Hieroglyphics, a note upon Ecstasy in Literature (Arthur Machen, 1902)

'' I shall be obliged to keep on reiterating the difference between fine literature and literature, or in other words between art and observation expressed with artifice. I am afraid, that in your heart of hearts, you still believe that the Odyssey is fine literature, and that Pride and Prejudice is fine literature, though the Odyssey is better than Pride and Prejudice. It is that better that I want to get out of your head, that monstrous fallacy of comparing Westminster Abbey with the charming old houses in Queen Square. You would see the absurdity of imagining that there can be any degree of comparison between two things entirely different, if I substituted for Pride and Prejudice some ordinary circulating-library novel of our own times. At least I hope you would see, though, as I told you a few weeks ago, I doubt very much whether many people realise the distinction between the Odyssey and a political pamphlet. The general opinion, I expect, is that both belong to the same class, though the Greek poem is much more important than the pamphlet. I think we succeeded in demonstrating the falsity of this idea, in showing clearly and decisively that fine literature means the expression of the eternal human ecstasy in the medium of words, and that it means nothing else whatsoever.''

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