"Every author, however modest, keeps a most outrageous vanity chained like a madman in the padded cell of his breast"

This quote speaks to the concept that every author, no matter how simple they might appear, has a deep-seated vanity that is kept hidden away. It is compared to a madman, suggesting that this vanity is wild and unmanageable, and is kept locked away in the depths of the author's heart. This quote suggests that authors are driven by a requirement for acknowledgment and appreciation, and that this need is so strong that it needs to be kept concealed away. It likewise recommends that authors know this vanity, and should actively work to keep it in check. This quote speaks with the idea that authors are complex animals, with both simple and ambitious sides to their personalities.