Blame where you must, be candid where you can,
And be each critic the Good-natured Man.

Blame where you must, be candid where you can,
And be each critic the Good-natured Man.

All who (like him) have writ ill plays before,
For they, like thieves, condemned, are hangman made,
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All who (like him) have writ ill plays before,
For they, like thieves, condemned, are hangman made,
To execute the members of their trade.

Though by whim, envy, or resentment led,
They damn those authors whom they never read.

Though by whim, envy, or resentment led,
They damn those authors whom they never read.

Give no time to finding fault of criticism.

Give no time to finding fault of criticism.

He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.

He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I read more

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.

Too nicely Jonson knew the critic's part,
Nature in him was almost lost in art.

Too nicely Jonson knew the critic's part,
Nature in him was almost lost in art.

When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want they bury me upside down, read more

When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want they bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass!