This text examines the fundamental distinctions between polemics and criticism, defining the former through reactivity and the latter through reflection. The author emphasizes that while polemics focuses on attacking an external target, true criticality requires conceptual thinking and a distance that enables self-criticism. Criticism is deeply connected to the pursuit of truth and justice, whereas polemics is primarily concerned with achieving victory over an opponent. The text further analyzes how criticality sets limits on polemics by always reserving a portion of its edge for reflecting on its own shortcomings. The etymological connection to the concept of "rightness" underscores the ethical dimension of criticism, which does not strive for the triumph of the ego but for a just assessment of the matter. This philosophical analysis calls for intellectual honesty, where critical distance serves as a tool for achieving a more objective insight and for overcoming mere offensive reactivity.