--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Criticism is infested with the cant of…" description: "\"Criticism is infested with the cant of materialism, which assumes that manual skill and activity is the first merit of all men, and disparages such as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_criticism-is-infested-with-the-cant-of-m_2308305.png" --- # Criticism is infested with the cant of materialism, which… ![“Criticism is infested with the cant of materialism, which assumes that manual skill and activity is the first merit of all men, and disparages such as say and do not, overlooking the fact, that some men, namely, poets, are natural sayers, sent into the world to the end of expression, and confounds…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_criticism-is-infested-with-the-cant-of-m_2308305.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_criticism-is-infested-with-the-cant-of-m_2308305.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_criticism-is-infested-with-the-cant-of-m_2308305.png) > “Criticism is infested with the cant of materialism, which assumes that manual skill and activity is the first merit of all men, and disparages such as say and do not, overlooking the fact, that some men, namely, poets, are natural sayers, sent into the world to the end of expression, and confounds them with those whose province is action, but who quit to imitate the sayers.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emerson critiques the bias that values manual labor over artistic expression, arguing that poets have a natural role in expressing truth. **In simple terms:** Artistic expression is as valuable as physical work. Key Takeaway Respect both creators and doers equally. Themes art expression value creativity labor Mood thoughtful critical reflective Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - education - literary criticism - career counseling - public policy - cultural appreciation Key Concepts individualism aesthetic philosophy social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance appreciation for physical and artistic contributions? - What biases affect our valuation of work? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize the worth of different professions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialism/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. 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