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.

Mihaela Daniela Rosu

TS Eliot
 

Criticul perfect

Cand exista atatea lucruri de cunoscut, cand exista atatea domenii de cunoastere unde aceleasi cuvinte sunt folosite cu intelesuri diferite, cand fiecare stie cate putin despre o multitudine de lucruri, devine foarte greu pentru cineva sa realizeze daca stie sau nu despre ce vorbeste.
Critica dogmatica ce stabileste o regula, care afirma o valoare si-a lasat munca incompleta. Astfel de afirmatii pot fi justificate ca o economisire de timp, dar in probleme de mare importanta criticul nu trebuie sa constranga si nici sa faca judecati de bine si rau. El trebuie doar sa elucideze si cititorul va judeca singur.