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Criticism: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations
When I read rules of criticism, I immediately inquire after the works of the author who has written them, and by that means discover what it is he likes in a composition.— ADDISON — Guardian. No. 115.
He was in Logic, a great critic, Profoundly skill'd in Analytic; He could distinguish, and divide A hair 'twixt south and south-west side.— BUTLER — Hudibras. Pt. I. Canto I. L. 65.
A man must serve his time to every trade Save censure-critics all are ready made. Take hackney'd jokes from Miller, got by rote, With just enough of learning to misquote; A mind well skill'd to find or forge a fault; A turn for punning, call it Attic salt; To Jeffrey go, be silent and discreet, His pay is just ten sterling pounds per sheet; Fear not to lie, 'twill seem a lucky hit; Shrink not from blasphemy, 'twill pass for wit; Care not for feeling-pass your proper jest, And stand a critic, hated yet caress'd.— BYRON — English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. L. 63.
As soon Seek roses in December-ice in June, Hope, constancy in wind, or corn in chaff; Believe a woman or an epitaph, Or any other thing that's false, before You trust in critics.— BYRON — English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. L. 75.
A servile race Who, in mere want of fault, all merit place; Who blind obedience pay to ancient schools, Bigots to Greece, and slaves to musty rules.— CHURCHILL — The Rosciad. L. 183.
But spite of all the criticizing elves, Those who would make us feel-must feel themselves.— CHURCHILL — The Rosciad. L. 961.
Though by whim, envy, or resentment led, They damn those authors whom they never read.— CHURCHILL — The Candidate. L. 57.
Who shall dispute what the Reviewers say? Their word's sufficient; and to ask a reason, In such a state as theirs, is downright treason.— CHURCHILL — Apology. L. 94.
Reviewers are usually people who would have been poets, historians, biographers, etc., if they could: they have tried their talents at one or the other, and have failed; therefore they turn critics.— COLERIDGE — Lectures on Shakespeare and
Milton. P. 36. Too nicely Jonson knew the critic's part, Nature in him was almost lost in art.— COLLINS — Epistle to Sir Thomas Hanmer
on his Edition of Shakspere. There are some Critics so with Spleen diseased, They scarcely come inclining to be pleased: And sure he must have more than mortal Skill, Who pleases one against his Will. CONGREVE The Way of the World. Epilogue. The press, the pulpit, and the stage, Conspire to censure and expose our age.— WENTWORTH DILLON — Essay on Translated Verse. L. 7.
It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.— BENJ. DISRAELI — Speech in the House
of Commons. Jan'y 24, 1860. You know who critics are?-the men who have failed in literature and art.— BENJ. DISRAELI — Lothair. Ch. XXXV.
The most noble criticism is that in which the critic is not the antagonist so much as the rival of the author.— ISAAC DISRAELI — Curiosities of
Literature. Literary Journals. Those who do not read criticism will rarely merit to be criticised. S.— ISAAC DISRAELI — Literary Character of Men of Genius. Ch. VI.
Blame where you must, be candid where you can, And be each critic the Good-natured Man.— GOLDSMITH — The Good-Natured Man.
Epilogue. Reviewers are forever telling authors they can't understand them. The author might often reply: Is that my fault? J. C. and A. W. HARE-Guesses at Truth. The readers and the hearers like my books, But yet some writers cannot them digest; But what care I? for when I make a feast, I would my guests should praise it, not the cooks.— SIR JOHN HARRINGTON — Against
Writers that Carp at other Men's Books. 'Tis not the wholesome sharp morality, Or modest anger of a satiric spirit, That hurts or wounds the body of a state, But the sinister application Of the malicious, ignorant, and base Interpreter; who will distort and strain The general scope and purpose of an author To his particular and private spleen.— BEN JONSON — Poetaster. Act V. Sc. 1.
C. Critics are sentinels in the grand army of letters, stationed at the corners of newspapers and reviews, to challenge every new author.— LONGFELLOW — Kavanagh. Ch. XIII.
A wise scepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.— LOWELL — Among My Books.
Shakespeare Once More. Nature fits all her children with something to do, He who would write and can't write, can surely review; Can set up a small booth as critic and sell us his Petty conceit and his pettier jealousies.— LOWELL — A Fable for Critics.
In truth it may be laid down as an almost universal rule that good poets are bad critics.— MACAULAY — Criticisms on the Principal
Italian Writers. Dante. The opinion of the great body of the reading public is very materially influenced even by the unsupported assertions of those who assume a right to criticise.— MACAULAY — Mr. Robert Montgomery's
Poems. To check young Genius' proud career, The slaves who now his throne invaded, Made Criticism his prime Vizier, And from that hour his glories faded.— MOORE — Genius and Criticism. St. 4.
Ah, ne'er so dire a thirst of glory boast, Nor in the Critic let the Man be lost.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. L. 522. Pt. II.
And you, my Critics! in the chequer'd shade, Admire new light thro' holes yourselves have made.— POPE — Dunciad. Bk. IV. L. 125.
A perfect Judge will read each work of Wit With the same spirit that its author writ: Survey the Whole, nor seek slight faults to find Where nature moves, and rapture warms the mind.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. Pt. II. L. 235.
Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. Pt. II. L. 336.
But you with pleasure own your errors past, And make each day a critic on the last.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. Pt. III. L. 571.
I lose my patience, and I own it too, When works are censur'd, not as bad but new; While if our Elders break all reason's laws, These fools demand not pardon but Applause.— POPE — Second Book of Horace. Ep. I. L. 115.
In every work regard the writer's End, Since none can compass more than they intend; And if the means be just, the conduct true, Applause, in spite of trivial faults, is due.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. Pt. II. L. 255.
Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. Pt. I. L. 6.
The generous Critic fann'd the Poet's fire, And taught the world with reason to admire.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. Pt. I. L. 100.
The line too labours, and the words moveslow. S.— POPE — Essay on Criticism. Pt. II. L. 171.
For I am nothing, if not critical.— Shakespeare — Othello. Act II. Sc. 1. L. 120.
For 'tis a physic That's bitter to sweet end.— Shakespeare — Measure for Measure. Act IV. Sc. 6. L. 7.
In such a time as this it is not meet That every nice offence should bear his comment. Julius Cæsar. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 7. 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 — Life and Opinions
of Tristram Shandy. (Orig. ed.) Vol. III. Ch. XII. For, poems read without a name, We justly praise, or justly blame; And critics have no partial views, Except they know whom they abuse. And since you ne'er provoke their spite, Depend upon't their judgment's right.— SWIFT — On Poetry. L. 129.
For since he would sit on a Prophet's seat, As a lord of the Human soul, We needs must scan him from head to feet, Were it but for a wart or a mole.— TENNYSON — The Dead Prophet. St. XIV.
Critics are like brushers of noblemen's clothes. Attributed to SIR HENRY WOTTON by BACON. Apothegms. No. 64. How commentators each dark passage shun, And hold their farthing candle to the sun.— YOUNG — Love of Fame. Satire VII. L. 97.
La critique est aisée, et l'art est difficile Criticism is easy, and art is difficult.— DESTOUCHES — Glorieux. II. 5.
Die Kritik nimmt oft dem Baume Raupen und Blüthen mit einander. Criticism often takes from the tree Caterpillars and blossoms together.— JEAN PAUL RICHTER — Titan. Zykel