Nothing is more durable than the dynasty of Doubt; for he reigns in the hearts of all his people, but gives satisfaction to none of them, and yet he is the only despot who can never die, while any of his subjects live.
Charles Caleb ColtonRead
There are three difficulties in authorship: to write anything worth publishing, to find honest men to publish it, and to find sensible men to read it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing and publishing require integrity and discernment from all involved.
This quote by Charles Caleb Colton highlights the multifaceted challenges of authorship, emphasizing that it is not only difficult to create a valuable piece of work, but also challenging to locate trustworthy publishers and perceptive readers. It suggests that the entire literary process hinges on the quality of involved parties—writers, publishers, and readers alike—all needing to exhibit honesty and sensibility for the work to truly resonate and matter.
Themes
AuthorshipWritingPublicationIntegrityReading
In practice
Example use cases
During a writing workshop, I cited this quote to discuss the challenges new authors face.
More from Charles Caleb Colton
All quotes →It is astonishing how much more people are interested in lengthening life than improving it.
Charles Caleb ColtonRead
The benevolent have the advantage of the envious, even in this present life; for the envious man is tormented not only by all the ill that befalls himself, but by all the good that happens to another; whereas the benevolent man is the better prepared to bear his own calamities unruffled, from the complacency and serenity he has secured from contemplating the prosperity of all around him.
Charles Caleb ColtonRead
Happiness, that grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life, impels us through all its mazes and meanderings, but leads none of us by the same route.
Charles Caleb ColtonRead
Our minds are as different as our faces. We are all traveling to one destination: happiness, but few are going by the same road.
Charles Caleb ColtonRead
Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.
Charles Caleb ColtonRead
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