I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of the great authors, because they have a sad habit of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spencer is dead, so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and I’m not feeling so well myself.

Mark Twain
About This Quote

The quote, “ I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of the great authors, because they have a sad habit of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spencer is dead, so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and I’m not feeling so well myself” is a satirical statement from Mark Twain. More specifically, Twain was making a comment on the idea that great writers were doomed to die off after a short period of time. However, in a way it is true.

Many great writers have passed on and only a few writers remain. The reason for this phenomenon seems to be linked to the idea that writers need inspiration in order to create their art. When that inspiration goes away then so does the art that has been created.

Source: Speeches

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