Carl Clinton Van Doren Quotes

The test of literature is, I suppose, whether we ourselves live more intensely for the reading of it.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.

Hemingway's remarks are not literature.

I honestly don't think Peter is that interesting without Harriet - the only exception being 'The Nine Tailors', which is such a good book it doesn't really matter whether he's got a consort or not.

I don't think you can ever assess your work. I don't think Turgenev could assess his any more than I can assess mine, and his didn't have a social impact as much as great literary impact.

I thought it was a glorious thing to be a critic and to be a literary editor, and one was really doing something that mattered: to keep up standards, to take books seriously.

He knew everything about literature except how to enjoy it.

Sometimes novels are considered 'important' in the way medicine is - they taste terrible and are difficult to get down your throat, but are good for you.

A book may be compared to your neighbor: if it be good, it cannot last too long; if bad, you cannot get rid of it too early.

Literary fiction - if we must use the term - is not the plotless, meandering indulgence that its detractors would have you believe.

A book may be compared to your neighbour: if it be good it cannot last too long; if bad, you cannot get rid of it too early.

I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.

I see 'Eligible' as a homage, and I see 'Pride and Prejudice' as a perfect book. You can dispute whether this project is a good idea, but you can't dispute my fondness for the novel.

It's hard to judge literary merit.

We take literature too seriously.

High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water.

I mean, when you're tired of book reviews, you're tired of life.

Let me now praise the American writer James Dickey. In 1970, his novel 'Deliverance' was published. I found it to be 278 pages that approached perfection. Its tightness of construction and assuredness of style reminded me of 'The Great Gatsby.'

I used to be more of a purist about literature. I thought, 'If it's a really propulsive story, then maybe there's something unliterary about it.'

For years, I had heard about the lack of interest in literature in the U.S. and I had complained about it. I failed to understand how people could fail to be moved by art.

The only obligation to which in advance we may hold a novel, without incurring the accusation of being arbitrary, is that it be interesting.

The novel is a highly corrupt medium, after all - in the end the vast majority of them simply aren't that great, and are destined to be forgotten.

I don't think it's always good to read lots of poetry.

I know many books which have bored their readers, but I know of none which has done real evil.

I know that for every reader who has lost the habit or can't find the time, there are people who've never enjoyed reading and question the value of literature, either as entertainment or education, or believe that a love of books, and of fiction in particular, is sentimental or frivolous.