“Paradoxically, the simpler poetry is, the more difficult it becomes for a critic to discuss intelligently. Trained to explicate, the critic often loses the ability to evaluate literature outside the critical act. A work is good only in proportion to the richness and complexity of interpretations it provokes.” LiteratureDifficultLosesAbilityCriticsCriticalComplexityProportionPoetry IsInterpretationProvokingRichnessEvaluate Book:Can Poetry Matter?: Essays on Poetry and American Culture Source: Can Poetry Matter?: Essays on Poetry and American Culture
“if you think it so easy to be a critic, so difficult to be a poet or a painter or film experimenter, may I suggest you try both? You may discover why there are so few critics, so many poets.” IfsThinkingTryingMayFilmEasyDifficultPoetCriticsPainter Book:For Keeps Source: For Keeps
“Someone has said that even criticism is better than silence. I don't agree to this. Criticism can be very harmful unless it comes from a master; and in spite of the fact that we have hundreds of critics these days, it is one of the most difficult of professions.” SaidFactsDifficultSilenceMastersCriticismAgreeCriticsProfessionThese DaysSpite Author:Janet Scudder
“Decadence is a difficult word to use since it has become little more than a term of abuse applied by critics to anything they do not yet understand or which seems to differ from their moral concepts.” LittlesUseSeemsDifficultTermMoralConceptsAbuseCriticsAfternoonDecadence Book:The Hemingway Collection Source: The Hemingway Collection