“The first thing you must remember…(is that an) editor does not add
to a book. At best he serves as a handmaiden to an author. Don’t ever
get to feeling important about yourself, because an an editor at most
releases energy. He creates nothing.”
***
That exceedingly modest quotation was from Max Perkins (found in A. Scott Berg’s excellent biography)…he, as an editor at Scribner’s, just happened to help create the Great/Modern American Novel – I’m just saying…
Max Perkins: Editor of Genius: A. Scott Berg: 9780425223376: Amazon.com: Books.