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.

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.

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.

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.

Criticism is easy, and art is difficult.
[Fr., La critique est aisee, et l'art est difficile.]

Criticism is easy, and art is difficult.
[Fr., La critique est aisee, et l'art est difficile.]

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 press, the pulpit, and the stage,
Conspire to censure and expose our age.

The press, the pulpit, and the stage,
Conspire to censure and expose our age.

The strength of criticism lies in the weakness of the thing criticized.

The strength of criticism lies in the weakness of the thing criticized.