Reader, I think proper, before we proceed any further…
““Reader, I think proper, before we proceed any further together, to acquaint thee that I intend to digress, through this whole history, as often as I see occasion, of which I am myself a better judge than any pitiful critic whatever; and here I must desire all those critics to mind their own business, and not to intermeddle with affairs or works which no ways concern them; for till they produce the authority by which they are constituted judges, I shall not plead to their jurisdiction.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author asserts his right to deviate from criticism, emphasizing personal judgment over external authority.
In simple terms: Author claims freedom from critics.
Key Takeaway
Trust your own judgment.
Themes
authority
criticism
independence
literature
Mood
defensive
assertive
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- academic publishing
- artistic creation
Key Concepts
creative freedom
self‑reliance
literary theory
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you heed critics?
- How do you balance confidence with humility?
A Different Perspective
Excessive self‑confidence may ignore useful feedback.