Critics Quote by Christopher Hampton
“Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost how it feels about dogs.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Philanthropist by Christopher Hampton, 2005
Critics are irrelevant to a writer’s work, just as a lamppost cannot comprehend dogs; the question is absurd.
In simple terms: Critics don’t matter to writers.
Key Takeaway
Focus on your craft, not on critics.
Themes
writing
criticism
absurdity
creativity
Mood
wry
insightful
Type
philosophical
humorous
When to use this quote
- author workshops
- self‑editing
- publishing decisions
- public readings
Key Concepts
literary theory
communication
humor
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you discern helpful critique from noise?
- What role should criticism play in artistic growth?
A Different Perspective
Dismissal of criticism may ignore useful feedback.
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![“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)