Doubt Quote by Larry McMurtry
“I remember that the single most vicious letter I ever read was the letter Hemingway wrote Scribners when they asked him to give a blurb for From Here to Eternity. It's there, in the Selected Letters for all to read, an example of a once great writer at his very worst. I doubt that he ever forgave Scribners for publishing James Jones in the first place. War, as Hemingway saw it, belonged to him.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Larry McMurtry on Hemingway, 2002
Even great writers can produce subpar work; criticism reveals human fallibility and artistic pressure.
In simple terms: Greatness includes flaws.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfection.
Themes
literature
criticism
humility
legacy
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- editing
- publishing
- literary criticism
- teaching writing
Key Concepts
authorial pressure
creative integrity
reputation
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we hold icons to higher standards?
- How should we judge artistic merit?
A Different Perspective
Critiques can be harsh, discouraging emerging writers.
