"I never saw the play, although I heard it was good"

Joseph Force Crater's quote recommends that he was not able to experience the play firsthand, however he has actually heard from others that it was excellent. This might suggest that he was not able to attend the play due to a lack of time or money, or maybe he was just too hectic with other commitments. It might likewise recommend that he was not interested in the play, but he was curious adequate to ask around and discover what others considered it. The quote implies that he was not able to form his own opinion of the play, but he was willing to take the word of others and accept that it was great. This could be translated as a sign of respect for the opinions of others, or it might be viewed as a sign of his own humility. In any case, it is clear that Joseph Force Crater was unable to experience the play firsthand, however he was still going to accept that it was excellent.