Doe Quote by William Faulkner
“Nothing can injure a man's writing if he's a first-rate writer. If a man is not a first-rate writer, there's not anything can help it much. The problem does not apply if he is not first rate because he has already sold his soul for a swimming pool.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Light in August, 1932
A great writer's work is immune to criticism; lesser writers cannot escape their own flaws.
In simple terms: Excellent writers are untouchable; poor writers are doomed.
Focus on honing craft, not fearing critique.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- author workshops
- editing
- publishing
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of your writing need improvement?
- How do you protect your creative integrity?
Even master writers can be vulnerable to personal failings.