O suffering, sad humanity! O ye afflicted ones, who lie Steeped to the lips in misery, Longing, yet afraid to die, Patient, though sorely tried!
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
Doubtless criticism was originally benignant, pointing out the beauties of a work rather that its defects. The passions of men have made it malignant, as a bad heart of Procreates turned the bed, the symbol of repose, into an instrument of torture.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Criticism began as a positive force to appreciate beauty, but has turned negative over time, highlighting flaws instead.
In this quote, Longfellow reflects on the nature of criticism, suggesting that it was initially intended to celebrate and point out the beauty in art. However, he observes that over time, human passions and negative intentions have transformed criticism into a tool for tearing down rather than building up, making it a source of pain instead of comfort.
Themes
CriticismBeautyArtNegativityPerception
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on art critiques, I would say, 'As Longfellow noted, criticism can often miss the beauty and focus on flaws.'
More from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
All quotes →There are moments in life, when the heart is so full of emotion That if by chance it be shaken, or into its depths like a pebble Drops some careless word, it overflows, and its secret, Spilt on the ground like water, can never be gathered together.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
To be seventy years old is like climbing the Alps. You reach a snow-crowned summit, and see behind you the deep valley stretching miles and miles away, and before you other summits higher and whiter, which you may have strength to climb, or may not. Then you sit down and meditate and wonder which it will be.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
God is not dead; nor doth He sleep; ... _x000D_ The wrong shall fail,_x000D_ The right prevail,_x000D_ With peace on earth, good will to men.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
In the long run men hit only what they aim at.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
Similar quotes
I hate being called poet/dramatist/translator/director. 'Poet' covers it all for me.
Tony HarrisonRead
Any actor who judges his character is a fool - for every role you play you've got to absorb that character's motives and justifications.
Alan RickmanRead
Mere humans who root through their refrigerators at three o'clock in the morning can only produce writing that matches what they do. And that includes me.
Haruki MurakamiRead
You have to go out there and give a piece of yourself -- your life, your soul. And you better give the audience everything you can -- physically, emotionally, musically. Then maybe they'll accept you and give you a standing ovation at the end.
Neil DiamondRead
The only pictures worth making are the ones that are playing with fire.
Billy WilderRead
I see things, that's all. Write enough stories and every shadow on the floor looks like a footprint; every line in the dirt like a secret message.
Stephen KingRead