proverb · Words worth keeping
Critics are like brushers of other men's clothes.
Critics are like brushers of other men's clothes.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Criticism can help refine work that someone else has made. The clothes-brushing comparison gives the critic a supporting role, without assuming every criticism improves the work or that commenting is equivalent to creating it.
Example
A reader points out an unclear transition in a draft and explains where the argument became difficult to follow, leaving the writer to decide how to revise it.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The brushers attend to clothes that belong to other people in the saying’s image. Figuratively, a critic examines an existing piece of work and may notice a flaw, distraction or opportunity for improvement. A useful reading asks whether the comment helps the maker and audience understand the work more clearly. The comparison also keeps the roles distinct: responding to something is not the same as undertaking its creation. Neither role must be dismissed. A criticism may be perceptive, mistaken or needlessly harsh, so its value depends on what it identifies and how well the judgement is supported rather than on the critic’s confidence alone.
When to use it
Use it when discussing how thoughtful criticism can contribute to an existing work.
Keep in mind
Assess the substance of a comment; a supporting role does not make criticism automatically helpful or inferior.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English