Books Quote by Marcel Proust
“A man of letters, merely by reading a phrase, can estimate exactly the literary merit of its author.”
About This Quote
He suggests that a single literary phrase can reveal the author's overall literary quality, implying deep insight from minimal text.
In simple terms: A phrase can reveal an author's merit.
Key Takeaway
Read closely to gauge quality.
Themes
literature
analysis
insight
Mood
analytical
intellectual
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- academic study
- writing workshops
Key Concepts
critical reading
authorial voice
Questions to Reflect On
- How much can one line tell?
- What other cues matter?
A Different Perspective
Risk of overgeneralizing from limited evidence.
![“A critical assumption is sometimes made that [Grisham, Clancey, Crichton & myself] have access to some mystical vulgate that other (and often better) writers cannot find or will not deign to use. I doubt if this is true. Nor do I believe the contention of some popular novelists... that thier…” quote by Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/343/stephen-king-13_assumption_a-critical-assumption-is-sometimes-made_746467.jpg)
![“For her [Françoise], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. She made so little distinction between the two that she came to see their qualities as interchangeable, expecting material comfort from virtue and moral edification from wealth.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/marcel-proust-114_character_for-her-fran-oise-wealth-was-like-a-nece_2687.jpg)
