--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The dull people decided years and years…" description: "\"The dull people decided years and years ago, as everyone knows, that novel-writing was the lowest species of literary exertion, and that novel reading ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/wilkie-collins-2078_books_the-dull-people-decided-years-and-years_749839.png" --- # The dull people decided years and years ago, as everyone… ![“The dull people decided years and years ago, as everyone knows, that novel-writing was the lowest species of literary exertion, and that novel reading was a dangerous luxury and an utter waste of time.” quote by Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/wilkie-collins-2078_books_the-dull-people-decided-years-and-years_749839.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/wilkie-collins-2078_books_the-dull-people-decided-years-and-years_749839.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/wilkie-collins-2078_books_the-dull-people-decided-years-and-years_749839.png) > “The dull people decided years and years ago, as everyone knows, that novel-writing was the lowest species of literary exertion, and that novel reading was a dangerous luxury and an utter waste of time.” [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker dismisses novel writing and reading as lowbrow and wasteful, reflecting a disdain for popular literature. **In simple terms:** Novels are seen as trivial and harmful. Key Takeaway Question the value of popular fiction. Themes literary hierarchy elitism culture wars Mood critical skeptical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - academic curricula - book clubs - publishing industry Key Concepts novel criticism reading habits Questions to Reflect On - Why do some consider novels lowbrow? - What benefits do novels provide? A Different Perspective Such views ignore novels’ social and artistic contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-reading/) [Novel writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-writing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Waste time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My definition of utter waste is a coachload of lawyers going over a cliff, with three empty seats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-hunt/my-definition-of-utter-waste-is-a-coachload-of-lawyers-going-over-a/) [Lamar Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-hunt/) > [Still in my coat and hat, I sank onto the stair to read the letter. 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My own impression, however, is, that I am right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/it-is-quite-possible-that-i-may-be-altogether-wrong-in-this-idea-my/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [I sadly want a reform in the construction of children. Nature's only idea seems to be to make them machines for the production of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/i-sadly-want-a-reform-in-the-construction-of-children-nature-s-only/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [Habits of literary composition are perfectly familiar to me. 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I had silk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/the-dress-of-virtue-in-our-parts-was-cotton-print-i-had-silk/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“It is not for you to say - you Englishmen, who have conquered your freedom so long ago, that you have conveniently forgotten what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/it-is-not-for-you-to-say-you-englishmen-who-have-conquered-your/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“Tell him next, that crimes cause their own detection. There's another bit of copy-book morality for you, Fosco. Crimes cause their own detection. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/tell-him-next-that-crimes-cause-their-own-detection-there-s-another/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [“Shall I confess it, Mr. Hartright? I sadly want a reform in the construction of children. 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