TS ELIOT

The Perfect Critic, in The Sacred Wood 


When there is so much to be known, when, there are so many fields of knowledge in which the same words are used with different meanings, when every one knows a little about a great many things, it becomes increasingly difficult for anyone to know whether he knows what he is talking about or not.

The dogmatic critic, who lays down a rule, who affirms a value, has left his labour incomplete. Such statements may often be justifiable as a saving of time; but in matters of great importance the critic must not coerce, and he must not make judgments of worse or better. He must simply elucidate: the reader will form the correct judgment for himself.

Silvia Bratu

TS Eliot
 

The Perfect Critic, in The Sacred Wood

Cand sunt atatea lucruri de aflat, cand exista atatea domenii ale cunoasterii in care aceleasi cuvinte sunt folosite cu intelesuri diferite, cand fiecare cunoaste cate putin despre o multime de lucruri, devine tot mai dificil pentru oricine sa realizeze daca stie despre ce vorbeste.

Criticul dogmatic care stabileste o regula, care sustine o valoare, si-a lasat munca neterminata. Astfel de afirmatii pot fi deseori justificate prin faptul ca economisesc timp; dar in chestiuni de mare importanta criticul nu trebuie sa constranga si nici sa realizeze judecati de genul ‘mai rau’ sau ‘mai bun’. Trebuie pur si simplu sa desluseasca: cititorul isi va forma singur judecata corecta.