To the jaded eye, all vampires seem alike, but they are wonderful in their versatility. Some come to life in moonlight, others are killed by the sun, some pierce with their eyes, others with fangs, so...
Reading a novel after reading semiotic theory was like jogging empty-handed after jogging with hand weights. What exquisite guilt she felt, wickedly enjoying narrative! Madeleine felt safe with a nine...
The truth is not that we need the critics in order to enjoy the authors, but that we need the authors in order to enjoy the critics.
When the critic has said everything in his power about a literary text, he has still said nothing; for the very existence of literature implies that it cannot be replaced by non-literature
The ambition of much of today's literary theory seems to be to find ways to read literature without imagination.
A clever schoolboy's reaction to his reading is most naturally expressed by parody or imitation.