The avocation of assessing the failures of better men can be turned into a comfortable livelihood, providing you back it up with a Ph.D.
—Nelson Algren (1909–81) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Praise or blame has but a momentary effect on the man whose love of beauty in the abstract makes him a severe critic on his own works.
—John Keats (1795–1821) English Poet
Post-modernism has cut off the present from all futures. The daily media add to this by cutting off the past. Which means that critical opinion is often orphaned in the present.
—John Berger (1926–2017) English Art Critic, Novelist
Great people talk about great ideas; average people talk about average ideas; small people talk about other poeple.
—Anonymous
It is a thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against another man’s oration—nay, it is a very easy matter; but to produce a better in its place is a work extremely troublesome.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
When I am abroad, I always make it a rule to never criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
It is salutary to train oneself to be no more affected by censure than by praise.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
As to people saying a few idle words about us, we must not mind that any more than the old church steeple minds the rooks cawing about it.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Criticism is a privilege that you earn—it shouldn’t be your opening move in an interaction.
—Malcolm Gladwell (b.1963) Canadian Journalist, Author
A man has generally the good or ill qualities which he attributes to mankind.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
Many receive a criticism and think it is fine; think they got their money’s worth; think well of the teacher for it, and then go on with their work just the same as before. That is the reason much of the wisdom of Plato is still locked up in the pages of Plato.
—Robert Henri (1865–1929) American Painter, Teacher
Think before you speak is criticism’s motto; speak before you think, creation’s.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Ridicule may be the evidence of wit or bitterness and may gratify a little mind, or an ungenerous temper, but it is no test of reason or truth.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who venture to criticize us perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to undertake to wound or offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Most of us are umpires at heart; we like to call balls and strikes on somebody else.
—Leo Aikman (1908–78) American Columnist
The pleasure of criticism takes from us that of being deeply moved by very beautiful things.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Criticism is the disapproval of people, not for having faults, but having faults different from your own.
—Anonymous
Reviewers, with some rare exceptions, are a most stupid and malignant race. As a bankrupt thief turns thief-taker in despair, so an unsuccessful author turns critic.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
Half of the secular unrest and dismal, profane sadness of modern society comes from the vain ideas that every man is bound to be a critic for life.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, Clergyman
The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.
—Wole Soyinka (b.1934) Nigerian Dramatist, Novelist, Critic
Silence is sometimes the severest criticism.
—Charles Buxton (1823–71) British Politician, Writer
Criticism is an indirect form of self-boasting.
—Emmet Fox (1886–1951) Irish-American New Thought Leader
Strike the dog dead, it’s but a critic!
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration. Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.
—Margaret Chase Smith (1897–1995) American Politician
Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
You know lots of criticism is written by characters who are very academic and think it is a sign you are worthless if you make jokes or kid or even clown. I wouldn’t kid Our Lord if he was on the cross. But I would attempt a joke with him if I ran into him chasing the money changers out of the temple.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behooves any of us to find fault with the rest of us.
—Unknown
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