164 quotes about thoroughly follow in order of popularity. Be sure to bookmark and share your favorites!

Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.

Oscar Wilde

I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly.

Oscar Wilde

To be thoroughly conversant with a man's heart, is to take our final lesson in the iron-clasped volume of despair.

Edgar Allan Poe

There is a homely old adage which runs: 'Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.' If the American nation will speak softly, and yet build and keep at a pitch of the highest training a thoroughly efficient navy, the Monroe Doctrine will go far.

Theodore Roosevelt

Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

Confucius

Conscience is thoroughly well bred and soon leaves off talking to those who do not wish to hear it.

Samuel Butler

Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. Go to the bottom of things. Any thing half done, or half known, is in my mind, neither done nor known at all. Nay, worse, for it often misleads.

Lord Chesterfield

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly.

Thomas H. Huxley

No one can speak well, unless he thoroughly understands his subject.

Cicero

It's a great time of year to get your house thoroughly cleaned and to get spots you might have missed during the rest of the year.

Amy Olson

Hopefully we are giving a message to people that this kind of conduct, partys, serving alcohol to minors, things like that, will be investigated thoroughly, ... If appropriate, charges will be filed against those individuals.

Bob Larson

The accidental drowning death of recruit Jason Tharp has been thoroughly, completely investigated and considered in court.

Maj. Guillermo Canedo

With the increase of clusters the possibility has to be thoroughly examined that the virus might have changed and could possibly spread from human to human.

Siti Fadillah Supari

The more thoroughly I conduct scientific research, the more I believe that science excludes atheism.

Lord Kelvin

Refreshingly original, bracingly adult, and thoroughly delightful, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES is like the answer to a TV prayer you didn't know you'd made.

Robert Bianco

To be silent the whole day long, see no newspaper, hear no radio, listen to no gossip, be thoroughly and completely lazy, thoroughly and completely indifferent to the fate of the world is the finest medicine a man can give himself.

Henry Miller

How thoroughly it is ingrained in mathematical science that every real advance goes hand in hand with the invention of sharper tools and simpler methods which, at the same time, assist in understanding earlier theories and in casting aside some more complicated developments.

David Hilbert

There will come a point in time when you've so thoroughly communicated your vacation plans that your boss can't really interfere without feeling terrible (or at least refunding those nonrefundable fares).

Liz Ryan

I simply cannot understand the passion that some people have for making themselves thoroughly uncomfortable and then boasting about it afterwards.

Patricia Moyes

It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.

Jerome K. Jerome

When one pauses to consider how thoroughly corrupted our censors must be by this time, it is difficult to have any faith whatever in their judgement of what is and is not corrupting to others. If to the pure all things are pure, it may well follow that to the corrupted all things are corrupt.

Judith Wright

The district learned of information that pointed to the possibility of a bomb in the student's locker. The campus was searched with bomb-sniffing dogs, and the student's locker was also thoroughly searched for any type of contraband.

Stephanie Schraeder

If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others.

Tryon Edwards

Iron till it be thoroughly heated is incapable to be wrought; so God sees good to cast some men into the furnace of affliction, and then beats them on his anvil into what frame he pleases.

Anne Bradstreet

It's important that there doesn't appear to be preconceived perceptions of what the outcome will be. It's going to be thoroughly researched. The report that is going to come out at the end will drive the conversation, because the bill is up for reauthorization in 2007.

Andrea Messina

All clients are thoroughly screened before starting weight training, everyone must first obtain a (physician's) approval.

Christopher King

I'm not dumb. I just have a command of thoroughly useless information.

Bill Watterson

I thoroughly enjoyed being an advocate for the faculty as far as shared governance was concerned.

Ivory Phillips

They're not going to move it very far until they've thoroughly inspected it.

Lynda Giguere

I thoroughly enjoyed my 11 years playing for the Winnipeg football club.

Wade Miller

One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them.

Thomas Sowell

Hopefully we are giving the message to people that this kind of conduct -- parties, serving alcohol to minors -- will be investigated thoroughly.

Bob Larson

The purpose of this investigation is to thoroughly examine pricing practices in the industry and get to the bottom of what appear to be some illegal pricing practices.

