What makes a story timeless? - How do you measure a novel's success? A Different Perspective Not all good books survive; market forces matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chesterfield-1561473/) [Chesterfield Eighteenth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chesterfield-eighteenth-1561472/) [Live Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-long/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-chesterfield-1561471/) [Novel Exceptionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-exceptionally-1561474/) ## Related quotes > [A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-novel-must-be-exceptionally-good-to-live-as-long-as-the-average-cat-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Chesterfield 1, Chester 1. Another score draw in the local derby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/des-lynam/chesterfield-1-chester-1-another-score-draw-in-the-local-derby/) [Des Lynam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/des-lynam/) > [“As Lord Chesterfield said to his son: Be wiser than other people if you can; but do not tell them so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/as-lord-chesterfield-said-to-his-son-be-wiser-than-other-people-if/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [As Lord Chesterfield said of the generals of his day, 'I only hope that when the enemy reads the list of their names, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-of-wellington/as-lord-chesterfield-said-of-the-generals-of-his-day-i-only-hope-that/) [Duke of Wellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-of-wellington/) > [“Lord Chesterfield said that since he had had the full use of his reason nobody had heard him laugh. 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Being able to see you, hear your voice many times a day. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klassen/i-found-i-quite-enjoyed-having-you-under-the-same-roof-being-able-to/) [Julie Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klassen/) > [“Was it hypocritical to turn to God now, when she had done her utmost to be independent, to make her way without Him until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klassen/was-it-hypocritical-to-turn-to-god-now-when-she-had-done-her-utmost/) [Julie Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klassen/) > [“Emptiness gnawed at Emma. Could she> face death without fear? 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