"The intellectuals' chief cause of anguish are one another's works"

In this quote, Jacques Barzun is highlighting the intense competitors and competition among intellectuals. He suggests that their primary source of distress and stress and anxiety is not external elements, but rather the works of their fellow intellectuals. This might be due to the pressure to constantly produce groundbreaking concepts and theories, or the fear of being eclipsed by somebody else's work. Barzun's use of the word "distress" implies a deep psychological chaos and maybe even jealousy amongst intellectuals. This quote sheds light on the complex and typically cutthroat world of intellectualism, where one's success and credibility are continuously at stake.