--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pedants make a great rout about…" description: "\"Pedants make a great rout about criticism, as if it were a science of great depth, and required much pains and knowledge--criticism however is only the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/horace-walpole-3357_critic_pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticis_431356.jpg" --- # Pedants make a great rout about criticism, as if it were a… ![“Pedants make a great rout about criticism, as if it were a science of great depth, and required much pains and knowledge--criticism however is only the result of good sense, taste and judgment--three qualities that indeed seldom are found together, and extremely seldom in a pedant, which most…” quote by Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/horace-walpole-3357_critic_pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticis_431356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/horace-walpole-3357_critic_pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticis_431356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/horace-walpole-3357_critic_pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticis_431356.jpg) > “Pedants make a great rout about criticism, as if it were a science of great depth, and required much pains and knowledge--criticism however is only the result of good sense, taste and judgment--three qualities that indeed seldom are found together, and extremely seldom in a pedant, which most critics are.” [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism is often pretentious, lacking true taste and judgment. **In simple terms:** Critics may lack real insight. Key Takeaway Seek genuine insight over pretentious critique. Themes critique intellectualism authenticity Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic review - art evaluation - media analysis - personal feedback Key Concepts taste judgment critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate constructive criticism? - What standards define good taste? A Different Perspective Not all criticism is valuable; discern quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Good sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pedantry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pedantry/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Robespierre, this pedant of freedom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/robespierre-this-pedant-of-freedom/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The brains of a pedant however full, are vacant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/the-brains-of-a-pedant-however-full-are-vacant/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [A pedant holds more to instruct us with what he knows, than of what we are ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/a-pedant-holds-more-to-instruct-us-with-what-he-knows-than-of-what-we/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [A fool is only troublesome, a pedant insupportable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-fool-is-only-troublesome-a-pedant-insupportable/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [He who studies without passion will never become anything more than a pedant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/he-who-studies-without-passion-will-never-become-anything-more-than-a/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [He who will not listen to any advice, nor be corrected in his writings, is a rank pedant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/he-who-will-not-listen-to-any-advice-nor-be-corrected-in-his-writings/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Never argue with a pedant over nomenclature. It wastes your time and annoys the pedant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/never-argue-with-a-pedant-over-nomenclature-it-wastes-your-time-and/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [The scholar without good breeding is a pedant; the philosopher, a cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-scholar-without-good-breeding-is-a-pedant-the-philosopher-a-cynic/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The scholar may lose himself in schools, in words, and become a pedant; but when he comprehends his duties, he above all men is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-scholar-may-lose-himself-in-schools-in-words-and-become-a-pedant/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Pedantry crams our heads with learned lumber and takes out our brains to make room for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/pedantry-crams-our-heads-with-learned-lumber-and-takes-out-our-brains/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Pedants, who have the least knowledge to be proud of, are impelled most by vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/pedants-who-have-the-least-knowledge-to-be-proud-of-are-impelled-most/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [We see that pedantry has never been held in such esteem for the government of the world as in our times, and it offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giordano-bruno/we-see-that-pedantry-has-never-been-held-in-such-esteem-for-the/) [Giordano Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giordano-bruno/) > [Learning, like traveling and all other methods of improvement, as it finishes good sense, so it makes a silly man ten thousand times more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/learning-like-traveling-and-all-other-methods-of-improvement-as-it/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Pedantry in learning is like hypocrisy inn religion--a form of knowledge without the power of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/pedantry-in-learning-is-like-hypocrisy-inn-religion-a-form-of/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Folly disgusts us less by her ignorance than pedantry by her learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/folly-disgusts-us-less-by-her-ignorance-than-pedantry-by-her-learning/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## More by Horace Walpole > [ René of Anjou \[(1409-80)\] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it \[her tomb\] openedon… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-of-his-mistress-s-corpse-as-he/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Our supreme governors, the mob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/our-supreme-governors-the-mob/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [A poet who makes use of a worse word instead of a better, because the former fits the rhyme or the measure, though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/a-poet-who-makes-use-of-a-worse-word-instead-of-a-better-because-the/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Foolish writers and readers are created for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/foolish-writers-and-readers-are-created-for-each-other/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighboring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded air of superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-do-not-dislike-the-french-from-the-vulgar-antipathy-between/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Life is a farce, and should