All the critics who could not make their reputations by discovering you are hoping to make them by predicting hopefully your approaching impotence, failure and general drying up of natural juices. Not a one will wish you luck or hope that you will keep on writing unless you have political affiliations in which case these will rally around and speak of you and Homer, Balzac, Zola and Link Steffens.

Summary

This quote points out the harsh reality of criticism in the creative world. It suggests that some critics, who were unable to gain recognition by discovering talented individuals, try to build their reputations by predicting the downfall and decline of accomplished artists. The quote also highlights how political affiliations can affect people's opinions, with supporters praising and equating the artist to great literary figures. It implies that luck and genuine support from the critics are rare, and success can be heavily influenced by external factors such as politics and personal connections.

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