Criticism

“Some people find fault like there’s a reward for it.” -Zig Ziglar (Hilary Hinton ‘Zig’ Ziglar (1926 - 2012))
 
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’re a mile away from them - and you have their shoes!” -Henny Youngman (Henry ‘Henny’ Youngman (1906 - 1998))
 
Critics
 
What one approves, another scorns,
     And thus his nature each discloses;
You find the rosebush full of thorns,
     I find the thornbush full of roses.
 
by Arthur Guiterman (1871 - 1943)
 
“The most difficult thing in the world is to know how to do a thing and to watch somebody else doing it wrong, without comment.” -Theodore H. White (1915 - 1986)
 
“I never criticize anyone. The way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement.” -Charles Schwab (Charles Michael Schwab (1862 - 1939))
 
“I criticize by creation - not by finding fault.” -Marcus Tullius Cicero (also known as Tully or simply Cicero (106 B.C.E. - 43 B.C.E.))
 
Riddle: What is easier to give than receive?
Solution: Criticism.
 
“Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.” -Og Mandino (Augustine ‘Og’ Mandino II (1923 - 1996))
 
“All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.” -Author Unknown
 
“The reason to not take things personally is to understand that what people say about you is a reflection of them, not you.” -Author Unknown
 
“Wink at small faults.” -John Clarke (1596 - 1658): “Proverbs: English and Latine” (1639)
 
“The sad part about life is that we tend to comment only on those who do it wrong and neglect to balance it with praise for those who do it right.” -Keith Ready
 
“Sandwich every bit of criticism between two thick layers of praise.” -Mary Kay Ash (born Mary Kathlyn Wagner (1918 - 2001))
 
“Much of what people attempt to pass off as criticism or even constructive criticism is actually condemnation and an effort to slight or wound or destroy another person. You must develop a hard protective shell around your essential self to stop the slings and arrows of the critical and judgmental people you will encounter throughout your lifetime.” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966)
 
“A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one would find fault with what he had done.” -John Henry Newman (also known as Cardinal Newman (1801 - 1890))
 
The stones that critics hurl with harsh intent
     A man may use to build his monument.
-Arthur Guiterman (1871 - 1943)
 
“Long experience has taught me that to be criticized is not always to be wrong.” -Anthony Eden (Robert Anthony Eden (1897 - 1977)): in a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Guildhall banquet during the Suez crisis, as quoted in the “Daily Herald” (10 November 1956) newspaper
 
“The man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle himself away.” -Charles M. Schwab (Charles Michael Schwab (1862 - 1939))
 
“Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem.” -H. Burke Peterson (Harold Burke Peterson (1923 - 2013)): ‘Preparing the Heart,’ in “Ensign” (May 1990) magazine, page 83
 
“A critic is a gong at a railroad crossing clanging loudly and vainly as the train goes by.” -Christopher Morley (Christopher Darlington Morley (1890 - 1957))
 
“Criticizing another’s garden does not keep the weeds out of your own.” -Author Unknown
 
“I am not given to finding fault, for there are innumerable fools.” -Plato (about 427 - about 347 B.C.E.): “Protagoras”
 
“Instead of condemning people, let’s try to understand them. Let’s try to figure out why they do what they do. That’s a lot more profitable and intriguing than criticism; and it breeds sympathy, tolerance, and kindness.” -Dale Carnegie (Dale Harbison Carnegie (born Dale Breckenridge Carnagey (1888 - 1955)))
 
“Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass without comment is a wonderful social grace.” -Judith Martin (born 1938)
 
“Sometimes people try to expose what’s wrong with you because they can’t handle everything that’s right about you.” -Author Unknown
 
“Make it your habit not to be critical about small things.” -Edward Everett Hale (1822 - 1909): as quoted in Jessie K. Freeman and Sarah S. B. Yule, editors: “Thoughts Selected from the Writings of Favorite Authors” (1901)
 
“If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it.” -Author Unknown
 
“When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.” -Louis Nizer (1902 - 1994)
 
Hypercritical: Excessively and unreasonably critical, especially of small faults.
 
