"Read not Milton, for he is dry; nor Shakespeare, for he wrote of common life"
- Charles Stuart Calverley
About this Quote
This quote by Charles Stuart Calverley is a warning to readers not to focus too much on the works of John Milton and William Shakespeare. Calverley is suggesting that Milton's works are too dry and uninteresting, and that Shakespeare's works are too mundane and normal. He is recommending that readers should try to find more fascinating and engaging works of literature.
Calverley's quote is a tip that literature need to be enjoyable and entertaining, and not simply a chore to be endured. He is encouraging readers to explore other authors and genres, and to discover works that are more stimulating and appealing. He is likewise suggesting that readers must not restrict themselves to the works of the two most famous English authors, however ought to instead try to find works that are more interesting and varied.
In essence, Calverley is suggesting that readers ought to not be too narrow-minded in their reading routines, and need to rather search for works that are more revitalizing and appealing. He is motivating readers to check out different authors and genres, and to find works that are more fascinating and varied. By doing so, readers can discover works that are more pleasurable and entertaining, and can broaden their literary horizons.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"