--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A wise skepticism is the first attribute…" description: "\"A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.\" — James Russell Lowell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/james-russell-lowell-561_attributes_a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute_1204082.png" --- # A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic. ![“A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.” quote by James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/james-russell-lowell-561_attributes_a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute_1204082.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/james-russell-lowell-561_attributes_a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute_1204082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/james-russell-lowell-561_attributes_a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute_1204082.png) > “A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.” [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critic must first doubt and question before forming judgments, ensuring fairness and depth. **In simple terms:** Skepticism precedes good criticism. Key Takeaway Question first, judge later. Themes critical thinking skepticism judgment fairness Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - book reviews - art analysis - political commentary - personal decisions Key Concepts philosophy epistemology media literacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance doubt with openness? - When does skepticism hinder progress? A Different Perspective Skepticism can become cynicism if not balanced with openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attributes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributes/) [Critic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critic/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Good Critic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-critic-727198/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Skepticism Attribute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism-attribute-3623280/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-skepticism-751304/) ## Related quotes > [Who shall forbid a wise skepticism, seeing that there is no practical question on which anything more than an approximate solution can be had?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/who-shall-forbid-a-wise-skepticism-seeing-that-there-is-no-practical/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“A good critic is trying to tell you what she has learned about herself from the reading of a particular piece of literature. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-guilfoile/a-good-critic-is-trying-to-tell-you-what-she-has-learned-about/) [Kevin Guilfoile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-guilfoile/) > [Diebenkorn was a very good critic, a very tough critic, tough on himself, tough on others. He expected the finest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-thiebaud/diebenkorn-was-a-very-good-critic-a-very-tough-critic-tough-on/) [Wayne Thiebaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-thiebaud/) > [A good critic is the man who describes his adventures among masterpieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/a-good-critic-is-the-man-who-describes-his-adventures-among/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [You find very few critics who approach their job with a combination of information and enthusiasm and humility that makes for a good critic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/you-find-very-few-critics-who-approach-their-job-with-a-combination/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [There are good and bad critics like good or bad artists. A good critic says why they didn't like it. A bad critic gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-are-good-and-bad-critics-like-good-or-bad-artists-a-good-critic/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [One can be a good critic and a moral observer, but one remains professionally detached as a writer and a filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/one-can-be-a-good-critic-and-a-moral-observer-but-one-remains/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [The good critic is he who relates the adventures of his soul among masterpieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-good-critic-is-he-who-relates-the-adventures-of-his-soul-among/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [“A good critic knows that he or she can be wrong, as does a good writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-merton/a-good-critic-knows-that-he-or-she-can-be-wrong-as-does-a-good-writer/) [Andy Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-merton/) > [I love when people write about something, I learn what I'm doing through the eyes of a good critic, positive or negative. It's still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/i-love-when-people-write-about-something-i-learn-what-i-m-doing/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [“If you love my work, you are a good critic. If you do not love my work, you are a 'not good' critic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/if-you-love-my-work-you-are-a-good-critic-if-you-do-not-love-my-work/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [A good novelist pays attention to his characters. A good biographer pays attention to the documents before her. A good critic pays close attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/a-good-novelist-pays-attention-to-his-characters-a-good-biographer/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [A good critic is the sorcerer who makes some hidden spring gush forth unexpectedly under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-mauriac/a-good-critic-is-the-sorcerer-who-makes-some-hidden-spring-gush-forth/) [Francois Mauriac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-mauriac/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-balliett/) > [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/) ## More by James Russell Lowell > [We kind o' thought Christ went agin war an' pillage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/we-kind-o-thought-christ-went-agin-war-an-pillage/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [He gives only the worthless gold who gives from a sense of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/he-gives-only-the-worthless-gold-who-gives-from-a-sense-of-duty/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [As life runs on, the road grows strange with faces new - and near the end. The milestones into headstones change, Neath every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/as-life-runs-on-the-road-grows-strange-with-faces-new-and-near-the/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Where one person shapes their life by precept and example, there are a thousand who have shaped it by impulse and circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/where-one-person-shapes-their-life-by-precept-and-example-there-are-a/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Granting our wish is one of Fate's saddest jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/granting-our-wish-is-one-of-fate-s-saddest-jokes/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/most-religion-mongers-have-bated-their-paradises-with-a-bit-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The thing we long for, that we are For one transcendent moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-thing-we-long-for-that-we-are-for-one-transcendent-moment/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [O reputation! dearer far than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/o-reputation-dearer-far-than-life/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Keats longed for fame, but longed above all to deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/keats-longed-for-fame-but-longed-above-all-to-deserve-it/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It is beginning to be doubtful whether Parliament and Congress sit in Westminster and Washington, or in the editorial rooms of the leading journals,--so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-beginning-to-be-doubtful-whether-parliament-and-congress-sit-in/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [ \[B\]ut in literature, it should be remembered, a thing always becomes his at last who says it best, and thus makes it his own. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/b-ut-in-literature-it-should-be-remembered-a-thing-always-becomes-his/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It may be glorious to write Thoughts that shall glad the two or three High souls, like those far stars that come in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-may-be-glorious-to-write-thoughts-that-shall-glad-the-two-or-three/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [It is the vain endeavor to make ourselves what we are not that has strewn history with so many broken purposes and lives left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/it-is-the-vain-endeavor-to-make-ourselves-what-we-are-not-that-has/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Take winter as you find him, and he turns out to be a thoroughly honest fellow; with no nonsense in him, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/take-winter-as-you-find-him-and-he-turns-out-to-be-a-thoroughly/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [The intellect has only one failing, which, to be sure, is a very considerable one. It has no conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-intellect-has-only-one-failing-which-to-be-sure-is-a-very/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) [Explore all 471 James Russell Lowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## More Attributes quotes > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [I think the greatest imagination we can exercise is one that imagines how someone else feels. Because you know how you feel, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-the-greatest-imagination-we-can-exercise-is-one-that-imagines/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [“It is this spirit of godliness that will bring forth the attributes, the principles and the life style of godliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-this-spirit-of-godliness-that-will-bring-forth-the-attributes/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. 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Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [If I have any attribute that serves me well, it's I don't have a long-range plan in life. I have no idea. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wilbon/if-i-have-any-attribute-that-serves-me-well-it-s-i-don-t-have-a-long/) [Michael Wilbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wilbon/) [Browse all 852 Attributes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Russell Lowell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute-of-a-good-critic/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attributes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute-of-a-good-critic/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/james-russell-lowell-561_attributes_a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute_1204082.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/james-russell-lowell-561_attributes_a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute_1204082.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/james-russell-lowell-561_attributes_a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute_1204082.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A wise skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic.” — James Russell Lowell", "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": "James Russell Lowell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A wise skepticism is the first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute-of-a-good-critic/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/a-wise-skepticism-is-the-first-attribute-of-a-good-critic/#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 } } ] } ```