Atlantic ocean Quote by Rebecca West
![“[On Jane Austen:] To believe her limited in range because she was harmonious in method is as sensible as to imagine that when the Atlantic Ocean is as smooth as a mill-pond it shrinks to the size of a mill-pond.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8d4/rebecca-west-1248_atlantic-ocean_on-jane-austen-to-believe-her-limited-in_215037.jpg)
“[On Jane Austen:] To believe her limited in range because she was harmonious in method is as sensible as to imagine that when the Atlantic Ocean is as smooth as a mill-pond it shrinks to the size of a mill-pond.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, “On Jane Austen”, 1935
West argues that limiting Austen’s scope to her harmonious style is as absurd as believing a vast ocean can shrink to a tiny pond.
In simple terms: Don’t judge a writer’s range by her style alone.
Key Takeaway
Look beyond style to assess depth.
Themes
literature criticism
authorial range
misconception
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
critical
interpretive
When to use this quote
- academic essays
- book reviews
- classroom discussions
- literary podcasts
Key Concepts
critical analysis
literary scope
Questions to Reflect On
- How might Austen’s themes expand beyond her prose?
- What other authors are misjudged by style?
A Different Perspective
Style does not fully reveal thematic complexity.
![“Like all bad drivers, he [Henry Andrews] thought he was the best driver in the world...” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/54b/rebecca-west-1248_andrew_like-all-bad-drivers-he-henry-andrews-th_152541.jpg)
