Austen Quote by Krista McGee
““Do not speak unflatteringly of Jane," Flora said, walking beside Chad. "She is the greatest writer to have ever lived." "I thought that was Shakespeare." "William was, or course, quite good," Flora said. "But no one can compare to Jane Austen.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Unknown, dialogue excerpt
Flora praises Jane Austen as unparalleled, dismissing Shakespeare as lesser
In simple terms: Flora claims Jane Austen is the greatest writer
Key Takeaway
Recognize true excellence without comparison
Themes
literature
comparison
humility
Mood
reflective
contemplative
Type
critical
analytical
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- literary criticism
- personal recommendations
Key Concepts
authorial greatness
subjective taste
Questions to Reflect On
- How do personal biases shape our judgments of art?
- Can greatness be objectively measured?
A Different Perspective
Literary value is subjective and culturally influenced
![“[On Jane Austen:] To believe her limited in range because she was harmonious in method is as sensible as to imagine that when the Atlantic Ocean is as smooth as a mill-pond it shrinks to the size of a mill-pond.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8d4/rebecca-west-1248_atlantic-ocean_on-jane-austen-to-believe-her-limited-in_215037.jpg)
![“[Jane] Austen was not a novelist for nothing: she knew that our stories are what make us human, and that listening to someone else's stories -- entering into their feelings, validating their experiences -- is the highest way of acknowledging their humanity, the sweetest form of usefulness.” quote by William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2bb/william-deresiewicz-15471_austen_jane-austen-was-not-a-novelist-for-nothi_62623.jpg)
