It behooves the minor critic, who hunts for blemishes, to be a little distrustful of his own sagacity.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
The dread of criticism is the death of genius.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Novelist, Historian
One ought to look a good deal at oneself before thinking of condemning others.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
There is no defense against criticism except obscurity.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Having a sharp tongue will cut your throat.
—Anonymous
The critical opinions of a writer should always be taken with a large grain of salt. For the most part, they are manifestations of his debate with himself as to what he should do next and what he should avoid.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
Critics are those who have failed in literature and art.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world—though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst—the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
We have been educated to such a fine—or dull—point that we are incapable of enjoying something new, something different, until we are first told what it’s all about. We don’t trust our five senses; we rely on our critics and educators, all of whom are failures in the realm of creation. In short, the blind lead the blind. It’s the democratic way.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
The person of analytic or critical intellect finds something ridiculous in everything. The person of synthetic or constructive intellect, in almost nothing.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I’d rather be hissed at for a good verse, than applauded for a bad one.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Don’t pay any attention to the critics. Don’t even ignore them.
—Samuel Goldwyn (1879–1974) Polish-born American Film Producer, Businessperson
All the critics who could not make their reputations by discovering you are hoping to make them by predicting hopefully your approaching impotence, failure and general drying up of natural juices. Not a one will wish you luck or hope that you will keep on writing unless you have political affiliations in which case these will rally around and speak of you and Homer, Balzac, Zola and Link Steffens.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
He cannot be strict in judging, who does not wish others to be strict judges of himself.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Strike the dog dead, it’s but a critic!
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Most critical writing is drivel and half of it is dishonest. It is a short cut to oblivion, anyway. Thinking in terms of ideas destroys the power to think in terms of emotions and sensations.
—Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) American Novelist
Since we cannot attain unto it, let us revenge ourselves with railing against it.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Honest criticism means nothing: what one wants is unrestrained passion, fire for fire.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
To be just, that is to say, to justify its existence, criticism should be partial, passionate and political, that is to say, written from an exclusive point of view, but a point of view that opens up the widest horizons.
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–67) French Poet, Art Critic, Essayist, Translator
In criticism I will be bold, and as sternly, absolutely just with friend and foe. From this purpose nothing shall turn me.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
Writing criticism is to writing fiction and poetry as hugging the shore is to sailing in the open sea.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
I have found it advisable not to give too much heed to what people say when I am trying to accomplish something of consequence. Invariably they proclaim it can’t be done. I deem that the very best time to make the effort.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
In most modern instances, interpretation amounts to the philistine refusal to leave the work of art alone. Real art has the capacity to make us nervous. By reducing the work of art to its content and then interpreting that, one tames the work of art. Interpretation makes art manageable, conformable.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
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
People want you to be a crazy, out-of-control teen brat. They want you miserable, just like them. They don’t want heroes; what they want is to see you fall.
—Leonardo DiCaprio (b.1974) American Actor, Film Producer
A sneer is the weapon of the weak. Like other devil’s weapons, it is always cunningly ready to our hand, and there is more poison in the handle than in the point.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Of all mortals a critic is the silliest; for, inuring himself to examine all things, whether they are of consequence or not, he never looks upon anything but with a design of passing sentence upon it; by which means he is never a companion, but always a censer.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician