“Criticism is a disinterested endeavour to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.”
This famous definition of criticism comes from Matthew Arnold’s essay "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time" (1865).
📘 Context and Meaning:
Arnold, a leading Victorian poet and critic, believed that criticism should not serve personal, political, or religious agendas. Instead, it should be:
Disinterested – Meaning objective, impartial, and free from self-interest.
A pursuit to learn (intellectual exploration) and propagate (spread) the best knowledge and thought available.
Focused on truth, cultural enrichment, and moral values rather than mere aesthetic pleasure or ideological goals.
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