A brave judge, interpreter, discoverer...

It is unnecessary to speak of criticism as an important stimulating factor of general human progress. This is once and for all established. Also of literary criticism, which is mainly discussed in these few lines. Criticism comes first of all from the mental activity of man. It is knowledge, understanding, strict reasoning, inclination and skill for detailed analysis, reverence for all logic and regularity, ability for deep penetration and a sense for that which may remain hidden for others. Only then is it or, more precisely, can it be a feeling, excitement, a taste for beauty and harmony, rapture, enthusiasm. Only then are the feelings in it subordinate to reason. The critic, the good critic, if we want to arrange the creative forces in him, first of all knows and understands, and then feels. Or no matter how much he has been moved and admired by a given work, in his work as a critic he wants to be primarily fair. He wants to be a courageous judge, interpreter, discoverer. He wants to be honest, impartial. The good critic, the called one, the true one. He is so fair, conscientious and strict, he knows and understands so much that he never puts himself above the work, the creation that he judges and evaluates. Because first the work is born, and then comes the criticism, which is also a work, a creation, but for itself.