John Dryden Quotes about Criticism

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Criticism is now become mere hangman's work, and meddles only with the faults of authors ; nay, the critic is disgusted less with their absurdities than excellence ; and you cannot displease him more than in leaving him

Criticism is now become mere hangman's work, and meddles only with the faults of authors ; nay, the critic is disgusted less with their absurdities than excellence ; and you cannot displease him more than in leaving him little room for his malice.

John Dryden

Leaving, Excellence, Criticism

John Dryden, John Mitford (1836). “The Works of John Dryden: In Verse and Prose, with a Life”, p.424

Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well; the chiefest part of which is to observe those excellencies which delight a reasonable reader.

John Dryden

Judging, Criticism, Delight

John Dryden (1995). “The Works of John Dryden, Volume XII: Plays Ambboyna, The State of Innocence, Aureng-Zebe”, p.87, Univ of California Press