While an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance, and when he is dead we rate them by his best.

Summary

This quote suggests that while an author is alive, people tend to judge their abilities based on their weakest work. However, once the author passes away, people then tend to mark their abilities based on their best and most noteworthy contributions to literature. It highlights the tendency of individuals to appreciate and acknowledge an artist's talent more after their death, comparatively disregarding or underestimating their less successful pieces during their lifetime.

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