A servile race
Who, in mere want of fault, all merit place;
Who blind obedience pay to read more

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.

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.

It is much easier to be critical that to be correct.

It is much easier to be critical that to be correct.

He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.

He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.

Said the pot to the kettle, "Get away, blackface."
[Sp., Dijo la sarten a la caldera, quitate alla ojinegra.]

Said the pot to the kettle, "Get away, blackface."
[Sp., Dijo la sarten a la caldera, quitate alla ojinegra.]

Too nicely Jonson knew the critic's part,
Nature in him was almost lost in art.

Too nicely Jonson knew the critic's part,
Nature in him was almost lost in art.

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.

Who shall dispute what the Reviewers say?
Their word's sufficient; and to ask a reason,
In such read more

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.

The most noble criticism is that in which the critic is not the
antagonist so much as the rival read more

The most noble criticism is that in which the critic is not the
antagonist so much as the rival of the author.