Appreciate Quote by Richard Holt Hutton
“Here is the mistake of the cut-and-dried man of culture. He goes about with the secret of having learned to appreciate the "grandstyle." He has lived in Homer till he can recall the roll of that many-sounding sea. He has pored over the lofty and pictorial thought of Plato till he begins to pique himself upon its grandeur. His fancy has been fed on the quaint old-world genius of Herodotus, his judgment on the melancholy wisdom of Tacitus and the complacent cynicism of Gibbon--and of all this he is conscious and proud.”
About This Quote
A critique of pretentious cultural elitism that values grand, ancient works over lived experience.
In simple terms: Criticizing over‑intellectualizing culture.
Key Takeaway
Beware of over‑valuing lofty knowledge.
Themes
elitism
culture
intellectualism
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic circles
- literary criticism
- personal development
Key Concepts
classical education
self‑consciousness
pretension
Questions to Reflect On
- What value does everyday experience hold against high culture?
- Can appreciation of classics coexist with humility?
A Different Perspective
The passage may idealize the “grandstyle” without acknowledging its accessibility.
![“[M]en, though they know full well how much women are worth and how great the benefits we bring them, nonetheless seek to destroy us out of envy for our merits. It's just like the crow, when it produces white nestlings: it is so stricken by envy, knowing how black it is itself, that it kills its…” quote by Moderata Fonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18f/moderata-fonte-42110_benefits_m-en-though-they-know-full-well-how-much_1290337.jpg)
