Here you will find the finest critique quotes and sayings from prominent authors. We hope that these criticism quotes help you understand more about criticism. How it affects other people’s life, and how to deal with it. Criticism is the practice of passing judgment on the qualities and flaws of someone. It is classified as an evaluative or corrective exercise that occurs in all aspects of human life. Share these inspiring criticism quotes with your friends, family, and others you care about.
Learning From Famous Figures Who Embraced Criticism
Many successful individuals have faced criticism. Here are a few examples:
Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper job. His boss criticized him for “lack of imagination.” Later he went on to create one of the most beloved fantasy world for kids in history.
Steve Jobs faced criticism for his bad management style at Apple. He even being ousted from his own company. He returned years later to Apple into one of the most innovative companies in the world.
Oprah Winfrey once told she wasn’t fit for television early in her career. Today, she’s one of the most successful media personalities in the world.
Understanding Criticism
Criticism is an evaluation of someone’s actions, work, or behavior. It has many forms: feedback from boss, a remark from one of the friend, or a comment on social media. Criticism can either be:
Constructive:
Helpful advice to improve. This kind of criticism is given with positive intent. It aims to foster growth.
Destructive:
Negative comments intended to demotivate. This often comes from the critic’s own frustrations or insecurities.
35 Motivating Quotes on Criticism
“Criticism is an indirect form of self-boasting.”
Emmet Fox
“When virtues are pointed out first, flaws seem less insurmountable.”
Judith Martin
“Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”
Neil Gaiman
“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.”
Dale Carnegie
“The pleasure of criticizing takes away from us the pleasure of being moved by some very fine things.”
Jean de La Bruyère
“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.”
Aristotle
“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”
John Wooden
“The trouble with most of us is that we’d rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
Norman Vincent Peale
“When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.”
Unknown
“Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.”
Elvis Presley
“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.”
Frank A. Clark
“People tend to criticize their spouse most loudly in the area where they themselves have the deepest emotional need.”
Gary Chapman
“Criticism is the disapproval of people, not for having faults, but having faults different from your own.”
Unknown
“Before you go and criticize the younger generation, just remember who raised them.”
Unknown
“Who do you spend time with? Criticizers or encouragers? Surround yourself with those who believe in you. Your life is too important for anything less.”
Steve Goodier
“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.”
Abraham Lincoln
“If we judge ourselves only by our aspirations and everyone else only their conduct we shall soon reach a very false conclusion.”
Calvin Coolidge
“I have no right, by anything I do or say, to demean a human being in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him; it is what he thinks of himself. To undermine a man’s self-respect is a sin.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
“One mustn’t criticize other people on grounds where he can’t stand perpendicular himself”
Mark Twain
“That was excellently observed’, say I, when I read a passage in an author, where his opinion agrees with mine. When we differ, there I pronounce him to be mistaken.”
Jonathan Swift
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.”
Benjamin Franklin
“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.”
William Arthur Ward
“Don’t criticize them; they are just what we would be under similar circumstances.”
Abraham Lincoln
“It is much more valuable to look for the strength in others. You can gain nothing by criticizing their imperfections.”
Daisaku Ikeda
“The artist doesn’t have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don’t have the time to read reviews.”
William Faulkner
“A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car.”
Kenneth Tynan
“I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.”
Charles Schwab
“I criticize by creation, not by finding fault.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”
Elbert Hubbard
“If we had no faults we should not take so much pleasure in noting those of others.”
François de La Rochefoucauld
“It is much more valuable to look for the strength in others. You can gain nothing by criticizing their imperfections.”
Daisaku Ikeda
“Don’t pay any attention to what they write about you. Just measure it in inches.”
Andy Warhol
“Often those that criticise others reveal what he himself lacks.”
Shannon L. Alder
“One of the most valuable things one of my art teachers said to me was, ‘Don’t get upset by criticism. Value the fact that at least someone noticed what you did.”
Chris Ware
“A creative life cannot be sustained by approval any more than it can be destroyed by criticism.”
Will Self
Also Read: 10 Golden Words for Life
How to Respond
Here are some strategies to handle criticism, both constructive and destructive, with grace and confidence:
Take a Pause Before Reacting
When we hear criticism, our first instinct is to defend ourselves or retaliate against it. However, it’s crucial to take a pause and allow yourself a moment to process. Retaliate can escalate the situation or close you off to helpful feedback.
Evaluate Criticism
Evaluate – is there truth to what’s being said? Constructive criticism might sting but can offer valuable insights for improvement. Destructive criticism, should be taken lightly. Especially if it is coming from someone whose opinion may not be credible or constructive.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Clarification
If you’re unsure about the feedback, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. Politely ask the critic to clarify through specific examples or suggestions on how you can improve.
Stay Objective, Not Emotional
Stay calm and try to see the criticism objectively. Focus on the facts rather than any negative emotions.
Thank You for Your Feedback
“Thank you for your feedback” demonstrates professionalism and maturity. If the criticism is constructive, you express gratitude for the opportunity to improve.
Let It Go of Destructive Criticism
If the criticism is destructive or malicious intention, it’s essential to let it go. Learn to reject hurtful comments and focus on the opinions that truly matter to you.
