All who (like him) have writ ill plays before,
For they, like thieves, condemned, are hangman made,
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All who (like him) have writ ill plays before,
For they, like thieves, condemned, are hangman made,
To execute the members of their trade.

Reviewers are forever telling authors they can't understand them.
The author might often reply: Is that my fault?

Reviewers are forever telling authors they can't understand them.
The author might often reply: Is that my fault?

What distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is criticism.

What distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is criticism.

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.

But, spite of all the criticising elves,
Those who would make us feel, must feel themselves.

But, spite of all the criticising elves,
Those who would make us feel, must feel themselves.

When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own read more

When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.

A man must serve his time to every trade
Save censure--critics all are ready made.
Take hackney'd read more

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.

Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.

Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.

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