Quote#Courage
Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones.…
Quote byJane Austen · 1775–1817
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Letter to Anna (1814-09-28) [Letters of Jane Austen -- Brabourne Edition].
English (original)
Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. It is not fair. He has fame and profit enough as a poet, and should not be taking the bread out of other people's mouths. I do not like him, and do not mean to like Waverley if I can help it, but fear I must.
— Jane Austen
More from Jane Austen
I am very much obliged to my dear little George for his message - for his love at least; his duty, I suppose, was only in consequence of some hint of my favorable intentions towards him from his father or mother. I am sincerely rejoiced, …
Next week I shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend.
Here I am once more in this scene of dissipation and vice, and I begin already to find my morals corrupted.
What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.
There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well.
I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.