If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that it may be said to possess him.—Bacon.
Those who give not till they die show that they would not then if they could keep it any longer.—Bishop Hall.
Criticism.—He whose first emotion, on the view of an excellent production, is to undervalue it, will never have one of his own to show.—Aiken.
Neither praise nor blame is the object of true criticism. Justly to discriminate, firmly to establish, wisely to prescribe and honestly to award—these are the true aims and duties of criticism.—Simms.
Censure and criticism never hurt anybody. If false, they can't hurt you unless you are wanting in manly character; and if true, they show a man his weak points, and forewarn him against failure and trouble.—Gladstone.
It is easy to criticise an author, but it is difficult to appreciate him.—Vauvenargues.
It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.—Beaconsfield.
There is a certain meddlesome spirit, which, in the garb of learned research, goes prying about the traces of history, casting down its monuments, and marring and mutilating its fairest trophies. Care should be taken to vindicate great names from such pernicious erudition.—Washington Irving.
He who would reproach an author for obscurity should look into his own mind to see whether it is quite clear there. In the dusk the plainest writing is illegible.—Goethe.
A man must serve his time to ev'ry trade,
Save censure; critics all are ready-made.