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Of course, the fact that Dostoevsky can tell a juicy story isn't enough to make him great. If it were, Judith Krantz and John Grisham would be great fiction writers, and by any but the most commercial standards they're not even very good.
David Foster Wallace
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes that storytelling ability alone does not define greatness in literature.

David Foster Wallace critiques the notion that the ability to tell an engaging story is sufficient for literary greatness. He argues that true greatness in literature involves complexity, depth, and insight that transcends mere entertainment value, distinguishing accomplished writers like Dostoevsky from more commercial authors who may not achieve the same artistic merit.

Themes

LiteratureStorytellingGreatnessArtistic MeritDepth

In practice

Example use cases

In a book club discussion, one might use this quote to express why some authors are revered beyond their entertaining plots.

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