Who said “It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.”?

Verified

Henry James. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceHawthorne (1879)

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Hawthorne (1879).

APA

James, H. (n.d.). It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26956-it-takes-a-great-deal-of-history-to/

MLA

James, Henry. “It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26956-it-takes-a-great-deal-of-history-to/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

James, Henry. “It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26956-it-takes-a-great-deal-of-history-to/.

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Verifiedde Mauves, Galaxy Magazine (February/March 1874), ch. V, reprinted in A Passionate Pilgrim (1875) and later in The Madonna of the Future and Other Tales (1879) and the New York Edition of James' works, vol. 13 (1908) · evidenceDetails & citeExperience
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