Darren Dopp

Gil was really good in that he would listen to the demos, and he would get the energy of just that raw first draft of the song and he was able to grow on that, still maintaining that initial energy and the direction of that song. He never tried to change a song, what it's original incarnation was, just try to improve it and get the point across more directly and more thoroughly.

Rick Burch

He is thoroughly in control.

John Makumbe

We have thoroughly researched the market to pinpoint the kinds of services UAE consumers want and to ensure the products and services we provide are up to the highest world standards.

Bin Byat

Several of the miners' families asked for a postponement until the federal and state investigative teams have developed more information. After consultation with investigators and state legislators, I concurred. It's a complex investigation and, as the miners' families have said, it's more important to determine the facts carefully and thoroughly than to act before all the facts are in.

Davitt Mcateer

The scheme to maintain traffic on the viaduct is very complicated, and there's a lot of risk associated with it that needs to be more thoroughly evaluated.

David G. Dye

Facts can't be recounted; much less twice over, and far less still by different persons. I've already drummed that thoroughly into your head. What happens is that your wretched memory remembers the words and forgets what's behind them.

Augusto Roa Bastos

We would not consider that any of these cases have been thoroughly tested yet, based on the extremely limited information we have seen. We feel at this moment it is really too early to say if both of these cases are negative.

Julie Hall

Every man is thoroughly happy twice in his life: just after he has met his first love, and just after he has left his last one.

H. L. Mencken

The plea agreement was extensive and is clear. Mr. Rasch and I discussed it thoroughly, and it's my understanding that he had a clear understanding of the contents of the agreement.

John Rogers

Not to be cheered by praise, Not to be grieved by blame, But to know thoroughly ones own virtues or powers Are the characteristics of an excellent man.

Saskya Pandita

Any allegations of improper use of force or procedures are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

Steven Boylan

Our immigrants are very educated. All of them have college education, and they are used to studying everything thoroughly and attain excellence in everything they do.

Lyobov Mikityansky

It's clearly an abuse of taxpayer money and it's a program that needs to be thoroughly reviewed. Obviously, FEMA has spent a large portion of their resources in other parts of the country, the Gulf Coast region in particular. So it's not surprising this problem exists elsewhere.

Drew Hammill

If they analyze the situation as thoroughly as they should, Muslims will realize they are the first targets. What are the fundamentalists really after? Simply taking over Islam and then turning its back on modernity.

Alexander Haig

I've arrived at this outermost edge of my life by my own actions. Where I am is thoroughly unacceptable. Therefore, I must stop doing what I've been doing.

Alice Koller

This game ranks right up there with one of the most painful losses I've ever experienced as a coach. I so thoroughly enjoyed being around this group of young men. To see it end, it hurts.

Jody Peters

Not to be cheered by praise, not to be grieved by blame, but to know thoroughly one's own virtues or powers are the characteristics of an excellent man.

Satchel Paige

I'm thoroughly enjoying my football at Spurs and it's a great squad that I really feel part of.

Michael Dawson

How did clay and carbonates form in frozen comets? We don't know, but their presence may imply that the primordial solar system was thoroughly mixed together, allowing material formed near the Sun where water is liquid, and frozen material from out by Uranus and Neptune, to be included in the same body.

Carey M. Lisse

Because of the potential conflicts of interest, both real and perceived, it is essential that we have an independent investigation so that the community is confident that all actions by all parties involved are thoroughly and impartially investigated.

Sen Gary Hooser

Irv was a character. I thoroughly enjoyed him. He was great and made me wonder what the SOB sounded like 50 years ago.

Dick Fazio

It is safe to say that never in its history has this country been so thoroughly policed.

Thomas Gregory

This proposal represents a good starting point in the discussion to update our nation's telecommunications laws. Congress should thoroughly address this proposal.

Roger Cochetti

The problems are not fixed the problems are multiple and the problems are serious health threats. We've asked them to thoroughly evaluate that. They have refused us.

Robin Johnson

This is the first time I rode on an elephant and I thoroughly enjoyed the safari.

Jonathan Agnew

[Home school] makes them more accountable for their work, because they also have day-by-day review of their work. So they have a tendency to go through a lot quicker and a lot more thoroughly on certain things.

