Who said “The only sensible ends of literature are, first, the pleasurable toil of writing;…”?

Verified

Nathaniel Hawthorne. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Horatio Bridge (15 March 1851)

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“The only sensible ends of literature are, first, the pleasurable toil of writing; second, the gratification of one's family and friends; and lastly, the solid cash.”
VerifiedLetter to Horatio Bridge (15 March 1851) · evidenceLiterature
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Horatio Bridge (15 March 1851).

APA

Hawthorne, N. (n.d.). The only sensible ends of literature are, first, the pleasurable toil of writing; second, the gratification of one's family and friends; and lastly, the solid cash. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26947-the-only-sensible-ends-of-literature-are-first/

MLA

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The only sensible ends of literature are, first, the pleasurable toil of writing; second, the gratification of one's family and friends; and lastly, the solid cash.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26947-the-only-sensible-ends-of-literature-are-first/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The only sensible ends of literature are, first, the pleasurable toil of writing; second, the gratification of one's family and friends; and lastly, the solid cash.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/26947-the-only-sensible-ends-of-literature-are-first/.