Careful Words

criticism (n.)

  Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst, the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!

Laurence Sterne (1713-1768): Tristram Shandy (orig. ed.). Vol. iii. Chap. xii.

  Blown about with every wind of criticism.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784): Life of Johnson (Boswell). Vol. viii. Chap. x. 1784.