"You know what the critics are. If you tell the truth they only say you're cynical and it does an author no good to get a reputation for cynicism"

This quote by W. Somerset Maugham is a commentary on the nature of critics. He suggests that if an author speaks the reality, they will be labeled as negative and this will not benefit them in any method. Maugham is indicating that critics are not open to hearing the truth and will rather label the author as cynical. He is alerting authors to be careful when speaking the fact, as it might result in a track record of cynicism. This quote is a pointer to authors to be conscious of how they present their work and to be aware of the possible consequences of speaking the truth. Maugham is recommending that authors should be aware of the power of critics and how their words can shape an author's reputation.