Henry Seidel Canby (September 6, 1878 – April 5, 1961) was a critic, editor, and Yale University professor.
The short story, its course plotted and its form proscribed, has become too efficient. . . but efficiency is not the most, it is perhaps the least, important among the undoubted elements of good literature
The function of the Short Story is to be interesting, to convey vivid impressions, an therefore it must, to a degree, work with the evident and superficial thing
If the bell of intolerance tolls for one, it tolls for all.
Live deep instead of fast.
Arrogance, pedantry, and dogmatism. . . the occupational diseases of those who spend their lives directing the intellects of the young.
While the novel-writer aims at an eminently natural method of transcription, the author of the short story adopts a very artificial one
A short story is simplification to the highest degree
Live deep instead of fast. I think this is what Thoreau meant.
The London 'Academy' has seen fit recently to scoff at the critics who have been exercising themselves ove rthe so-called art of the Short Story. . . But the new Short Story has gained more individuality. It supports the magazines and has invaded the newspapers
Flatulency today consists in saying simply in several different ways the same thing over and over again.
Reading for experience is the only reading that justifies excitement. Reading for facts is necessary bu the less said about it in public the better. Reading for distraction is like taking medicine. We do it, but it is nothing to be proud of. But reading for experience is transforming.