The difference is slight, to the influence of an author, whether he is read by five hundred readers, or by five hundred thousand; if he can select the five hundred, he reaches the five hundred thousand.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- An author's influence depends on reaching the right small audience, not just a large number of passive readers.
- In plain terms
- It matters who reads you more than how many people read you.
- What can you take from it?
- Target the right people rather than trying to reach everyone.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who do I want to reach?
- Does quantity matter more than quality?
Another view
Sometimes broad reach is valuable even if selection isn't possible.
More from Henry Adams
Sumner's mind had reached the calm of water which receives and reflects images without absorbing them; it contained nothing but itself.
Permalink to quote #17 A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
Permalink to quote #19 At best, the renewal of broken relations is a nervous matter.
Permalink to quote #16
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