Carlyle, Thomas -- Letter (1837-06-09) to John Sterling

Dave — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:32:52 +0000

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

Regarding critics who think writing styles can or should be be easily changed.

Orwell, George -- Essay (1946-09), “Politics vs. Literature: An Examination of Gulliver’s Travels,” Polemic, No. 5

Dave — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 14:50:27 +0000

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

WIST Quotations

Carlyle, Thomas -- Letter (1837-06-09) to John Sterling

Orwell, George -- Essay (1946-09), “Politics vs. Literature: An Examination of Gulliver’s Travels,” Polemic, No. 5