the readers.

excerpt from Utopia by Thomas More

To tell you the truth, though, I still haven't made up my mind whether I shall publish it at all. Tastes differ so widely, and some people are so humourless, so uncharitable, and so absurdly wrong-headed, that one would probably do far better to relax and enjoy life than worry oneself to death trying to instruct or entertain a public which will only despise one's efforts, or at least feel no gratitude for them.

Most readers know nothing about literature- many regard it with contempt.
Lowbrows find everthing heavy going that isn't completely lowbrow.
Highbrows reject everything as vulgar that isn't a mass of archaisms.
Some only like the classics, thers only their own works.
Some are so grimly serious that they disapprove of all humour, others so half-witted that they can't stand wit.
Some are so literal-minded that the slightest hint of irony affects them as water affects a sufferer from hydrophobia. Others come to different conclusions every time they stand up or sit down.
Then there's the alcoholic school of critics, who sit in public houses, pronouncing ex cathedra verdicts of condemnation, just as they think fit.
They seize upon your publications, as a wrestler seizes upon his opponent's hair, and use them to drag you down, while they themselves remain quite invulnerable, because their barren pates are completely bald-so there's nothing for you to get hold of.

Besides, some readers are so ungrateful that, ecven if they enjoy a book immensely, they don't feel any affection for the author. They're like rude guests who after a splendid dinner party go home stuffed with food, without saying a word of thanks to their host. So much for the wisdom of preparing a feast of reason at one's own expense for a public with such fastidious and unpredictable tastes, and with such a profound sense of gratitude!

And to all this I say, walla, this is why I write for myself. Yeah, writing is about communication and thoughts don't really hold much credence if they make sense only in your head, but yuh huh (like the YES way), they do:)