Critic Quote by Jonathan Swift
““These reasonings will furnish us with an adequate definition of a true critic: that he is a discoverer and collector of writers’ faults. Which may be farther put beyond dispute by the following demonstration: that whoever will examine the writings in all kinds, wherewith this ancient sect has honoured the world, shall immediately find, from the whole thread and tenor of them, that the ideas of the authors have been altogether conversant and taken up with the faults and blemishes, and oversights, and mistakes of other writers; and let the subject treated on be whatever it will, their imaginations are so entirely possessed and replete with the defects of other pens, that the very quintessence of what is bad does of necessity distil into their own, by which means the whole appears to be nothing else but an abstract of the criticisms themselves have made.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Battle of the Books, 1704
A true critic merely mirrors the faults of others, turning criticism into a collection of inherited errors.
In simple terms: Critics repeat others' mistakes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize originality over imitation.
Themes
criticism
literature
originality
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- literary analysis
- editorial reviews
- creative writing
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
intertextuality
derivation
cultural echo
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we value originality when criticism dominates?
- What role does self-awareness play in criticism?
A Different Perspective
May overlook genuine innovation by focusing on flaws.
