"All bad Literature rests upon imperfect insight, or upon imitation, which may be defined as seeing at second-hand"

This quote by George Henry Lewes recommends that all bad literature is an outcome of either an absence of understanding or a lack of creativity. Lewes implies that bad literature is developed when the author does not have a deep understanding of the topic, or when the author is merely copying the work of another. This absence of insight or creativity causes an absence of creativity and a lack of quality in the literature. Lewes recommends that excellent literature is created when the author has a deep understanding of the subject matter and is able to express it in an original and innovative way. This quote functions as a suggestion to writers to strive for originality and insight in their work, as this is the key to creating good literature.