Quotes on Criticism

Jesus was loyal to his apostles, with full knowledge of their cowardice. He was loyal to the poor, accepting the criticism of the Pharisees, so the destitute would never feel deserted. He was loyal to his father, accomplishing his will even unto death.

A liberal society stands on the proposition that we should all take seriously the idea that we might be wrong. This means we must place no one, including ourselves, beyond the reach of criticism; it means that we must allow people to err, even where the error offends and upsets, as it often will.

Nothing enrages me more than when people criticize my criticism of school by telling me that schools are not just places to learn maths and spelling, they are places where children learn a vaguely defined thing called socialization...I think schools generally do an effective and terribly damaging job of teaching children to be infantile, dependent, intellectually dishonest, passive and disrespectful to their own developmental capacities.

The injunction to be nice is used to deflect criticism and stifle the legitimate anger of dissent.

If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.

I've always tried to coach people the way I would like to be coached; positively and encouragingly rather than with criticism and fear ... I've tried to be as fair as possible.

Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.

Why shouldn't rap be esoteric, able to take in current events, history and criticism? I guess it's this old idea of containment - that rappers, because they're black, can't and shouldn't aspire to look outside the ghetto for influence.

People call you this or that. But I can't respond because then it seems like I'm defensive, you know, what does it matter, really?

The aim of all commentary on art now should be to make works of art - and, by analogy, our own experience - more, rather than less, real to us. The function of criticism should be to show how it is what it is, even that it is what it is, rather than to show what it means.

Interpretation is the revenge of the intellectual upon art.

Keeping religion immune from criticism is both unwarranted and dangerous.

If we judge ourselves only by our aspirations and everyone else only their conduct we shall soon reach a very false conclusion.

Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.

With emotional abuse, the insults, insinuations, criticism, and accusations slowly eat away at the victim’s self-esteem until he or she is incapable of judging a situation realistically. He or she may begin to believe that there is something wrong with them or even fear they are losing their mind. They have become so beaten down emotionally that they blame themselves for the abuse.

Drama criticism ... is a self-knowing account of the way in which one's consciousness has been modified during an evening at the theatre.

We can often do more for other men by trying to correct our own faults than by trying to correct theirs.

In every society in human history, including the United States, those in power seek to imbue themselves with the attributes of religion and patriotism as a way of getting greater support for their policy and insulating themselves from any criticism.

Interpretations, criticisms, diagnoses, and judgments of others are actually alienated expressions of our unmet needs.

Criticism does not disturb me, for I am my own severest critic. Always in my playing I strive to surpass myself, and it is this constant struggle that makes music fascinating to me.

In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Without one-hundred percent dedication, you won't be able to do this.