"The main question to a novel is --……" — Sydney Smith

"The main question to a novel is -- did it amuse? were you surprised at dinner coming so soon? did you mistake eleven for ten? were you too late to dress? and did you sit up beyond the usual hour? If a novel produces these effects, it is good; if it does not -- story, language, love, scandal itself cannot save it. It is only meant to please; and it must do that or it does nothing."

Sydney Smith

71 Quotes by Sydney Smith

Sydney Smith has 71 quotes on this site. A few more worth reading:

See all 71 quotes by Sydney Smith »

More Amuse Quotes

This quote is filed under Amuse Quotes, one of 161 quotes in that category. Here are a few more:

See all 161 Amuse Quotes »