Sticks and Stones

As the image above so admirably demonstrates, (somewhat modified) sticks...and stones...do indeed break bones, but a few carefully chosen words can have the capacity to be equally hurtful. And that's why we've taken great care in choosing the few words we've elected to put on our products. 

If Literature is a window into history, reflecting the beliefs, values, and attitudes of its time, then when we quote authors from bygone eras, it's critical to be culturally sensitive, as many of the works we reference contain perspectives that are now be considered outdated, offensive, or exclusionary.

We don't want to erase history or cancel great literature; we do want to engage with it in a manner that's considered and thoughtful. We think that by acknowledging the context in which a work was written, we can appreciate its literary merits while also recognizing its limitations. This approach allows us to celebrate the richness of the past without blindly endorsing views that may be harmful today. We believe that even archaic literature has the potential to promote inclusive discussions, so if you have a view on this we'd love to hear it.

Avid readers from all sorts of diverse backgrounds should feel proud to wear our t-shirts or drink from our mugs. We'd hate for anybody to feel alienated by thoughtless reproductions of outdated ideas. So we hope that by selecting quotes with a contextual awareness and where possible providing appropriate context (in the Description box mostly), we're demonstrating real ethical responsibility, thereby ensuring that literature continues to enlighten rather than alienate.

A big However

Some of the most meaningful of mankind’s conceptions are to be found in the utterances of individual humans, recorded in the form of the written word. Many of those late individuals continue to contribute, albeit unknowingly ( I can't imagine Herman MELVILLE picturing himself on a 21st century mug ) to our rich world of aphorisms, malapropisms, epigrams, maxims, and witticisms. Moby Dick may very well be the most quotable book ever, after Shakespeare and The Bible.

In setting the parameters for what constitutes a classic then, and in deciding which writers to induct into the Quite literary pantheon, we are, of necessity, an autocracy. As such, we have deliberately chosen to include work by authors often considered highly contentious: Joseph CONRAD and Rudyard KIPLING being among the most visibly derided of the modern era. We are unapologetic in contending however, that the benefits to be gained from reading these works far outweighs any negative aspects. And that by reading them critically, as products of a bygone era, we can learn a great deal about the human condition. And finally, that by publicly displaying the carefully selected designs on our t-shirts, you'll be partaking in a positive action, for:

“What are the classics but the noblest recorded thoughts of man?”

Cautionary tales

We have, however, sought to err on the side of caution in selecting quotations from potentially offensive works. Daniel DEFOE’s Robinson Crusoe (First published in 1719) is a perfect case in point, with many of the passages being shockingly racist by today's standards. It may remain a Classic, but some of the sentiments expressed in it are so outdated as to be utterly repugnant to our modern sensibilities. However, we hope the following to be true:

“A Classic is a book which has never exhausted all it has to say to its readers.”

Thoughtful design

We do, in addition to the above, have to acknowledge that some of the subjects tackled in the literary Classics have the potential to affect the way we think, and indeed act, in relation to subjects as diverse as species extinction, pollution, our carbon footprint, exploitative working practices and, of course, cotton production.

A 'timeless classic' like Moby Dick can force us to think hard not only about mankind's horrific impact on the marine environment generally, but more specifically, in today's climate, about the chemicals used in printing, the impact on the marine environment of excessive packaging and promotional materials, and the continued practices of whaling and shark-finning, and the barbarity of those obscene practices. We all have a responsibility to make a difference wherever possible, and here at Quite Literary we take great pride in our thoughtful designs and ethically sourced products.

We hope that you'll feel as proud and as confident when wearing our totem-branded t-shirts as we do about creating them.