--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Literary criticism has about it neither…" description: "\"Literary criticism has about it neither rigour nor proof. Where it is honest, it is passionate, private experience seeking to persuade.\" — George Steiner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/george-steiner-4683_criticism_literary-criticism-has-about-it-neither_2886322.png" --- # Literary criticism has about it neither rigour nor proof… ![“Literary criticism has about it neither rigour nor proof. Where it is honest, it is passionate, private experience seeking to persuade.” quote by George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/george-steiner-4683_criticism_literary-criticism-has-about-it-neither_2886322.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/george-steiner-4683_criticism_literary-criticism-has-about-it-neither_2886322.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/george-steiner-4683_criticism_literary-criticism-has-about-it-neither_2886322.png) > “Literary criticism has about it neither rigour nor proof. Where it is honest, it is passionate, private experience seeking to persuade.” [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Literary criticism lacks strict scientific rigor; its strength lies in passionate, subjective persuasion. **In simple terms:** Criticism is art, not science. Key Takeaway Embrace the emotional side of analysis. Themes literary theory subjectivity persuasion Mood analytical thoughtful Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - book reviews - academic essays - creative writing workshops - public debates Key Concepts aesthetics critical theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance passion and rigor? - When is emotional appeal appropriate? A Different Perspective Overreliance on emotion can undermine objectivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Rigour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-rigour-4029441/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-passionate-3199768/) [Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary/) [Literary criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-criticism/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Rigour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigour/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) ## Related quotes > [Bangalore needs a honest, passionate and hard-working MP, and I will be that MP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandan-nilekani/bangalore-needs-a-honest-passionate-and-hard-working-mp-and-i-will-be/) [Nandan Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandan-nilekani/) > [In the broad light of day mathematicians check their equations and their proofs, leaving no stone unturned in their search for rigour. 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When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [It takes character to withstand the rigours of indolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-takes-character-to-withstand-the-rigours-of-indolence/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More by George Steiner > [“But there is a third mode of trancendence: in it language simply ceases, and the motion of spirit gives no further outward manifestation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/but-there-is-a-third-mode-of-trancendence-in-it-language-simply/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [Words that are saturated with lies or atrocity, do not easily resume life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/words-that-are-saturated-with-lies-or-atrocity-do-not-easily-resume/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [Every one of my opponents, every one of my critics, will tell you that I am a generalist spread far too thin in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/every-one-of-my-opponents-every-one-of-my-critics-will-tell-you-that/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [The very opposite of freedom is cliche, and nothing is less free, more inert with convention and hollow brutality, than a row of four-letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/the-very-opposite-of-freedom-is-cliche-and-nothing-is-less-free-more/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [Books are in no hurry. 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It looks to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/to-a-degree-which-is-difficult-to-determine-the-esoteric-impulse-in/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [Books are in no hurry. 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