Imagination Quote by Rebecca West
![“[The satirist] must fully possess, at least in the world of the imagination, the quality the lack of which he is deriding in others.” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/118/rebecca-west-1248_imagination_the-satirist-must-fully-possess-at-least_1516060.jpg)
“[The satirist] must fully possess, at least in the world of the imagination, the quality the lack of which he is deriding in others.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Satirist, 1930
A satirist must embody the very qualities they criticize, otherwise their critique lacks credibility.
In simple terms: Satirists need the traits they mock.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate what you critique.
Themes
integrity
critique
self-awareness
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
literary
analytical
When to use this quote
- writing satire
- public discourse
- media analysis
Key Concepts
ethical consistency
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you satirize without embodying the vice?
- Is self‑knowledge essential for effective satire?
A Different Perspective
It’s hard to truly possess traits one despises.
![“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)
![“[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)
