Why Mediocrity Has No Place in Writing

Evan Swensen
March 31, 2025

“There are certain things in which mediocrity is intolerable: poetry, music, painting, public eloquence.” Jean de La Bruyère’s words strike like a warning bell for every writer who dares to put fingers on the keyboard. His assertion, sharp and unwavering, leaves no room for half-hearted effort. Literature, art, and oratory must rise above the ordinary, or they are doomed to irrelevance.

La Bruyère understood something that many writers struggle with today: the written word, when wielded with mastery, shapes minds, stirs emotions, and withstands time. But what happens when writing falls into mediocrity? Can bland words change the world? He thought not—and he spent his life proving it.

The Struggle for Excellence in a Conformist World

Seventeenth-century France was a world of rigid social hierarchy, where voices like La Bruyère’s often met resistance. Born in 1645, he did not belong to the nobility, nor was he initially part of the intellectual elite. He studied law and secured a modest position as a tutor to the grandson of the powerful minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert. Yet, in a society where privilege dictated success, talent alone was insufficient.

His struggle was not merely professional but artistic. France adored its writers—if they played by the rules. Flattery, not truth, earned favor at court. Writers who sought approval often softened their critiques, crafting words to please rather than provoke. La Bruyère rejected this game. Instead, he took a path far more dangerous: unflinching honesty.

In 1688, he published Les Caractères, a collection of essays and maxims exposing the hypocrisy and foolishness of his time. The book, inspired by Theophrastus’s ancient work on human nature, held up a mirror to the pretentious, the vain, and the power-hungry. It was biting, unsparing—and wildly successful. Yet, success came with its price. Nobles seethed, critics fumed, and La Bruyère found himself both celebrated and condemned.

His words struck deep because they were unafraid. He refused to let mediocrity pollute literature. To him, writing had to be precise, deliberate, and insightful. Anything less was a betrayal of its purpose.

The Pen That Challenged an Empire

La Bruyère’s sharpest weapon was his ability to expose the absurdity of those who wielded power. He wrote of sycophants who thrived on deception, men who spoke endlessly but said nothing, and poets who churned out hollow verses in pursuit of patronage. He did not merely observe society—he dissected it.

Yet, for all his criticism, he was not a man without hope. He believed in the power of literature to refine humanity. His critiques, though scathing, sought to illuminate rather than destroy. He saw writing as a force, when wielded with precision, could cut through pretense and inspire change.

His work had admirers, including the Académie Française, which inducted him in 1693. But even as he gained recognition, he remained acutely aware of the fickleness of public favor. He had spent years watching men rise and fall on the tides of influence. Unlike many of his peers, he had no illusions about the cost of truth-telling.

How La Bruyère’s Legacy Lives On

More than three centuries later, La Bruyère’s warning against mediocrity still echoes. The digital age has given every writer a platform, but ease of publication has not guaranteed excellence. What separates the forgettable from the unforgettable in a world flooded with content? Precision, insight, and the courage to write what matters.

His insistence on clarity and purpose in writing remains as relevant as ever. Writers today, like in his time, must choose: write to be liked, or write to be remembered. A watered-down message may earn temporary approval, but only fearless writing stands the test of time.

His legacy is not just in the wit of Les Caractères but in the principle behind it. He reminds writers that words are more than ink on a page—they are instruments of change, persuasion forces, and truth reflections.

A Call to Writers: Write as If It Matters

La Bruyère’s life is proof that literature is not a passive act. It demands rigor, depth, and an unrelenting commitment to truth. He did not seek comfort in the ordinary. Neither should you.

If writing is worth doing, it is worth doing with precision, passion, and purpose. Write—not to blend in, but to stand out.

Author Masterminds is a community of authors who understand that stories shape minds, shift perspectives, and change the world. Authors dedicated not to blend in, but to stand out. If you’re serious about writing, refining your craft, and reaching readers who genuinely connect with your words, this is where you belong.

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