People who use their erudition to write for a learned minority... don't seem to me favored by fortune but rather to be pitied for their continuous self-torture. They add, change, remove, lay aside, take up, rephrase, show to their friends, keep for nine years and are never satisfied. And their futile reward, a word of praise from a handful of people, they win at such a cost -- so many late nights, such loss of sleep, sweetest of all things, and so much sweat and anguish... their health deteriorates, their looks are destroyed, they suffer partial or total blindness, poverty, ill-will, denial of pleasure, premature old age and early death.

Summary

This quote criticizes those who write solely for a small, educated audience. It suggests that these individuals are not fortunate but are rather deserving of pity due to their constant self-imposed torment. The quote highlights the extensive and obsessive efforts these writers go through to perfect their work, often for minimal praise from a select few. It emphasizes the toll this pursuit takes on their well-being - their health declines, they lose their youthful appearance, and they suffer from various hardships such as poverty and loneliness. Overall, the quote portrays writing for a learned minority as an ultimately unrewarding and detrimental endeavor.

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