Not drunk is he who from the floor - Can rise alone and still drink more; But drunk is They, who prostrate lies, Without the power to drink or rise.
Thomas Love PeacockRead
The critic does his utmost to blight genius in its infancy; that which rises in spite of him he will not see; and then he complains of the decline of literature.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Critics often stifle creativity and fail to recognize new talent, yet they lament the decline in art and literature.
In this quote, Thomas Love Peacock highlights the role of critics in shaping artistic expression. He suggests that critics, by discouraging new and innovative ideas, can hinder creative genius. However, even as they fail to acknowledge what emerges despite their negativity, they cast blame on the decline of literature and art, overlooking their own contributions to this decline. This reflects a common phenomenon where the voices criticizing the arts may inadvertently contribute to its stagnation.
Themes
CriticismCreativityLiteratureArtGenius
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be cited during a workshop on embracing creative risks.
More from Thomas Love Peacock
All quotes →Man yields to death; and man's sublimest works_x000D_ _x000D_ Must yield at length to Time.
Thomas Love PeacockRead
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