"A critic is a man who knows the way but can't drive the car"

This quote by Kenneth Tynan is a metaphor for the function of a critic. A critic is someone who is able to identify what is incorrect or ideal with something, but is not able to actually do anything to fix it. This is similar to somebody who knows the way to a location, however is unable to drive the vehicle to arrive. The critic is able to identify the problems, but is unable to do anything to fix them.

The quote is also a pointer that criticism is not constantly valuable. Knowing the way to a location is inadequate to get there, and knowing what is wrong with something is inadequate to fix it. It takes more than simply criticism to make a difference. It does something about it. The critic has the ability to determine the problems, but is not able to do anything to fix them.

This quote is a reminder that criticism is not always valuable. It is necessary to bear in mind that criticism is only one part of the formula. It is essential to take action and make a distinction. The critic is able to recognize the problems, however is unable to do anything to fix them. It is up to the rest of us to act and make a distinction.