Just in case you forgot...
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who knows neither victory or defeat."
-- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. President
Cheers to Roosevelt. Defiantly one who was in the arena.
Posted by
Lindsey |
Thu May 26, 09:46:00 AM
I think this is unfair to say of the critic. One could argue that a critic, at times even more than an artist, must deal directly with "dust, sweat, and blood." They are also waging wars, suffering defeats and celebrating victories. And of course, when putting forth a valiant effort, sometimes only find themselves in error.
Posted by
KP |
Thu May 26, 01:18:00 PM
Critic (n) :
1. One who forms and expresses judgments of the merits, faults, value, or truth of a matter.
2. One who specializes especially professionally in the evaluation and appreciation of literary or artistic works: a film critic; a dance critic.
3. One who tends to make harsh or carping judgments; a faultfinder.
I believe the critic who Roosevelt was referring to would be type 3. I think the defense of a critic can only apply to types 1 and 2. However, I have noted that it is possible to be in the arena and, fail or succeed, still come out being a pretty big jerk. So some "not critics" don't count either. But my mom thinks I count.
Posted by
Nate Mecham |
Fri May 27, 12:26:00 AM
An aptly made distinction, Nate. Thank you.
Posted by
Jared Orme |
Wed Jun 01, 04:29:00 PM