Critic Quote by Randall Jarrell
““There is something essentially ridiculous about critics, anyway: what is good is good without our saying so, and beneath all our majesty we know this.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Lost Generation,” 1945
Critics claim authority, yet true quality stands on its own, independent of their judgments.
In simple terms: Goodness exists without critics’ approval.
Key Takeaway
Trust intrinsic value over external validation.
Themes
criticism
authority
truth
Mood
skeptical
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- art evaluation
- literary criticism
- personal taste
- media reviews
Key Concepts
aesthetics
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you rely on critics for taste?
- Can you recognize quality without external opinion?
A Different Perspective
Critics can shape perception, even if truth is independent.
![“I would have been a lot more nervous if I would had known that Matthew McConaughey was [on 30th Annual Television Critics Association Awards] and Julia Louis-Dreyfus was there and all that, and I was like, "Wait a minute and Bryan Cranston's here..." I think I would have got more nervous. But I…” quote by Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a8d/terry-crews-3470_annuals_i-would-have-been-a-lot-more-nervous-if_782512.jpg)
![“Early in his life Mr. [Ezra] Pound met with strong, continued, and unintelligent opposition. If people keep opposing you when you are right, you think them fools; and after a time, right or wrong, you think them fools simply because they oppose you. Similarly, you write true things or good things…” quote by Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a7/randall-jarrell-3811_ends_early-in-his-life-mr-ezra-pound-met-with_359433.jpg)
