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About this quote

What does it mean?
Young writers can learn from poor writers, and destroying books, even bad ones, is harmful.
In plain terms
Even bad books deserve respect; burning them is damaging.
What can you take from it?
Preserve all literature, even the flawed.

Where it applies

  • literary criticism
  • library management

Putting it to work

  • avoid book burning
  • study lesser works

Questions to consider

  • What can we learn from poor writing?
  • When is it justified to discard a book?

Another view

Not all bad books are worth preserving; resources are limited.

More from William Saroyan

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  2. This was such bad writing that it was good.

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  3. If you can't write a decent short story because of the cold, write something else. Write anything. Write a long letter to somebody.

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