Patsy Totusek

We will probably ask the court to postpone hearings to review the documents and thoroughly prepare for the trial.

Andrei Mironov

I'm extremely proud of the design. The goal was a state-of-the art facility, and I think we've achieved that. Now it's a matter of building it. I think it was probably one of our most thoroughly research designs.

Jack Kelley

He takes the guesswork out of everything because he prepares so thoroughly. He's always studying the oppositions, the pitchers and players. He's always looking for an edge.

John Boles

These issues have been thoroughly discussed and debated.

Duncan Hunter

If any of us hopes to survive, s/he must meet the extremity of the American female condition with immediate and political response. The thoroughly destructive and indefensible subjugation of the majority of Americans cannot continue except at the peril of the entire body politic.

June Jordan

When a customer receives the heat sink, we have tested it thoroughly, thus in almost every case, we are right on target.

Dr. Kaveh Azar

Why can't a woman be more like a man? / Men are so honest, so thoroughly square; / Eternally noble, historically fair.

Alan Jay Lerner

[Pageant officials thanked the Atlantic City community for its longstanding support of the pageant.] We thoroughly appreciate the assistance we have received from the Atlantic City community, and the state of New Jersey over the past 85 years, ... The entire community has embraced Miss America, its contestants and the pageant's rich history.

Art Mcmaster

You have to be here to believe it. People back home are going to wonder how he did it. But he thoroughly deserved it. He was a picture of concentration and control and like any good batsman, he knew his limitations and strengths.

Merv Hughes

Fastow and his co-conspirators systematically and thoroughly corrupted the business of one of the largest corporations in the world.

Larry Thompson

I want the government and the Bank of Japan to thoroughly discuss and then decide (when to scrap the quantitative easing policy).

Hiroshi Okuda

It gets real hectic. If people bring them in early, there's time to do it and do it thoroughly and correctly, instead of rushing to get them all done, so everyone gets them back quickly.

Donald Bachman

I think we learned a very good lesson. When an issue like this comes up, this council won't be jumping in without researching thoroughly and being informed.

Jacci Jahnke

We worked three years on a process that culminates today and during which each aspirant was evaluated thoroughly to arrive at a final determination.

Ricardo Lavolpe

No one is so completely disenchanted with the world, or knows it so thoroughly, or is so utterly disgusted with it, that when it begins to smile upon him he does not become partially reconciled to it.

Giacomo Leopardi

Certainly every square meter of earth hasn't been dug up but there aren't many places that haven't been investigated pretty thoroughly. We're not going to suddenly discover a new continent.

Thomas Graedel

What on earth did a mission dispatched to the United States late last year check? They were fooled by the United States. The problem cannot be limited to the meat processor in question. We want the government to check all authorized exporters thoroughly.

Hiroko Mizuhara

I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him.

Mark Twain

No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth.

Robert Southey

The commission's decision is thoroughly disappointing and defies all common sense.

Richard Page

There's not too much to say. Alabama thoroughly beat us. They are a better team. They were coached better, they played better, and they looked like they will have a big season. They have a heck of a team.

Steve Spurrier

It is thoroughly irresponsible to promote the use of nuclear power when there is still no technically feasible means of assuring that long-lived radioactive wastes can be isolated from the environment. Further, this will do nothing to solve the current predicament we have with rising electricity costs.

Wenonah Hauter

Not only the flagship show, but also the cornerstone of the network, MTV Live is the essence of what MTV will become in Canada: bold, unorthodox and thoroughly entertaining. Re-inventing the talk format, MTV Live is an interactive, multi-media platform that will unite Canadians from coast to coast.

Susanne Boyce

The greatest delight is to mark one's enemy, prepare everything, avenge oneself thoroughly, and then go to sleep.

Joseph Stalin

[In another one of his banned books,] Rejecting Lies, ... Under the pressure of ideology and the temptation of market economy, intellectuals have not become the society's pillar in the midst of the breakdown of moral values but have become the most thoroughly corrupt bunch of people.

Yu Jie

It was a thoroughly deserved win. The boys all worked really hard.

