"A mediocre mind thinks it writes divinely; a good mind thinks it writes reasonably"
- Jean de la Bruyere
About this Quote
This quote by Jean de la Bruyere talks to the concept that one's perception of their own writing can be considerably affected by their own level of confidence and self-awareness. A mediocre mind, or somebody who lacks self-confidence in their composing ability, may think that their writing is divinely motivated and of the highest quality. On the other hand, an excellent mind, or someone who is more aware of their own strengths and weak points, will recognize that their writing is only reasonable.
This quote can be interpreted as a suggestion to be sincere with ourselves about our own capabilities and to strive for improvement. It is necessary to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses, and to be humble in our assessment of our own work. We should strive to be the best authors we can be, but also to be practical about our own capabilities.
This quote likewise talks to the idea that we ought to not be too difficult on ourselves when it pertains to our writing. We need to aim to improve, but likewise to be kind to ourselves and acknowledge that we are all efficient in producing good work. We must not be too important of our own writing, but rather concentrate on the development we have made and the improvements we can make.