The news that several members of the Swedish Academy have decided to resign from their work in the academy (but not from their pay, of course, since they have been chosen for life) is rather disconcerting. If those academy members who think the academy functions in a wrongful manner simply opt out, who then is left to steer the skiff out onto healthier waters? It would have been nice if the honour of being a member of the Swedish Academy came with some grit.