Every writer is necessarily a critic -- that is, each sentence is a skeleton accompanied by enormous activity of rejection; and each selection is governed by general principles concerning truth, force, beauty, and so on. The critic that is in every fabulist is like the iceberg -- nine-tenths of him is under water.

Summary

This quote suggests that every writer is inherently a critic. Writing involves a constant process of evaluating and rejecting sentences, while adhering to principles of truth, force, and beauty. The comparison to an iceberg implies that the extent of criticism within a writer is profound, with most of it hidden from sight. In other words, the critical analysis and judgment required in crafting a piece of writing are extensive and foundational, even though it may not always be apparent to the reader.

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