Dave Carroll

I thoroughly enjoyed the meetings. It gave us an opportunity to get together and look at the issues we felt were appropriate.

Andrew Johnson

The majority of the parents were not interested or real excited about having their child change schools, but that's going to happen with any boundary line recommendations. Their concerns all were legitimate but were personal needs and issues. I feel their questions were answered very thoroughly.

Jim Vaughan

Parents are thoroughly impressed with the FAME program and especially the expertise of our teachers. They express how wonderful this program is for their child and how much they wish they had a program like this when they went to school.

Brigitte Donlon

We don't know much about it, but what we have heard and we're thoroughly excited.

Nancy Stewart

I had to fill out an application and my background was checked thoroughly. They just don't let anyone distribute these machines. This is highly regulated.

Mike Foster

We cannot recommend third party solutions that modify the way the product itself operates. The reason is really around the fact that we carefully review and test our security updates to ensure that they are of high quality and have been evaluated thoroughly for application compatibility.

Mike Reavey

The credibility of the Election Commission has been seriously undermined. If there is one important lesson of the elections, it is: The Election Commission must be thoroughly overhauled.

Farhatullah Babar

I'm thoroughly amazed at how bright and alert she is.

Dr. Roger Hudgins

Chairman Martin is concerned about any violations of the payola rules, and has directed the FCC's enforcement bureau to thoroughly investigate any evidence of payola rule violations brought before it.

David Fiske

I occasionally used to pop into Hammer House to say hello, cadge a drink or something and Jim was always great I also used to see a lot of him at Variety Club things, where he did wonderful work. He thoroughly deserved his knighthood.

Christopher Lee

There are a lot of new faces but people see it as an opportunity to put their name on the map and get into the England side. Our team is a young side and we can take a lot of heart out of it. We have not got ahead of ourselves. We have done the simple things correctly, we have not got too clever. I've had a lot of help and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

Andrew Flintoff

The apparent objectives of a flat tax are thoroughly desirable, but the flat tax itself is a poor way of achieving them.

Rachel O'brien

It's amazing the information they have about the Civil War. They've studied the history very thoroughly.

Donald Moss

Pesticides are thoroughly tested using EPA's best science to determine the proper conditions and instructions for their safe and effective use. Pesticide products must pass more than 120 health, safety and environmental tests to ensure their safety and effectiveness before being granted registration by EPA.

Jay Vroom

We're trying to do everything we can to avoid a demoralizing experience for us. These youngsters are enjoying the experience. We've got seven players who have played professionally in the States. I've told all our players that this tournament will be thoroughly scouted.

Rich Magnante

What they did, in terms of offering emotional support, was superb. They were sensitive and supportive, and their lawyering was thoroughly professional. I admire them enormously.

Steven Bernstein

I have evaluated the basketball program thoroughly and discussed it with Louis. As a result, we could not agree on critical issues related to the management of the program.

Joe Quinlan

But you know, work that interests us and that we thoroughly enjoy, is never drudgery.

Pearl White

They thoroughly deserve it... the way they've done, what they've done in that totally independent spirit is very admirable.

Neil Finn

I'm proud to pass the baton to Jack Greenberg, because he is thoroughly prepared to take on the challenging responsibilities of being chief executive officer.

Michael Quinlan

At this stage we're making significant progress, but we are still at the stage of gathering evidence and we want this to be done thoroughly.

Robert Moyles

It is our policy that all detainees are treated humanely and to report any suspected detainee mistreatment and investigate that thoroughly.

Cynthia Smith

We have only to keep the end in view, and have our hearts thoroughly engaged in the pursuit of it, and means will not be very difficult.

William Carey

People were told to leave the place immediately and the market was combed thoroughly for about an hour. No bomb was found in the place.

Sunil Garg

The idea that there is going to be a war is thoroughly accepted in the financial markets right now. But nobody can know what the exact contours are going to be.

Bill Sterling

He has not been charged, but is being detained and is still being interviewed by police. Like any other murder case, this will be investigated thoroughly and with absolutely no speculation.

