Who said “Only two classes of books are of universal appeal. The very best and the very worst.”?

Verified

Ford Madox Ford. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceJoseph Conrad : A Personal Remembrance (1924)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Joseph Conrad : A Personal Remembrance (1924).

APA

Ford, M. (n.d.). Only two classes of books are of universal appeal. The very best and the very worst. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26935-only-two-classes-of-books-are-of-universal/

MLA

Ford, Madox. “Only two classes of books are of universal appeal. The very best and the very worst.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26935-only-two-classes-of-books-are-of-universal/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Ford, Madox. “Only two classes of books are of universal appeal. The very best and the very worst.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26935-only-two-classes-of-books-are-of-universal/.