We have our little theory on all human and divine things. Poetry, the workings of genius itself, which, in all times, with one or another meaning, has been called Inspiration, and held to be mysterious and inscrutable, is no longer without its scientific exposition. The building of the lofty rhyme is like any other masonry or bricklaying: we have theories of its rise, height, decline and fall—which latter, it would seem, is now near, among all people.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Before you go and criticize the younger generation, just remember who raised them.
—Unknown
There’s a fine line between participation and mockery.
—Scott Adams (b.1957) American Cartoonist
Art is parasitic on life, just as criticism is parasitic on art.
—Kenneth Tynan (1927–80) English Theatre Critic, Writer
For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
—Indian Proverb
When criticized, consider the source.
—Unknown
A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car.
—Kenneth Tynan (1927–80) English Theatre Critic, Writer
Critics are already made.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Neither praise or blame is the object of true criticism. Justly to discriminate, firmly to establish, wisely to prescribe, and honestly to award. These are the true aims and duties of criticism.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Novelist, Historian
People who ask for your criticism want only praise.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
One of the criteria for national leadership should therefore be a talent for understanding, encouraging, and making constructive use of vigorous criticism.
—Carl Sagan (1934–96) American Astronomer
I am sorry to think that you do not get a man’s most effective criticism until you provoke him. Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Did some more sober critics come abroad? If wrong, I smil’d; if right, I kiss’d the rod.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Critics, like the rest of mankind, are very frequently misled by interest
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
There is a certain justice in criticism. The critic is like a midwife—a tyrannical midwife.
—Stephen Spender (1909–95) English Poet, Critic
If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn’t swim.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
Blame is safer than praise.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A good review from the critics is just another stay of execution.
—Dustin Hoffman (b.1937) American Actor, Filmmaker
The aim of all commentary on art now should be to make works of art—and, by analogy, our own experience—more, rather than less, real to us. The function of criticism should be to show how it is what it is, even that it is what it is, rather than to show what it means.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Any critic is entitled to wrong judgments, of course. But certain lapses of judgment indicate the radical failure of an entire sensibility.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
Critics! Those cut-throat bandits in the paths of fame.
—Robert Burns (1759–96) Scottish Poet, Songwriter
Let me walk three weeks in the footsteps of my enemy, carry the same burden, have the same trials as he, before I say one word to criticize.
—Unknown
Temperament is the primary requisite for the critic—a temperament exquisitely susceptible to beauty, and to the various impressions that beauty gives us.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.
—Anonymous
A friend is a lot of things, but a critic he isn’t.
—Bert Williams (1876–1922) American Entertainer, Actor
Great people talk about great ideas; average people talk about average ideas; small people talk about other poeple.
—Anonymous
If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it, write it in the sand near the water’s edge”
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
The individual must not merely wait and criticize, he must defend the cause the best he can. The fate of the world will be such as the world deserves.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Criticism should not be querulous and wasting, all knife and root-puller, but guiding, instructive, inspiring.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher