#critic

It is much more valuable to look for the strength in others. You can gain nothing by criticizing their imperfections. ↗

— Daisaku Ikeda

#strength-of-character #value-in-a-person #criticism

I don't see how the study of language and literature can be separated from the question of free speech, which we all know is fundamental to our society. [p.92] ↗

— Northrop Frye

#literary-criticism #education

A modern philosopher who has never once suspected himself of being a charlatan must be such a shallow mind that his work is probably not worth reading. ↗

— Leszek Kołakowski

#doubt #irony #modernity #philosophy #self-criticism

His forward voice now is to speak well of his friend. His backward voice is to utter foul speeches and to detract. ↗

— William Shakespeare

#criticism #gossip #speech #gossip

A novel, in which all is created by the author's whim, must strike a more profound level of truth, or it is worthless." "And yet, I have heard you say that any novel that relieves your ennui for an hour has proved its usefulness." "You have a good memory. It must have been ten thousands of years ago that I uttered those words." "And if it was?" "In another ten thousand, perhaps I will agree with them again." "In my opinion, the proper way to judge a novel is this: Does it give one an accurate reflection of the moods and characteristics of a particular group of people in a particular place at a particular time? If so, it has value. Otherwise, it has none." "You do not find this rather narrow?" "Madam—" "Well?" "I was quoting you. ↗

— Steven Brust

#novels #stories #literary-criticism

The text contains no literary criticism. I wanted to describe books, not to be clever at their expense. ↗

— Kenneth McLeish

#literary-criticism

If you tell me bad things about someone, you're telling bad things about me behind me ↗

— Miguel Ángel Sáez Gutiérrez

#literature #society #literary-criticism

While clearly an impregnable masterpiece, Don Quixote suffers from one fairly serious flaw—that of outright unreadability. ↗

— Martin Amis

#don-quixote #literary-criticism #miguel-de-cervantes #literary-criticism

The truth is not that we need the critics in order to enjoy the authors, but that we need the authors in order to enjoy the critics. ↗

— C.S. Lewis

#literary-theory #literary-criticism

Critics in New York are made by their dislikes, not by their enthusiasms. ↗

— Irwin Shaw

#new-york-city #literary-criticism