Quotes about Criticism

When I first went to preach the word abroad, the doctors and priests of the country did open wide against me.  But I was persuaded of this, not to render railing for railing; but to see how many of their carnal professors I could convince of their miserable state by the law, and of the want and worth of Christ: for, thought I, This shall answer for me in time to come, when they shall be for my hire before their face.  Gen. xxx. 33.

Most careers involve other people. You can have great academic intelligence and still lack social intelligence—the ability to be a good listener, to be sensitive toward others, to give and take criticism well.

The atmosphere is affirming: Industrialist Charles Schwab said, "I have yet to find the man . . . who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.

At least once a year I'd ask Steve to point out anything he thought I was doing that was wrong or weaknesses in my leadership that he believed might have me headed for trouble. After a couple of years of this, Steve once said, 'John, you are the most successful person I work with, yet you are the only one who invites critism. Why?' I don't trust anyone with power that can't be checked, I answered. Especially me.

By talking other people out of their dreams, critical people excuse themselves for staying in their comfort zones.

Perfectionists can rarely affirm themselves; therefore, it's very difficult for them to affirm others.

Realize that the guys who criticize will minimize the guys whose enterprise rises above the guys who criticize and minimize.

If you should observe an occasion to give your officers and friends a little more praise than is their due, and confess more fault than you justly be charged with, you will only become the sooner for it, a great captain. Criticizing and censuring almost everyone you have to do with, will diminish friends, increase enemies, and hereby hurt you affairs.

We want all our friends to tell us our bad qualities; it is only the particular a.. that does so whom we can't tolerate

Look, any amount I make, somebody's going to be mad.

I'm not mad when people talk bad about me; that's the way it is.

Today when Republicans who are black, Hispanic, or Native American expose Democratic chicanery, they are routinely denounced—not just by Democrats but also by their allies in the press—as sellouts and, in the case of African Americans, "Uncle Toms.