This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
To love without criticism is to be betrayed.
E. W. Howe, fully Edgar Watson Howe
The most destructive criticism is indifference.
Character | Criticism | Indifference |
Michel de Montaigne, fully Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who venture to criticizes us perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to undertake to wound or offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him.
The exercise of criticism always destroys for a time our sensibility to beauty by leading us to regard the work in relation to certain laws of construction. The eye turns from the charms of nature to fix itself upon the servile dexterity of art.
Art | Beauty | Criticism | Nature | Regard | Sensibility | Time | Wisdom | Work | Beauty |
Jose ben Hanina, or Rabbi Yossi bar Hanina
Love without criticism is not love.
Education: To be at home in all lands and ages; to count Nature as a familiar acquaintance and Art an intimate friend; to gain a standard for the appreciation of other men's work and the criticism of one's own; to carry the keys of the world's library in one's pocket, and feel its resources behind one in whatever task he undertakes; to make hosts of friends among the men of one's own age who are the leaders in all walks of life; to lose oneself in general enthusiasms and co-operate with others for common ends.
Acquaintance | Age | Appreciation | Art | Criticism | Education | Ends | Friend | Life | Life | Men | Nature | Wisdom | Work | World | Appreciation | Art | Friends |
National leaders who find themselves wilting under the withering criticisms by members of the media, would do well not to take such criticism personally but to regard the media as their allies in keeping the government clean and honest, its services efficient and timely, and its commitment to democracy strong and unwavering.
Commitment | Criticism | Democracy | Government | Regard | Government |
Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.
Acquaintance | Criticism | Friend |
You have to remain cool under fire and let criticism roll off you. Good leaders handle conflict easily and bad ones are eaten up by it.
Bertrand Russell, fully Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell
Conventional people are roused to fury by departure from convention, largely because they regard such departures as a criticism of themselves. They will pardon much unconventionality in a man who has enough jollity and friendliness to make it clear, even to the stupidest, that he is not engaged in criticizing them.
Convention | Criticism | Enough | Fury | Man | Pardon | People | Regard | Will |
To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.
Tomes of aesthetic criticism hang on a few moments of real delight and intuition.
Henry David Thoreau, born David Henry Thoreau
You do not get a man's most effective criticism until you provoke him. Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness.
Bitterness | Criticism | Man | Truth |
Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies in dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.