"The two most common charges against the older fiction, that it pleased wickedly and that it taught nothing, had broken down before the discovery, except in illiberal sects, that the novel is fitted both for honest use and for pleasure"

In the quote by Carl Clinton Van Doren, he deals with two major criticisms traditionally leveled against older works of fiction and protects the book's capacity to supply both pleasure and enlightenment. The "older fiction" refers to the body of literary works that preceded the recognition of the novel as a respected literary type. The two typical charges versus such fiction were that it had a pleasing yet ethically questionable nature (" it pleased wickedly") which it did not have educational value (" it taught nothing").

Van Doren recommends that these criticisms had actually mainly dissipated by the time of his writing, due to the growing acknowledgment that books could undoubtedly serve a dignified, efficient function in society. This shift in understanding might have been promoted by a broader cultural and intellectual approval of the unique as a genuine and highly influential art form. The reference of "illiberal sects" recommends that those clinging to the old criticisms are narrow-minded or traditionalist groups unwilling to embrace new perspectives on the function and merit of fiction. Their views are framed as out-of-date in the wake of a wider social acknowledgment of the novel's ability for "honest use and for pleasure."

Van Doren's declaration highlights the advancement of fiction from simply being sources of home entertainment-- to some degree, morally suspect-- to being recognized for their complicated stories that promote the creativity, provoke thought, and foster compassion. Novels can engage readers with moral predicaments, psychological insights, and cultural critiques, thereby providing both intellectual and psychological enrichment.

In essence, Van Doren's reflection is a celebration of the book's dual capability to entertain and educate, highlighting the worth of fiction in capturing the intricacies of the human experience and contributing to individual and societal development. His words champion the unique as a powerful medium capable of integrating pleasure with profound knowing, widening our understanding of both literature and life.