Tiny Wisdom: On Criticism

“Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” -Aristotle

No matter what you’re trying to do, someone somewhere has a harsh opinion.

Maybe it’s a virtual stranger. Since the advent of the Internet, people can easily vent their judgments behind a cloak of anonymity. Most of the world’s successful people have a Google trail laced with negativity.

Or maybe it’s someone who’s supposed to have faith in you—your father doubts your aptitude for the legal profession, or your friend thinks your singing belongs in the shower.

Either way, it hurts. And you may lose steam as a result.

Don’t.

Barbra Streisand’s mother told her she wasn’t pretty enough to be an actress and her voice was inadequate, to boot.

Peers criticized Albert Einstein about everything from his looks to his intelligence as a child, yet he grew up to become the father of modern physics.

Many people in France considered Gustav Eiffel’s tower design an eyesore and wanted it torn down.

“They” aren’t always right.

If you come against criticism today, thank the person who delivered it. Whether they offered a valid suggestion to help you improve, or a harsh judgment that reminded you to develop a thicker skin, they’ve helped you get closer to your dreams.

Related posts:

  1. How to Deal with Criticism Well: 25 Reasons to Embrace It
  • http://twitter.com/Lordstrom Dave

    Barbara Streisand's mother was correct. But, indeed, that somehow didn't stop her.

  • http://jbrabin.com/ J.B. Rabin

    Thanks for the insightful post. It's such an important thing to remember that it's the act of putting ourselves out into the world that matters, not people's reactions to our creations.

  • http://www.twittlink.com/aj_headline_tb/aHR0cDovL3RpbnlidWRkaGEuY29tL3F1b3Rlcy9zZXB0ZW1iZXItMjUtMjAwOQ== TwittLink – Your headlines on Twitter

    [...] September 25, 2009 « tinybuddha.com [...]

  • http://twitter.com/dturnbull David Turnbull

    Very timely post because I was left a nasty comment today on my blog and it does make you feel a bit bummed. But the fact that is was the first of its kind after over 120 previous comments made me feel better about it.

    Also, this is a good blog post about dealing with criticism: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/08/24...

  • http://twitter.com/dturnbull David Turnbull

    Very timely post because I was left a nasty comment today on my blog and it does make you feel a bit bummed. But the fact that is was the first of its kind after over 120 previous comments made me feel better about it.

    Also, this is a good blog post about dealing with criticism: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/08/24...

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