“Writers must fortify themselves with pride and egotism as best they can. The process is analogous to using sandbags and loose timbers to protect a house against flood. Writers are vulnerable creatures like anyone else. For what do they have in reality? Not sandbags, not timbers. Just a flimsy reputation and a name.”
Cite this quote
APA
Aldiss, B. (n.d.). Writers must fortify themselves with pride and egotism as best they can. The process is analogous to using sandbags and loose timbers to protect a house against flood. Writers are vulnerable creatures like anyone else. For what do they have in reality? Not sandbags, not timbers. Just a flimsy reputation and a name. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42774-writers-must-fortify-themselves-with-pride-and-egotism/
MLA
Aldiss, Brian. “Writers must fortify themselves with pride and egotism as best they can. The process is analogous to using sandbags and loose timbers to protect a house against flood. Writers are vulnerable creatures like anyone else. For what do they have in reality? Not sandbags, not timbers. Just a flimsy reputation and a name.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42774-writers-must-fortify-themselves-with-pride-and-egotism/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Aldiss, Brian. “Writers must fortify themselves with pride and egotism as best they can. The process is analogous to using sandbags and loose timbers to protect a house against flood. Writers are vulnerable creatures like anyone else. For what do they have in reality? Not sandbags, not timbers. Just a flimsy reputation and a name.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42774-writers-must-fortify-themselves-with-pride-and-egotism/.