Since Hitchens evidently does not take what he is writing seriously, there is no reason for anyone else to do so.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author argues that if Hitchens lacks seriousness in his writing, readers should not take him seriously either. It questions the credibility of work produced without intent.
- In plain terms
- If an author is not serious, readers should not treat their work seriously.
- What can you take from it?
- Seriousness is required for work to be respected.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does intent matter in art?
- How do you judge seriousness?
Another view
It equates author intent with reader value.
More from Christopher Hitchens
It pains me to hear that. He's gone back to nineteenth-century gunboat diplomacy -- go hit the wogs.
Permalink to quote #92 Hitchens maintains that that 'there is a close fit between the democratically minded and the pro-American' in the Middle East - like 'President for Life' Hosni…
Permalink to quote #94 To be involved in this [the Iraq War], frankly, just makes me happy. [16]
Permalink to quote #91
Related quotes
Get stewed: Books are a load of crap.
Philip LarkinPhilip Larkin quote #1 There are certain common privileges of a writer, the benefit whereof, I hope, there will be no reason to doubt; particularly, that where I am not understood, i…
Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift quote #2 The writer probably knows what he meant when he wrote a book, but he should immediately forget what he meant when he's written it.
William GoldingWilliam Golding quote #5