Dcp Shields

It now appears that the last thing many human rights groups really wanted was a thoroughly reformed human rights body at the U.N. - meaning an organization dominated by strong democracies. That would deprive them of an international forum in which to criticize America for its alleged global assault on human rights.

Nile Gardiner

Over the last several months, we have thoroughly weighed strategic alternatives for our Northern Department Store Group.

Brad Martin

Today, people in loss prevention need to have skills in finance, inventory control, accounting. They really need to understand the retail operations thoroughly.

Paul Lang

It was quite a physical game, but we thoroughly deserved to get a point from it.

Terry Harris

There were some issues in the past, and there are different people in charge of GTECH now. If there were anything -- and there's no reason to believe there is -- the (state) Gaming Control Board would thoroughly investigate it.

Steve Kniley

It's a journey into the unknown, ... but we will be doing our utmost to get as much information on them as possible. We are going to be underdogs and the fact they won their group last season suggests they are a very good team. We have to be more than wary of them and we will prepare very thoroughly.

Tony Mowbray

In the end it was comfortable, the guys set about things in a thoroughly professional manner and played some good cricket.

Paul Terry

The system has been thoroughly tested.

David Bear

No assessments on any other scientific topic have been so thoroughly researched and reviewed.

Andy Crouch

Today's charges signal the federal government's commitment to thoroughly and promptly investigate and prosecute acts of official corruption, wherever they may arise.

Alan Vinegrad

Whenever we receive information that a child may be abused, we respond within a matter of hours. We investigate all cases of child abuse thoroughly wherever they may lead. Our No. 1 priority is child safety.

John Harrell

We will thoroughly test V.92 and make sure it is stable and reliable before V.92 access is offered to AOL customers.

Nicholas Graham

There were issues raised, they have been heard, and have now been corrected. The questions have been reviewed and reviewed thoroughly. That's how it works.

Steve Watts

The governor will have 40 days following the end of the legislative session. Until he's done that thoroughly we won't have a comment.

Heather Hedrick

After thoroughly reviewing the committee's report, all the members of the Cabinet Committee came to the conclusion that the report was not fair.

Saifur Rahman

Today will be fine with no problems at all but what we're looking at is three or four days ahead in case it does warm up again we need to make sure this fire is thoroughly contained.

Cameron Wade

Nothing will make us so charitable and tender to the faults of others, as, by self-examination, thoroughly to know our own.

Francois Fúnelon

I believe Jennifer committed no crime. I understand and respect [Gwinnett County] District Attorney Danny Porter and his obligation to investigate this situation thoroughly. Jennifer hopes this experience will help her grow and heal and perhaps help others in similar circumstances. I look forward to working with her and her family.

Lydia Sartain

In the end, while I thoroughly understand and totally supported President Bush's decision not to pursue Saddam personally, I am now prepared to admit that it was probably a mistake.

Lawrence Eagleburger

So what can fans expect from this futuristic movie? 'You can expect to be freaked out, to laugh a lot and to be thoroughly entertained by it.

Morena Baccarin

I wanted to take a stand against what I think was not so well established then but is thoroughly well established now, which is the substitution for a real sense of a country of a hideous distortion which you can sell to the people called 'heritage'.

Peter Porter

It's a warm-hearted, amusing and sometimes very touching, play. I think the audience will laugh and be moved. And they will thoroughly enjoy the singing.

Tom Murray

There are a lot of great technical bands out there, but when you go to see them live, they just kind of stand there. You get bored kind of quickly. With the animation, there's so much going on that the audience can be entertained thoroughly. We're trying to take the idea of the multimedia show and figure out how to go into the future with it.

Ira Black

Russia has already made a decision in principle to build an oil pipeline from Eastern Siberia to the Pacific Ocean. This is a large-scale and costly project that experts should thoroughly study.

Sergei Razov

I love it. I'm a collector and I'm a treasure hunter. I just thoroughly enjoy it all, and I enjoy the history of it and the older I get, the more I enjoy the history.

Dave Kyte

Our department is going to thoroughly investigate these allegations and determine whether anything like the witnesses say happened. But my focus, again, is on Officer Bermudez and what happened to her.

Mike Sheffield

I thoroughly enjoyed my time as chair. Some good things have been accomplished the last couple of years.

