“I wish we had the humanity to reflect that even the worst authors might endeavour to please us, and in that endeavour, deserve something at our hands.”

Calling for generosity towards unsuccessful creative effort · Preface to The Works of Alexander Pope, 1717

• Compassion
• Criticism
• Writing

“If I have written well, let it be consider'd that 'tis what no man can do without good sense, a quality that not only renders one capable of being a good writer, but a good man.”

Connecting literary judgement with judgement in life · Preface to The Works of Alexander Pope, 1717

• Character
• Wisdom
• Writing

“Yet sure upon the whole, a bad Author deserves better usage than a bad Critic.”

Arguing that failed creation deserves more sympathy than malicious criticism · Preface to The Works of Alexander Pope, 1717

• Compassion
• Criticism
• Writing