Compléter 190-testVersion en ligne 190-test par Farhad Key 1 well be necessarily appeal regardless acclaim literature can merits One of the most important things to remember is that " classic " does not translate to " favorite " or " bestselling " . Literature is instead considered classic when it has stood the test of time ; and it stands the test of time when the artistic quality it expresses be it an expression of life , truth , beauty , or anything about the universal human condition continues to be relevant , and continues to inspire emotional responses , no matter the period in which the work was written . Indeed , classic is considered as such of book sales or public popularity . That said , classic literature usually lasting recognition from critics and other people in a position to influence such decisions and has a universal . And , while effective use of language as as technical excellence is a must , not everything that is well - written or is characterized by technical achievement or critical will automatically considered a classic . Conversely , works that have not been acknowledged or received positively by the writer's contemporaries or critics still be considered as classics .