Quote by E.B. (Elwyn Brooks) White, The E
The essayist is a self-liberated man, sustained by the childish belief that everything he thinks about, everything that happens to him, is of general interest. He is a fellow who thoroughly enjoys his work, just as people who take bird walks enjoy theirs. Each excursion of the essayist, each new attempt, differs from the last and takes him into new country. This delights him. Only a person who is congenitally self-centered has the effrontery and the stamina to write essays.There are as many kinds of essays as there are human attitudes or poses, as many essay flavors as there are Howard Johnson ice creams. The essayist arises in the morning and, if he has work to do, selects his garb from an unusually extensive wardrobe: he can pull on any sort of shirt, be any sort of person
Summary
This quote suggests that the essayist is a unique individual who is fascinated by their own thoughts and experiences, believing them to be of general interest. They derive great enjoyment from their work, similar to those who embark on bird walks. Each new essay they write takes them on a different journey, exploring new ideas and perspectives. The essayist is portrayed as self-centered, as only someone with such audacity and dedication can produce essays. The quote also emphasizes that there is great diversity in essays, reflecting various human attitudes and flavors, just like the variety of ice cream flavors at Howard Johnson.
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