The Public is an old woman. Let her maunder and mumble.
Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Letter (1837-06-09) to John Sterling
(Source)
Regarding critics who think writing styles can or should be be easily changed.
Quotations about:
general public
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
But public opinion, because of the tremendous urge to conformity in gregarious animals, is less tolerant than any system of law. When human beings are governed by “thou shalt not,” the individual can practice a certain amount of eccentricity: when they are supposedly governed by “love” or “reason,” he is under continuous pressure to make him behave and think in exactly the same way as everyone else.
George Orwell (1903–1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1946-09), “Politics vs. Literature: An Examination of Gulliver’s Travels,” Polemic, No. 5
(Source)
