One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen to their critics with just enough sympathy to ensure their silence.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
One of my greatest pleasures in my writing has come from the thought that perhaps my work might annoy someone of comfortably pretentious position. Then comes the realization that such people rarely read.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the joy of writing for one's own truth rather than for the approval of pretentious critics.
John Kenneth Galbraith reflects on the pleasure he derives from the idea that his writing might unsettle those who are comfortably pretentious. This indicates a rebellious spirit against the conventional and an acknowledgment that those who possess a shallow understanding of art or literature often overlook authentic expressions, allowing the writer to find freedom in their work without concern for their judgments.
Themes
WritingCriticismArtPretentiousnessAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
In a blog post discussing artistic integrity, one might quote Galbraith to emphasize the importance of writing for oneself.
More from John Kenneth Galbraith
All quotes →If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
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The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
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All successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door.
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Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have it and those who do not.
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People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.
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