"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.
"A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect"
"We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans"
"It is humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history. It matters little who wins. To make a people great it is necessary to send them to battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. That is what I shall do"
