Effects Quote by Marcel Proust
“Perhaps the pleasure one feels in writing is not the infallible test of the literary value of a page; perhaps it is only a secondary state which is often superadded, but the want of which can have no prejudicial effect on it. Perhaps some of the greatest masterpieces were written while yawning.”
About This Quote
Source Book: In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust, 1913
The joy of writing may not measure a text’s value; pleasure is secondary and does not bias quality, and even great works can be created in uninspired moments.
In simple terms: Writing pleasure isn’t the true test of quality.
Key Takeaway
Value the work, not the writer’s enjoyment.
Themes
creativity
literary value
process of art
subjectivity
inspiration
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- authoring a novel
- academic writing
- blogging
- creative workshops
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
aesthetic judgment
creative process
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you write for joy or for impact?
- Can a work be great despite the author’s boredom?
A Different Perspective
Pleasure can mislead authors about quality.
![“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)
