"Every literary critic believes he will outwit history and have the last word"
- Mason Cooley
About this Quote
This quote by Mason Cooley speaks with the hubris of literary critics. It recommends that literary critics think they are so well-informed and informative that they can outmaneuver history and be the last to discuss a work of literature. This is a lofty goal, as history is always changing and progressing, and it is impossible to forecast how a work of literature will be analyzed in the future. The quote also indicates that literary critics are so confident in their own abilities that they think they can outwit the passage of time and be the last to discuss a work of literature. This is a reminder that literary critics must be humble and recognize that their analyses are just one perspective among numerous.
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