QuoteProject
With no other privilege than that of sympathy and sincere good wishes, I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on my own experience. It will be but short; for the beginning, middle, and end converge to one charge: NEVER PURSUE LITERATURE AS A TRADE.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote advises against viewing literature merely as a commercial pursuit.

In this quote, Samuel Taylor Coleridge shares his heartfelt message to aspiring writers, warning them not to pursue literature solely as a means of making a living. He emphasizes that writing should be a passion and a calling rather than a mere trade, suggesting that true literary success comes from love for the craft rather than commercial ambition.

Themes

LiteratureWritingPassionTradeAdvice

In practice

Example use cases

During a writing workshop, a mentor shares this quote to inspire young authors.

More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge

We ought not to extract pernicious honey from poison blossoms of misrepresentation and mendacious half-truth, to pamper the course appetite of bigotry and self-love.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
Often do the spirits stride on before the event; and in today already walks tomorrow.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
Mr. Lyell's system of geology is just half the truth, and no more. He affirms a great deal that is true, and he denies a great deal which is equally true; which is the general characteristic of all systems not embracing the whole truth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
To believe and to understand are not diverse things, but the same things in different periods of growth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead

Similar quotes

When remedies are past, the griefs are ended By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended. To mourn a mischief that is past and gone Is the next way to draw new mischief on. What cannot be preserved when fortune takes, Patience her injury a mockery makes. The robb'd that smiles steals something for the thief; He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.
William ShakespeareRead
A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe.
Wayne DyerRead
Strength of mind is exercise, not rest.
Alexander PopeRead
They say everything can be replaced, Yet every distance is not near. So I remember every face Of every man who put me here. I see my light come shining From the west unto the east. Any day now, any day now, I shall be released.
Bob DylanRead
Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, and the small fraction who do think mostly can't do it very well.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
The more time goes on, the closer I am to the ground. I've been exposed to so many issues and people living under different pressures. It's helped me realize that a lot of glamorous things that people prioritize really don't matter.
Queen Rania Of JordanRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.