When you can state the theme of a story, when you can separate it from the story itself, then you can be sure the story is not a very good one.
Flannery O'ConnorHarcourt sent my book to Evelyn Waugh and his comment was: โIf this is really the unaided work of a young lady, it is a remarkable product.โ My mother was vastly insulted. She put the emphasis on if and lady. Does he suppose youโre not a lady? she says.
Flannery O'ConnorMrs. Hopewell had no bad qualities of her own but she was able to use other people's in such a constructive way that she never felt the lack.
Flannery O'Connor