“He who fancies himself very enlightened, because he sees the deficiencies of others, may be very ignorant, because he has not studied his own.” -Edward George Earle Bulwer-Lytton (1803 - 1873)
 
“Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been put up in honor of a critic.” -Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957)
 
“Wagner’s music is better than it sounds.” -Bill Nye (Edgar Wilson ‘Bill’ Nye (1850 - 1896)), referring to Richard Wagner
 
“What you dislike in another, take care to correct in yourself.” -Thomas Sprat (1635 - 1713)
 
“Criticism of others is futile and if you indulge in it often you should be warned that it can be fatal to your career.” -Dale Carnegie (Dale Harbison Carnegie (born Dale Breckenridge Carnagey (1888 - 1955)))
 
“Movie Critic: A person who gives the best jeers of his or her life to the theater.” -Author Unknown
 
“People who judge others are insecure about themselves.” -Author Unknown
 
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet (1694 - 1788))
 
“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” -Dale Carnegie (Dale Harbison Carnegie (born Dale Breckenridge Carnagey (1888 - 1955)))
 
“Blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make yours burn any brighter.” -Author Unknown
 
“Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing, and you’ll never be criticized.” -Elbert Hubbard (Elbert Green Hubbard (1856 -1915)): as quoted in Bert Hubbard, compiler: “Elbert Hubbard’s Selected Writings,” Part 2 (1922): ‘John North Willys,’ page 335
 
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” -Matthew: as quoted in “The Bible,” ‘Matthew,’ chapter 7, verse 1
 
“If we had no faults we should not take so much pleasure in noting those of others.” -Duc de Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680)
 
“Court not the critic’s smile, nor dread his frown.” -Walter Scott (1771 - 1832)
 
“The most insignificant people are the most apt to sneer at others. They are safe from reprisals and have no hope of rising in their own self-esteem but by lowering their neighbors.” -William Hazlitt (1778 - 1830)
 
“People who try to whittle you down are only trying to reduce you to their size.” -Author Unknown
 
“Criticism comes easier than craftsmanship.” -Zeuxis of Heraclea (464 B.C.E. - 400 B.C.E.)
 
“Don’t worry about what people say about you; they are busy finding faults in your life instead of fixing the faults in their own lives.” -Author Unknown
 
“Criticism is a life without risk.” -John Lahr (born 1941): “Light Fantastic: Adventures in Theatre” (1996)
 
“You can run with the big dogs or sit on the porch and bark.” -Wallace Arnold
 
“To find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.” -Plutarch (C.E. 46 - C.E. 120)
 
“Our worst fault is our preoccupation with the faults of others.” -Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931): as quoted in Robin Waterfield, editor: “The Voice of Kahlil Gibran: An Anthology” (1995)
 
“Wouldn’t it be nice if we could find other things as easily as we find fault?” -Author Unknown
 
“It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.” -Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)
 
“The man who is anybody and who does anything is surely going to be criticized, vilified, and misunderstood. This is part of the penalty for greatness, and every man understands, too, that it is no proof of greatness.” -Elbert Hubbard (Elbert Green Hubbard (1856 - 1915))
 
Overheard: People who have time to point out others’ mistakes have time to do some work.
 
“Pay more attention to your Creator than your critics.” -Author Unknown
 
“No matter what you or anyone else does, there will be someone who says that there’s something bad about it. Whenever somebody comes up with a good idea, there’s somebody else who has never had a good idea in his life who stands up and says, ‘Oh, you can’t do that . . .’” -Tom Clancy (Thomas Leo ‘Tom’ Clancy, Junior (1947 - 2013))
 
“When one dog barks another will join it.” -Author Unknown
 
“Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.” -H. Jackson Brown, Junior (born 1940)
 
“Usually our criticism of others is not because they have faults, but because their faults are different than ours.” -Roger Eastman
 
Is there more to life than simply expressing likes and dislikes? Can you list ten things more fun and interesting to do than criticizing others?
 
