Q: Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer; Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike
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These lines are from Alexander Pope’s Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, specifically from the passage describing a type of critic who is both malicious and cowardly in their judgments. In this section, Pope offers a cutting portrayal of people who subtly undermine others while pretending to be polite or supportive. In modern terms, it might read something like this:
They give weak praise to damn you, agree with a polite look,
And without sneering themselves, teach others to sneer;
Ready to hurt, yet afraid to attack directly.
The phrase “damn with faint praise” has become an idiom, meaning to criticize something in a backhanded or insincere way. These lines reflect Pope’s biting commentary on hypocrisy and passive aggression. Here, he describes someone who uses subtle tactics—agreeing politely, withholding direct criticism, and influencing others to look down on someone—all while avoiding open confrontation.
Pope’s poem is a satirical critique of false friends, malicious critics, and the literary world of his time. His sharp observations capture the complex mix of envy, cowardice, and pettiness he saw among his contemporaries, creating a vivid portrait of the less noble aspects of human behavior.