--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the writing of literature should…" description: "\"I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about? It is not nuclear physics. It actually has to give pleasure or it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/stephen-greenblatt-10786_books_i-think-the-writing-of-literature-should_86402.jpg" --- # I think the writing of literature should give pleasure… ![“I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about? It is not nuclear physics. It actually has to give pleasure or it is worth nothing.” quote by Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/stephen-greenblatt-10786_books_i-think-the-writing-of-literature-should_86402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/stephen-greenblatt-10786_books_i-think-the-writing-of-literature-should_86402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/stephen-greenblatt-10786_books_i-think-the-writing-of-literature-should_86402.jpg) > “I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about? It is not nuclear physics. It actually has to give pleasure or it is worth nothing.” [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Literature's primary purpose is to delight readers; without pleasure, it lacks value, distinguishing it from scientific pursuits that serve functional ends. **In simple terms:** Pleasure as literary goal Key Takeaway Enjoyment defines worth Themes aesthetic value pleasure literary purpose art vs science subjectivity Mood enthusiastic reflective passionate Type assertion philosophical When to use this quote - book club discussion - creative writing workshop - literary criticism - personal reading - academic lecture Key Concepts reading experience authorial intent literary criticism Practical Applications - creative writing - literary criticism Questions to Reflect On - Can literature be valuable without pleasure? - How does pleasure influence interpretation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Literature Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature-pleasure-1085216/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-physics/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-worth-858917/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-literature-1085217/) ## Related quotes > [“A man should begin with his own times. 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