“Restrain your tongues in criticism of others. It is so easy to find fault. It is so much nobler to speak constructively.” -Gordon B. Hinckley (Gordon Bitner Hinckley (1910 - 2008))
 
“Those who can, do. Those who can’t, criticize.” -Robin Sharma (born 1965)
 
“Be a doer and not a critic.” -Tony Blair (Anthony Charles Lynton ‘Tony’ Blair (born 1953))
 
“Criticism does not make you smarter or better than the one you are criticizing. In fact, the stuff you are critical of in others is the same stuff you don’t like about yourself.” -Iyanla Vanzant (born 1953 as Rhonda Eva Harris)
 
“It is easier to pull down than to build up.” -Author Unknown
 
“He has never learned anything, and he can do nothing in decent style.” -Author Unknown: comment made by Beethoven’s teacher
 
“It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.” -Joseph Addison (1672 - 1719)
 
“When we criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.” -Richard Carlson (1961 - 2006)
 
“Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember - the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” -Zig Ziglar (Hilary Hinton ‘Zig’ Ziglar (1926 - 2012))
 
“People criticized me. So I changed. But people still criticized me. So I changed more. And still people criticized me. Then finally I realized it’s what they will do, no matter what. And I changed once more, by no longer listening to those people.” -Brian Vaszily (Brian William Vaszily (born 1970))
 
“Criticisms are opinions that people attempt to state as something more than opinion. But they are nonetheless only opinions, and nothing more, and of no more value.” -David Hugh Beaumont (born 1966)
 
“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 (Charles Michael Schwab (1862 - 1939))
 
“Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already.” -Dave Willis
 
“‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages you’ve had.’” -F. Scott Fitzgerald (Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940)): “The Great Gatsby,” Chapter 1
 
“In reality, the world have payed too great a compliment to critics, and have imagined them men of much greater profundity than they really are.” -Henry Fielding (1707 - 1754): “Tom Jones” (1749), book 5, chapter 1
 
“The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.” -Friedrich Nietzsche (Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844 - 1900))
 
“Has anybody ever seen a dramatic critic in the daytime? Of course not. They come out after dark up to no good.” -P. G. Wodehouse (Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (1881 - 1975))
 
“It is ridiculous for any man to criticize the works of another if he has not distinguished himself by his own performances.” -Joseph Addison (1672 - 1719)
 
“Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people’s, if we are always criticizing trivial actions - which often are not real defects at all, but we construe them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives.” -Teresa of Ávila (born Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada (1515 - 1582))
 
“When criticized, consider the source.” -Author Unknown
 
“Criticism is easy, and art is difficult.” [translation to English]
“La critique est aisée, et l’art est difficile.” [original French]
-Philippe Destouches (Philippe Néricault Destouches (1680 - 1754)): “Glorieux,” II, 5, as quoted in Kate Louise Roberts, editor: “Hoyt’s New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations” (1922), page 150
 
“If you are always finding fault, you will seldom find anything else.” -Author Unknown
 
“Answer them with silence and indifference. It works better, I assure you, than anger and argument.” -Gioacchino Rossini (Gioacchini Antonio Rossini (1792 - 1868)), commenting on critics
 
“Let he who is without fault cast the first stone.” -Jesus of Nazareth: as quoted in “The Bible,” ‘John,’ chapter 8, verse 7
 
“The faults we find in others are our own.” -Author Unknown
 
“Anybody can point out anybody else’s bad qualities. If you want to distinguish yourself, go around pointing out good qualities.” -Author Unknown
 
“Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own.” -Author Unknown

This is MFOL! . . . a website put together by some folks who could have been clowns but who have no costumes - and also no talent for being clowns . . . how’s that for criticism?