--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is essential for the good of criticism…" description: "\"It is essential for the good of criticism that both the critic and the public face the fact that a review is not the voice of God.\" — Judith Crist" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/judith-crist-31164_critic_it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticis_1086629.jpg" --- # It is essential for the good of criticism that both the… ![“It is essential for the good of criticism that both the critic and the public face the fact that a review is not the voice of God.” quote by Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/judith-crist-31164_critic_it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticis_1086629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/judith-crist-31164_critic_it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticis_1086629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/judith-crist-31164_critic_it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticis_1086629.jpg) > “It is essential for the good of criticism that both the critic and the public face the fact that a review is not the voice of God.” [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critics and audiences must recognize reviews are human opinions, not divine authority. **In simple terms:** Reviews are not absolute truth. Key Takeaway Question humility in judging art. Themes criticism humility authority Mood thoughtful analytical Type reflective educational When to use this quote - book clubs - film festivals - online reviews - academic courses Key Concepts subjectivity media literacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate personal taste from objective analysis? - What responsibilities do critics have to their audience? A Different Perspective Even expert critics can be biased or misinformed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Voice of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-of-god/) ## Related quotes > [In literary criticism the critic has no choice but to make over the victim of his attention into something the size and shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/in-literary-criticism-the-critic-has-no-choice-but-to-make-over-the/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Critics stopped being relevant when they stopped writing to inform and contextualize, and when they started writing to signal who they are, to display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/critics-stopped-being-relevant-when-they-stopped-writing-to-inform/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [The most noble criticism is that in which the critic is not the antagonist so much as the rival of the author.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-d-israeli/the-most-noble-criticism-is-that-in-which-the-critic-is-not-the/) [Isaac D'Israeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-d-israeli/) > [Old art offers just as good a criticism of new art as new art offers of old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/old-art-offers-just-as-good-a-criticism-of-new-art-as-new-art-offers/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [I would play the songs for my mom, and she would give me pretty good criticism on them. She was never mean, or too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-would-play-the-songs-for-my-mom-and-she-would-give-me-pretty-good/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [I'm not going to read reviews like, "I have to do these things." Any good criticism makes you think about your own films and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-bahrani/i-m-not-going-to-read-reviews-like-i-have-to-do-these-things-any-good/) [Ramin Bahrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-bahrani/) > [I always want to listen to people and receive good criticism, but I just don't have to answer to them; I have to answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-always-want-to-listen-to-people-and-receive-good-criticism-but-i/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [As a songwriter, it's good to have criticism, and I like objective opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/as-a-songwriter-it-s-good-to-have-criticism-and-i-like-objective/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Theater really gets damaged when there is a paucity of good criticism around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/theater-really-gets-damaged-when-there-is-a-paucity-of-good-criticism/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [“All Criticism is Good Criticism. Learn from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamilia-fair/all-criticism-is-good-criticism-learn-from-it/) Jamilia Fair > [Critics don't want to see directors they like make too much of a left turn. That's good for criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/critics-don-t-want-to-see-directors-they-like-make-too-much-of-a-left/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [All good criticism should be judged the way art is. You shouldn't read it the way you read history or science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-fiedler/all-good-criticism-should-be-judged-the-way-art-is-you-shouldn-t-read/) [Leslie Fiedler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-fiedler/) > [Our universities should produce good criticism; they do not or, at best, they do so only as federal prisons produce counterfeit money: a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/our-universities-should-produce-good-criticism-they-do-not-or-at-best/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [I appreciate good criticism and I think it's really important. I don't like it when it's consumer advocacy, like how you should spend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/i-appreciate-good-criticism-and-i-think-it-s-really-important-i-don-t/) [Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/) > [Of course, I'd welcome protest. Good criticism is hard to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandra-mir/of-course-i-d-welcome-protest-good-criticism-is-hard-to-find/) [Aleksandra Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandra-mir/) ## More by Judith Crist > [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/) > [All you'll get from strangers is surface pleasantry or indifference. Only someone who loves you will criticize you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/all-you-ll-get-from-strangers-is-surface-pleasantry-or-indifference/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [The secret to success is written on the doors of this auditorium. One side says 'Push,' the other side says 'Pull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/the-secret-to-success-is-written-on-the-doors-of-this-auditorium-one/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [What censorship accomplishes, creating an unreal and hypocritical mythology, fomenting an attraction for forbidden fruit, inhibiting the creative minds among us and fostering an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/what-censorship-accomplishes-creating-an-unreal-and-hypocritical/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [Film criticism became the means whereby a stream of young intellectuals could go straight from the campus film society into the professionals' screening room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/film-criticism-became-the-means-whereby-a-stream-of-young/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [The critics who love are the severe ones . . . we know our relationship must be based on honesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/the-critics-who-love-are-the-severe-ones-we-know-our-relationship/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [Movies suddenly became film and cinema an art form and terribly chic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/movies-suddenly-became-film-and-cinema-an-art-form-and-terribly-chic/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [Happiness is too many things these days for anyone to wish it on anyone lightly. So lets just wish each other a bileless New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/happiness-is-too-many-things-these-days-for-anyone-to-wish-it-on/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [In this era of affluence and of permissiveness, we have, in all but cultural areas, bred a nation of overprivileged youngsters, saturated with vitamins,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/in-this-era-of-affluence-and-of-permissiveness-we-have-in-all-but/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [Amid all the easily loved darlings of Charlie Brown's circle, obstreperous Lucy holds a special place in my heart. She fusses and fumes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/amid-all-the-easily-loved-darlings-of-charlie-brown-s-circle/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [To be a critic, you have to have maybe three percent education, five percent intelligence, two percent style, and ninety percent gall and egomania…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/to-be-a-critic-you-have-to-have-maybe-three-percent-education-five-2/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [Happiness is too many things these days for anyone to wish it on anyone lightly. So let's just wish each other a bileless New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/happiness-is-too-many-things-these-days-for-anyone-to-wish-it-on-2/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [The one and original lovable monster is lost amid all the hydraulic manipulations in what now emerges as the story of a dumb blonde…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/the-one-and-original-lovable-monster-is-lost-amid-all-the-hydraulic/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [Happiness is too many things these days for anyone lo wish il on anyone lightly. So let's just wish each other a bileless New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/happiness-is-too-many-things-these-days-for-anyone-lo-wish-il-on/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [just as violence is the last refuge of the inarticulate, so it is also the first resort of the incompetent, the easy out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/just-as-violence-is-the-last-refuge-of-the-inarticulate-so-it-is-also/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) [Explore all 16 Judith Crist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) ## 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": "It is essential for the good of criticism that both the critic and the public face the fact that a review is not the voice of God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith Crist" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticism-that-both-the-critic-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Critic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticism-that-both-the-critic-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/judith-crist-31164_critic_it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticis_1086629.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/judith-crist-31164_critic_it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticis_1086629.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/judith-crist-31164_critic_it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticis_1086629.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is essential for the good of criticism that both the critic and the public face the fact that a review is…” — Judith Crist", "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": "Judith Crist", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is essential for the good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticism-that-both-the-critic-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/it-is-essential-for-the-good-of-criticism-that-both-the-critic-and/#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 } } ] } ```