not end with a mourning scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/life-is-a-farce-and-should-not-end-with-a-mourning-scene/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Lord Bath used to say of women, who are apt to say that they will follow their own judgment, that they could not follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/lord-bath-used-to-say-of-women-who-are-apt-to-say-that-they-will/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [An ancient prophecy ... pronounced, That the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/an-ancient-prophecy-pronounced-that-the-castle-and-lordship-of/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Plot, rules, nor even poetry, are not half so great beauties in tragedy or comedy as a just imitation of nature, of character, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/plot-rules-nor-even-poetry-are-not-half-so-great-beauties-in-tragedy/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [“But alas! my Lord, what is blood! what is nobility! We are all reptiles, miserable, sinful creatures. It is piety alone that can distinguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/but-alas-my-lord-what-is-blood-what-is-nobility-we-are-all-reptiles/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-do-not-admire-politicians-but-when-they-are-excellent-in-their-way/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Alexander at the head of the world never tasted the true pleasure that boys of his own age have enjoyed at the head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/alexander-at-the-head-of-the-world-never-tasted-the-true-pleasure/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-whole-secret-of-life-is-to-be-interested-in-one-thing-profoundly/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The best philosophy is to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot; bless the goodness that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-best-philosophy-is-to-do-one-s-duties-take-the-world-as-it-comes/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/oh-that-i-were-seated-as-high-as-my-ambition-i-d-place-my-naked-foot/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) [Explore all 132 Horace Walpole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) ## More Critic quotes > [I am absolutely my own biggest critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/i-am-absolutely-my-own-biggest-critic/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) > [Critics are biased, and so are readers. (Indeed, a critic is a bundle of biases held loosely together by a sense of taste.) But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-balliett/critics-are-biased-and-so-are-readers-indeed-a-critic-is-a-bundle-of/) Whitney Balliett > [I am my biggest critic. Even in films where people said they liked me, I have disliked myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-akkineni/i-am-my-biggest-critic-even-in-films-where-people-said-they-liked-me/) [Samantha Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-akkineni/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [If I weren't an actor, I'd either be a teacher or a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/if-i-weren-t-an-actor-i-d-either-be-a-teacher-or-a-critic/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I remember the early 1980s, when I first got one of these fabulous film critic jobs. The downside was sitting through 'Splatteria III: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunter/i-remember-the-early-1980s-when-i-first-got-one-of-these-fabulous/) [Stephen Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunter/) > [The television critic, whatever his pretensions, does not labour in the same vineyard as those he criticizes; his grapes are all sour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/the-television-critic-whatever-his-pretensions-does-not-labour-in-the/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [To be a critic, you have to have maybe three percent education, five percent intelligence, two percent style, and 90 percent gall and egomania…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/to-be-a-critic-you-have-to-have-maybe-three-percent-education-five/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [The critic is the only independent source of information. The rest is advertising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/the-critic-is-the-only-independent-source-of-information-the-rest-is/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [The critic is a man who prefers the indolence of opinion to the trials of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mason-brown/the-critic-is-a-man-who-prefers-the-indolence-of-opinion-to-the/) [John Mason Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mason-brown/) > [“A good judge is not one who is impartial, but one who has prejudice for good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/a-good-judge-is-not-one-who-is-impartial-but-one-who-has-prejudice/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [A critic who uses new quotations is making important changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/a-critic-who-uses-new-quotations-is-making-important-changes/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [My mother and my grandmother are pioneers of Mexican cuisine in this country, so I grew up in the kitchen. My mom, Zarela Martinez,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sanchez/my-mother-and-my-grandmother-are-pioneers-of-mexican-cuisine-in-this/) [Aaron Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sanchez/) Browse all 758 Critic quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pedants make a great rout about criticism, as if it were a science of great depth, and required much pains and knowledge--criticism however is only the result of good sense, taste and judgment--three qualities that indeed seldom are found together, and extremely seldom in a pedant, which most critics are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Horace Walpole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticism-as-if-it-were-a-science-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Critic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticism-as-if-it-were-a-science-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/horace-walpole-3357_critic_pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticis_431356.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/horace-walpole-3357_critic_pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticis_431356.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/horace-walpole-3357_critic_pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticis_431356.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pedants make a great rout about criticism, as if it were a science of great depth, and required much pains…” — Horace Walpole", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Horace Walpole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pedants make a great rout about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticism-as-if-it-were-a-science-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/pedants-make-a-great-rout-about-criticism-as-if-it-were-a-science-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```