Ought Quote by Theodore Dreiser
“Theodore Dreiser Should ought to write nicer.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The American Novel, 1909
Writers should aim for kindness and moral uplift in their work.
In simple terms: Writers ought to be kind.
Key Takeaway
Write with compassion.
Themes
ethics
literature
kindness
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
ethical
literary
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- editorial work
- teaching writing
- public speaking
Key Concepts
moral responsibility
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- Should literature prioritize truth over kindness?
- Can harsh truths be conveyed kindly?
A Different Perspective
Some argue harsh realism is necessary for truth.
![“It was the ponderous battering ram of his novels that opened the way through the genteel reticences of American nineteenth-century fiction. . . Without [Theodore] Dreiser's treading out a path for naturalism none of us would have had a chance to publish.” quote by John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/169/john-dos-passos-3598_battering_it-was-the-ponderous-battering-ram-of-hi_1954068.jpg)
![“Dreiser wanted to write the next great American novel, and his desperation pervades [ Sister Carrie ] like an unsavory pit stain.” quote by Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b7/theodore-dreiser-8057_books_dreiser-wanted-to-write-the-next-great-a_929862.jpg)
![“What is so inspiring about [Louis] Brandeis's writing is he saw it as a tool for democratic education. He would say things like the opinion is now convincing, now can we make it more instructive, after he'd gone through ten drafts.” quote by Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/600/jeffrey-rosen-13180_convincing_what-is-so-inspiring-about-louis-brandei_927824.jpg)
![“[Louis] Brandeis is writing directly to us. His clear voice comes through a century and he's speaking to us and he's galvanizing us and he's persuading us. And that's why I love to read the prose.” quote by Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0eb/jeffrey-rosen-13180_century_louis-brandeis-is-writing-directly-to-us_1899853.jpg)
![“But as I wrote the book [Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet], I tried to write it as clearly and directly and passionately as possible just thinking of communicating to readers who might want to learn about this great thinker and be inspired by him as I was.” quote by Jeffrey Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/098/jeffrey-rosen-13180_be-inspired_but-as-i-wrote-the-book-louis-d-brandeis_1810406.jpg)
