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.

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

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

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.

Even the lion has to defend himself against flies.

Even the lion has to defend himself against flies.

Blame is safer than praise.

Blame is safer than praise.

"I'm an owl: you're another. Sir Critic, good day." And the
barber kept on shaving.

"I'm an owl: you're another. Sir Critic, good day." And the
barber kept on shaving.

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?

Critics? Don't talk to me of critics! You think some jackanapes journalist, his soul eaten away by the maggots of read more

Critics? Don't talk to me of critics! You think some jackanapes journalist, his soul eaten away by the maggots of jealousy and failure, has anything worthwhile to say of art? I don't.

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.