There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
Most contemporary novels are not really "written." They obtain what reality they have largely from an accurate rendering of the noises that human beings currently make in their daily simple needs of communication; and what part of a novel is not composed of these noises consists of a prose which is no more alive than that of a competent newspaper writer or government official. A prose that is altogether alive demands something of the reader that the ordinary novel-reader is not prepared to give.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Eliot criticizes contemporary novels for lacking depth and vitality, often relying on mundane communication rather than engaging prose.
T. S. Eliot's quote reflects his view that many modern novels fail to capture the vitality of true literature. He argues that instead of offering profound insights or evocative language, these works primarily mirror everyday speech patterns and simple needs of communication. In this sense, he believes such prose lacks the life and engagement that a reader must be prepared to invest in order to appreciate a truly 'alive' piece of writing.
Themes
LiteratureNovelsProseCommunicationReading
In practice
Example use cases
In a book club discussion, one might use this quote to critique the depth of a recent bestselling novel.
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes →Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
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If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
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For I have known them all already, known them all— Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
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In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
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