"A true critic ought to dwell upon excellencies rather than imperfections, to discover the concealed beauties of a writer, and communicate to the world such things as are worth their observation"
About this Quote
Addison is sketching a critic as a kind of talent scout, not a prosecutor. The point isn’t to flatter writers or to ignore flaws; it’s to redefine what criticism is for. In early 18th-century print culture, judgment was becoming a public sport: coffeehouse opinion, pamphlet feuds, the quick hit of ridicule. Addison, as a leading voice of The Spectator, wanted to civilize that marketplace. His “true critic” is a public servant whose job is to refine taste, not to harvest applause by being cruel.
The language does quiet rhetorical work. “Dwell” implies duration and care; he’s arguing against drive-by verdicts. “Discover” and “concealed beauties” make criticism sound like excavation, suggesting that value often isn’t obvious on first glance and that readers need help seeing what a work is doing. That framing also shifts power: the critic becomes a mediator between writer and “the world,” responsible for “communicat[ing]” what deserves attention. It’s an ethics of attention, where the critic’s authority comes from generosity and discernment rather than dominance.
There’s also a shrewd self-interest underneath. By praising “excellencies,” the critic trains an audience to look for craft, making the public more responsive to the kind of polished, morally legible writing Addison championed. He’s building a cultural ecosystem where wit is paired with manners and where criticism elevates both author and reader. In an era anxious about civility and social order, the subtext is clear: how we talk about art is practice for how we talk about each other.
The language does quiet rhetorical work. “Dwell” implies duration and care; he’s arguing against drive-by verdicts. “Discover” and “concealed beauties” make criticism sound like excavation, suggesting that value often isn’t obvious on first glance and that readers need help seeing what a work is doing. That framing also shifts power: the critic becomes a mediator between writer and “the world,” responsible for “communicat[ing]” what deserves attention. It’s an ethics of attention, where the critic’s authority comes from generosity and discernment rather than dominance.
There’s also a shrewd self-interest underneath. By praising “excellencies,” the critic trains an audience to look for craft, making the public more responsive to the kind of polished, morally legible writing Addison championed. He’s building a cultural ecosystem where wit is paired with manners and where criticism elevates both author and reader. In an era anxious about civility and social order, the subtext is clear: how we talk about art is practice for how we talk about each other.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
|---|
More Quotes by Joseph
Add to List
