People
It is the glory and merit of some men to write well, and of others, not to write at all.
— Jean de la Bruyere
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
This turns the usual idea of literary glory around: some people earn honor by writing beautifully, and others earn it by holding back and never writing at all. It's a wry jab, implying that restraint can be a real merit when the work wouldn't be good.
Context reviewed