Every self-styled intellectual I talk with, speaking about their favourite writer: "He* is the finest writer to have ever lived! Literally."
Me: "How many books have you read?"
Them: "Oh, a few hundred."
Me: *extremely David Bowie smile*
* 99% probability
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This tweet inspired by a friend once remarking that Niccolo Machiavelli was the greatest diplomat *in all of recorded history*.
Which, sure, if you only know about five or so famous ones.