O strong soul, by what shore Tarriest thou now? For that force, Surely, has not been left vain! - Matthew Arnold

Of these two literatures, as of the intellect of Europe in general, the main effort, for now many years, has been a critical effort; the endeavour, in all branches of knowledge — theology, philosophy, history, art, science — to see the object as in itself it really is.

Tis not the times, 'Tis not the Sophists vex him:
There is some root of suffering in himself,
Some secret and unfollow'd vein of woe,
Which makes the times look black and sad to him.

Empedocles on Etna: Act I, Scene I

I am bound by my own definition of criticism: a disinterested endeavour to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.