"Genuine polemics approach a book as lovingly as a cannibal spices a baby"

This quote by Walter Benjamin is a metaphor for how one should approach criticism. It recommends that criticism ought to be made with care and factor to consider, instead of with a hostile mindset. The metaphor of a cannibal spicing a baby implies that criticism should be done delicately, as if one is preparing a meal. It recommends that criticism must be done with respect and understanding, instead of with a desire to take apart or ruin. The quote implies that criticism should be finished with an open mind and a desire to learn, instead of with an established agenda. It recommends that criticism needs to be made with an appreciation for the work being critiqued, instead of with a desire to discover fault. Eventually, this quote encourages us to approach criticism with a sense of love and understanding, rather than with a desire to tear down or damage.