Books Quote by Matthew Gregory Lewis
““A bad composition carries its own punishment—contempt and ridicule; a good one excites envy and entails upon its author a thousand mortifications; he finds himself assailed by partial and ill-humored criticism; one man finds fault with the plan, another with the style, a third with the precept which strives to inculcate; and they who cannot succeed in finding fault with the book, employ themselves in stigmatizing its author: they maliciously rake out from obscurity every little circumstance which may throw ridicule upon his private character or conduct and aim at wounding the man since they cannot hurt the writer.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796
A poorly written work invites contempt, while a well‑crafted piece draws envy and harsh, often personal criticism toward its creator.
In simple terms: Bad work gets mocked; good work gets envied and attacked.
Key Takeaway
Prepare for criticism regardless of quality.
Themes
criticism
envy
author reputation
literary standards
Mood
defensive
reflective
Type
analytical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- publishing a novel
- presenting a paper
- launching a product
- receiving peer review
Key Concepts
ego
public perception
creative vulnerability
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you separate constructive feedback from personal attacks?
- Can you remain resilient when praised and reviled?
A Different Perspective
Even excellence can provoke personal attacks, not just artistic critique.
