Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

People ask for criticism, but they only want praise.

People ask for criticism, but they only want praise.

Some people are always critical of vague statements. I tend rather to be critical of precise statements; they are the read more

Some people are always critical of vague statements. I tend rather to be critical of precise statements; they are the only ones which can correctly be labeled "wrong.".

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where read more

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 not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, 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 he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all.

The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all.

Reviewers are usually people who would have been poets,
historians, biographers, etc., if they could: they have tried
read more

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.

Those who do not read criticism will rarely merit to be
criticised.

Those who do not read criticism will rarely merit to be
criticised.

Honest criticism is hard to take - especially when it comes from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a read more

Honest criticism is hard to take - especially when it comes from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.

The rule in carving holds good as to criticism; never cut with a knife what you can cut with a read more

The rule in carving holds good as to criticism; never cut with a knife what you can cut with a spoon.