I guess I think I'm writing for people who are smarter than I am, because then I'll be doing something that's worth their time. I'd be very afraid to write from a position where I consciously thought I was smarter than most of my readers.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Sontag writes for readers smarter than herself to ensure her work is worth their time and avoids assuming superiority.
- In plain terms
- She writes for smarter readers so her work matters and doesn't feel arrogant.
- What can you take from it?
- Write for an audience that challenges you rather than one you think you outsmart.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who do you write for?
- Is humility in writing always good?
Another view
Assuming readers are smarter can sometimes lead to unclear communication.
More from Susan Sontag
The AIDS crisis is evidence of a world in which nothing important is regional, local, limited; in which everything that can circulate does, and every problem i…
Permalink to quote #15 I don't want to express alienation. It isn't what I feel. I'm interested in various kinds of passionate engagement. All my work says be serious, be passionate,…
Permalink to quote #17 Authoritarian political ideologies have a vested interest in promoting fear, a sense of the imminence of takeover by aliens - and real diseases are useful mate…
Permalink to quote #14
Related quotes
Whenever you write, whatever you write, never make the mistake of assuming the audience is any less intelligent than you are.
Rod SerlingRod Serling quote #19 A writer is unfair to himself when he is unable to be hard on himself.
Marianne MooreMarianne Moore quote #3 I am, really, a great writer; my only difficulty is in finding great readers.
Frank HarrisFrank Harris quote #6