Critics Quote by Christopher Hampton
“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp-post what it feels about dogs.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Writer’s View, 1992
Critics are irrelevant to writers, like a lamp‑post to dogs.
In simple terms: Critics don’t affect writers as dogs don’t affect lamp‑posts.
Key Takeaway
Ignore critics; focus on your craft.
Themes
criticism
art
creativity
Mood
cynical
humorous
Type
satirical
advice
When to use this quote
- publishing a novel
- film scriptwriting
- art exhibitions
- public readings
Key Concepts
creative process
public reception
artist confidence
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever consider critics’ opinions?
- How do you separate useful feedback from noise?
A Different Perspective
Some feedback can improve work if taken constructively.
![“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp-post what it feels about dogs." [ Time Magazine , October 31, 1977]” quote by John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd9/john-osborne-12988_critics_asking-a-working-writer-what-he-thinks-a_2547280.jpg)
![“Nearly all the writing of our time is likely to disappear in a hundred years. Certainly most readers - and nearly all critics - feel that [Kurt] Vonnegut started to repeat himself, to grow increasingly self-indulgent and meandering, and to sometimes just blather in his later work. But his books up…” quote by Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ed7/michael-dirda-3414_1960s_nearly-all-the-writing-of-our-time-is-li_13506.jpg)