There are numerous ways we can receive criticism. And, guaranteed, all criticism shouldn’t be weighed equally.
Here are what several wise leaders have said about criticism and how to handle it.
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1. “Remember, it is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
2. “Receive constructive, helpful criticism; use it to grow, learn, change, and repent. Shrug off destructive, hateful criticism; just acknowledge it as a lamentable but inevitable part of life in this poor fallen world.” Francis Schaeffer
3. “It doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it. What matters is how many people do. Ten percent of people will find a way to take anything you say or do personally. Expect it.” Tim Ferriss
4. “People are always least productive in reactive mode.” Samuel Smiles
5. “Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity.” Colin Powell
6. “If you are really effective at what you do, ninety percent of the things said about you will be critical.” Scott Boras
7. “If you want to learn, grow, and improve, you must be content to be thought foolish and stupid as you do.” Epictetus
8. “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” Elbert Hubbard
9. “The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had little or no impact on you. That, and showing how much fun you’re having. Don’t get angry, don’t get even–focus on living well and that will eat at them more than anything you can do.” Tim Ferriss
10. “No commendation is greater than the condemnation of one’s fiercest sworn enemies.” Theodore Roosevelt
11. “Keep calm and carry on.” Winston Churchill