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I am not a critic; to me criticism is so often nothing more than the eye garrulously denouncing the shape of the peephole that gives access to hidden treasure.

— Djuna Barnes

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More quotes by Djuna Barnes

New York is the meeting place of the peoples, the only city where you can hardly find a typical American.

Life is not to be told, call it as loud as you like, it will not tell itself.

Nightwood (1936)

One's life is peculiar to one's own when one has invented it.

Nightwood (1936)

The heart of the jealous knows the best and most satisfying love, that of the other’s bed, where the rival perfects the lover’s imperfections.

Nightwood (1936)

A strong sense of identity gives man an idea he can do no wrong; too little accomplishes the same.

Nightwood (1936)

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A man must serve his time to every trade
Save censure — critics are ready-made.

Lord Byron English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809)

The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Parodies and caricatures are the most penetrating of criticisms.

Aldous Huxley Point Counter Point (1928)

Let no man value at a little price
A virtuous woman's counsel; her wing'd spirit
Is feather'd oftentimes with heavenly words.

George Chapman The Gentleman Usher (1606)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Djuna Barnes (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.