" To be harsh" (harsh) is similar to being mean or critical – to say rude things about other people.

“苛刻” （苛刻）类似于刻薄或批评——对别鲁的话。

Not harsh in manners or judgment, rather liberal and open-minded, they were still as a body the most formidable critics one would care to meet, in a long life exposed to criticism.

他在举止或判断上并不苛刻，而是明和放，作为一个整体，他仍然是愿意在漫长的批评中遇到的最可怕的批评家。