"Autobiography is now as common as adultery and hardly less reprehensible"

This quote by John Grigg is a commentary on the prevalence of autobiographies in modern society. He implies that autobiographies are as common as adultery, and suggests that they are simply as ethically wrong. Grigg is likely describing the truth that autobiographies frequently contain individual details about the author's life, which can be viewed as an offense of privacy. He indicates that autobiographies are a form of debauchery, which they are not as crucial as other types of composing. By comparing autobiographies to adultery, Grigg is suggesting that they are a form of debauchery that is not only ethically incorrect, but likewise socially inappropriate. He is most likely trying to prevent individuals from composing autobiographies, and rather motivates them to focus on more meaningful types of composing.