Judgment 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.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Big Sleep, 1939
Perfection imposed by authority is arbitrary; true creativity arises from solitary, heartfelt effort.
In simple terms: Authority’s perfection is arbitrary; true art comes from the heart.
Key Takeaway
Value authentic, independent creation.
Themes
creativity
authority
individualism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- design
- leadership
- innovation
Key Concepts
artistic integrity
social conformity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you protect personal vision from external pressure?
- When is compromise necessary?
A Different Perspective
Collective judgment can stifle 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)
