Arbitrary Quote by Raymond Chandler
“The impulse to perfection cannot exist where the definition of perfection is the arbitrary decision of authority. That which is born in loneliness and from the heart cannot be defended against the judgment of a committee of sycophants. The volatile essences which make literature cannot survive the clichés of a long series of story conferences.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Big Sleep, 1939
Perfection defined by authority stifles creativity; true art arises from solitude and authentic feeling, not committee approval.
In simple terms: Authority‑driven perfection kills art.
Key Takeaway
Create from personal truth.
Themes
creativity
authority
artistic integrity
Mood
reflective
philosophical
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- creative retreats
- publishing decisions
Key Concepts
literature
philosophy
individualism
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines your personal standards?
- How do you protect creative integrity?
A Different Perspective
Committee pressure can dilute originality.
![“Hammett was the ace performer... He is said to have lacked heart; yet the story he himself thought the most of [The Glass Key] is the record of a man's devotion to a friend. He was spare, frugal, hard-boiled, but he did over and over again what only the best writers can ever do at all. He wrote…” quote by Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/882/raymond-chandler-629_dashiel-hammett_hammett-was-the-ace-performer-he-is-said_20171.jpg)
![“He [James Cain] is every kind of writer I detest...a Proust in greasy overalls, a dirty little boy with a piece of chalk and a board fence and nobody looking.” quote by Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/614/raymond-chandler-629_cain_he-james-cain-is-every-kind-of-writer-i_41185.jpg)
