She ran the whole gamut of emotions, from A to B. Dorothy Parker, re Broadway performance by Katharine Hepburn 1933
This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force. Dorothy Parker
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. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772-1834, Seven Lectures on Shakespeare and Milton
A critic is a bundle of biases held loosely together by a sense of taste. Whitney Balliett
If you have no critics you’ll likely have no success. Malcolm X
Children need models rather than critics. Joseph Joubert
When many beauties grace a poem, I shall not take offence at a few faults. Horace
The unexamined life is not worth living. Socrates
Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions, but those who kindly reprove thy faults. Socrates
Ramp up my genius, be not retrograde;
But boldly nominate a spade a spade. Ben Jonson, The Poetaster, 1601
People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise. W Somerset Maugham
It is salutary to train oneself to be no more affected by censure than by praise. W Somerset Maugham
Shaw’s plays are the price we pay for Shaw’s prefaces. James Agate, 1877-1947, British drama critic & novelist
You who scribble, yet hate all who write ...
And with faint praises one another damn. William Wycherley, The Plain Dealer, 1677, re drama critics
From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading your book. Groucho Marx
Criticism may not be agreeable but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things. Winston Churchill
The average English critic is a don manqué, hopelessly parochial when not exaggeratedly teutonophile, over whose desk must surely hang the motto (presumably in Gothic lettering) ‘Above all no enthusiasm’. Constant Lambert, cited Opera December 1950
Don’t pay any attention to the critics – don’t even ignore them. Samuel Goldwin
Never criticise your spouse’s faults; if it weren’t for them, your mate might have found someone better than you. Jay Trachman
A good drama critic is one who perceives what is happening in the theatre of his time. A great drama critic also perceives what is not happening. Kenneth Tynan, English theatre critic
Any fool can criticise, condemn and complain and most fools do. Benjamin Franklin
I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses. Johannes Kepler
I’m not everybody’s cup of tea. But sometimes criticism can be hurtful. Be respectful. I’m a good piano player. I can sing well. I write good songs. If you don’t like it, fair enough. But give me a break. Elton John
Conventional people are roused to fury by departure from convention, largely because they regard such departure as a criticism of themselves. Bertrand Russell
Parodies and caricatures are the most penetrating of criticisms. Aldous Huxley
It is the critic’s duty, I believe, to deliver honest opinions to posterity on the immediate experience of viewing movies, hoping that successors will respect their honest opinions and find them useful, rather than sneer at their insensitivity. Philip French, The Observer 5th March 2006
A man must serve his time to every trade
Save censure – critics all are ready made. Lord Byron, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers
There are some Critics so with Spleen diseased,
They scarcely come inclining to be pleased:
And sure he must have more than mortal Skill,
Who pleases one against his Will. William Congreve, The Way of the World epilogue
The press, the pulpit, and the stage,
Conspire to censure and expose our age. Wentworth Dillon, Essay on Translated Verse
Blame where you must, be candid where you can,
And be each critic the Good-natured Man. Oliver Goldsmith, The Good-Natured Man epilogue
Reviewers, with some rare exceptions, are a most stupid and malignant race. As a bankrupt thief turns thief-taker in despair, so an unsuccessful author turns critic. Percy Bysshe Shelley, Fragments of Adonais
I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
In criticism, I will be bold, and as sternly, absolutely just with friend and foe. From this purpose nothing shall turn me. Edgar Allan Poe
A creative life cannot be sustained by approval any more than it can be destroyed by criticism. Will Self
Many scholars forget, it seems to me, that our enjoyment of the great works of literature depends more upon the depth of our sympathy than upon our understanding ... I object only to the interminable comments and bewildering criticisms that teach but one thing: there are as many opinions as there are men. Helen Keller
In literary criticism the critic has no choice but to make over the victim of his attention into something the size and shape of himself. John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America
Unless a reviewer has the courage to give you unqualified praise, I say ignore the bastard. John Steinbeck
A drama critic is a man who leaves no turn unstoned. George Bernard Shaw
The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. Norman Vincent Peale
He only profits from praise who values criticism. Heinrich Heine
I find the pain of a little censure, even when it is unfounded, is more acute than the pleasure of much praise. Thomas Jefferson
The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment. Elbert Hubbard
I am a huge Woody Allen fan, although I’ve only seen Antz. But I’ll tell you something. What I respect most about that man is that when was going through that stuff from the press that said Antz was basically a rip-off of Bug’s Life, he stood true to his films, or at least the one I saw, which again is Antz. The thing is, I thought Bug’s Life was better. Much better than Antz. Point is, don’t listen to your critics. Listen to your fans. The Office US s7e17: Threat Level Midnight, Michael, NBC 2011
What is the modern poet’s fate?
To write his thoughts upon a slate;
The critic spits on what is done
Gives it a wipe – and all is done. Thomas Hood, To the Reviewers, 1826
To find out who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise. Voltaire