Bruce Jones

We do have some colorful students that have a reputation for enjoying themselves thoroughly. But you've got to have faith in the kids.

Karen Stanek

One of the major problems is to make sure that the meat is thoroughly cooked because you can have the pathogenic E. coli bacteria.

Michael Pariza

We don't know who the next nominee is, but, when we do, we're going to equally and thoroughly review their record to see where they stand on issues that are most important to us just as we have Roberts, ... We'll be looking for someone who is very clearly wedded to the concept of a constitution that protects all of the American people.

Hilary Shelton

It's one thing to allow children to choose to study Amelia Earhart before studying Harriet Tubman, with the clear understanding that both will be studied thoroughly during the school year. It is another thing to allow children to study Muhammad Ali and completely skip over what the state standards or district curriculum require.

Jill Fox

The thing that is the hardest is that we were given assurance by the Israeli authorities and our Government that this was being fully and thoroughly investigated.

Sophy Miller

We must adopt loathsome diseases for our familiar associates, or we shall never be thoroughly acquainted with their nature and dispositions; we must risk, nay even injure, our own health in order to be able to preserve or restore that of others.

John Abernethy

Jake Jacobs has been thoroughly involved in executing Spyder's business strategy, and has been integral to the company's success. He's a leading expert on fabric technology, and has incredible industry knowledge and experience. His soul is the brand. It just so happens that he's also my son.

David Jacobs

We cover our bases very thoroughly because we could get bitten as easily as they can.

Susie Williams

An educated man is thoroughly inoculated against humbug, thinks for himself and tries to give his thoughts, in speech or on paper, some style.

Alan K. Simpson

I am thoroughly looking forward to the job but I know it will be a busy time.

Phil Dixon

No thoroughly occupied man was ever yet very miserable.

Letitia Landon

First off, I didn't want Vijay, ... I chose to play with him because I enjoy him and the way he hits the ball. It was a great match all the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great moment. Is he going to beat me eight of 10 times? I think so, but in a one-day try, I've got as good a shot.

Fred Couples

She's very contemplative and thinks through situations thoroughly, but can think ... very quickly as well.

Michelle Davis

We have to look at it thoroughly and analyze the data before we would be able to make a logical decision about that.

Mary Parker

These people remain here because I have thoroughly opened to them the seven seals.

David Koresh

The CIA thoroughly pursued this issue and did so on more than one occasion.

Jennifer Millerwise

Slavery is the backbone on which this country was built, ... We haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg in terms of studying it ... I have two children and I don't think they have studied the issue thoroughly.

Keith Wright

Wow, I am thoroughly impressed. Nitro PDF provides an enormous amount of functionality for the price point.

Donna Baker

They really put on a show [and] make sure the crowd is thoroughly impressed. Their shows are a lot of fun and its proven in the fact that they had so many fans and sold out shows for so many years.

Zacky Vengeance

CBS is doing really well and looking like an extremely classy network. It doesn't want to thoroughly humiliate itself.

Fred Martin

That sounds nice, and we will do it. But I will say we thoroughly enjoy what we're do right now.

Ed Brink

He (Armstrong) was like a little kid in a candy store while he toured the factory looking at the molds and watching the engineers work on computers. Lance is really a sophisticated bike guy who is thoroughly moved with the science behind the bikes.

Zap Espinoza

We won't be spending the kind of money we would if we could (sell) bonds. But we are going to use this year to prepare as thoroughly as possible for when that bond money does become available.

Zach Hall

Given that employers have no legal obligation to thoroughly investigate whether documents presented to them by new employees are valid or not, they often have a de facto defense.

Ernestine Fobbs

A brand's overall ability to reach its sales goal primarily depends on its capacity to quickly and thoroughly react to external obstacles faced during brand development and launch. That means having an adequate budget that can help brand teams meet challenges.

Eric Bolesh

No matter how thoroughly and searchingly we may have scrutinized works of literature from the historical and biographical point of view, we must be able to tell good from bad, the first-rate from the second-rate. We shall otherwise not write literary criticism at all, but merely social or political history as reflected in literary texts, or psychological case histories from past eras.

Edmund Wilson