Criticism of government finds sanctuary in several portions of the 1st Amendment. It is part of the right of free speech. It embraces freedom of the press.
—Hugo Black (1886–1971) American Politician, Jurist
There is no defense against criticism except obscurity.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
If a man be endowed with a generous mind, this is the best kind of nobility.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
There is a certain justice in criticism. The critic is like a midwife—a tyrannical midwife.
—Stephen Spender (1909–95) English Poet, Critic
Opinion often consists of a kind of criticism. But criticism can come out of love.
—Robert Frank (1924–2019) American Photographer, Documentary Filmmaker
There has never been a statue erected to honor a critic.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
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
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
If we had no failings ourselves we should not take so much pleasure in finding out those of others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet.
—Chinese Proverb
Of all the cants in this canting world, deliver me from the cant of criticism.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
I have already settled it for myself, so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free.
—Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) American Painter
Much literary criticism comes from people for whom extreme specialization is a cover for either grave cerebral inadequacy or terminal laziness, the latter being a much cherished aspect of academic freedom.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
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
No man ever got very high by pulling other people down. The intelligent merchant does not knock his competitors. The sensible worker does not knock those who work with him. Don’t knock your friends. Don’t knock your enemies. Don’t knock yourself.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British 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
Most of our censure of others is only oblique praise of self, uttered to show the wisdom and superiority of the speaker. It has all the invidiousness of self-praise, and all the ill-desert of falsehood.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Prolonged, indiscriminate reviewing of books is a quite exceptionally thankless, irritating and exhausting job. It not only involves praising trash but constantly inventing reactions towards books about which one has no spontaneous feeling whatever.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
What distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is criticism.
—Octavio Paz (1914–98) Mexican Poet, Diplomat
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
Before you go and criticize the younger generation, just remember who raised them.
—Unknown
A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past; he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future.
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
In my wide association in life, meeting with many and great men in various parts of the world, I have yet to find the man, however great or exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than he would ever do under a spirit of criticism.
—Charles M. Schwab (1862–1939) American Businessperson
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 we speak evil of others, we generally condemn ourselves.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
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
You should not say it is not good. You should say you do not like it; and then, you know, you’re perfectly safe.
—James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) American Painter, Etcher
All my life people have said that I wasn’t going to make it.
—Ted Turner (b.1938) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well; the chiefest part of which is to observe those excellencies which delight a reasonable reader
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
We are not trying to entertain the critics. I’ll take my chances with the public.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Write how you want, the critic shall show the world you could have written better.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise
—Unknown
A critic is a legless man who teaches running.
—Channing Pollock (1880–1946)
American Playwright, Critic
The most noble criticism is that in which the critic is not the antagonist so much as the rival of the author.
—Isaac D’Israeli (1766–1848) English Writer, Scholar
Each generation produces its squad of “moderns” with peashooters to attack Gibraltar.
—Channing Pollock (1880–1946)
American Playwright, Critic
People who ask for your criticism want only praise.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Court not the critic’s smile nor dread his frown.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
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
We are suffering from too much sarcasm.
—Marianne Moore (1887–1972) American Poet
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
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
It is strange that we do not temper our resentment of criticism with a thought for our many faults which have escaped us.
—Indian Proverb
Many great ideas have been lost because people who had them could not stand being laughed at.
—Anonymous
One must be an inventor to read well.—As the proverb says, “He that would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry out the wealth of the In dies.”—There is creative reading as well as creative writing.—When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book we read becomes luminous with manifold allusion. Every sentence is doubly significant, and the sense of our author is as broad as the world.
—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
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it.
—Unknown
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
Critics are those who have failed in literature and art.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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