This was proferred as a quotation of a 20th century wit, but I seek
its author, and source.  I want both - not just the author.

I've been looking for a while, and can't find it.

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 04 Oct 2002 00:53 PDT

I haven't been able to find a quote about literature with that
wording. It might help if we knew where you encountered the quote.

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Clarification of Question by kuriouskevin-ga on 04 Oct 2002 01:15 PDT

A colleague cited this in a conversation years ago - she might have
claimed it was Saul Bellow.

I've looked through all major quotation databases commonly available -
this is a tough nut to crack.

Thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 04 Oct 2002 01:32 PDT

A friend of mine likes to drop this Saul Bellow quotation into
conversation when matters of literature arise:

"There is only one way to defeat the enemy, and that is to write as
well as one can."

But that's sort of the opposite of your quote!

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Clarification of Question by kuriouskevin-ga on 04 Oct 2002 10:41 PDT

I've given all I know. The answer should also be one sentence, and
have if not this precise wording, its precise meaning and use of the
words "literature," and "read."

Kuriouskevin:

The closest I've been able to come is a line from a 1773 letter by the
French phillosopher/writer Voltaire. He opposed the strict French
censorship by imploring a First Commissioner of the French government
to:

"if you can, do something for literature, which has done so much for
France."

Source and Link:

Letter by Voltaire,June 20, 1773.
http://www.themediadrome.com/content/articles/history_articles/voltaire_press_freedom.htm

Je connais ça deja, merci.  Comme j'ai expliqué, l'autour est un
americain du derniere ciecle.

Mais pas mal, M. Brett.

kurious kevin