--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the critics are right that I've made…" description: "\"If the critics are right that I've made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at reading them.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/barack-obama-17_critics_if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made_1108348.jpg" --- # If the critics are right that I've made all my decisions… ![“If the critics are right that I've made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at reading them.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/barack-obama-17_critics_if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made_1108348.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/barack-obama-17_critics_if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made_1108348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/barack-obama-17_critics_if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made_1108348.jpg) > “If the critics are right that I've made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at reading them.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on polls for decisions shows a lack of independent judgment and insight. **In simple terms:** Avoid over‑reliance on public opinion. Key Takeaway Develop personal analytical skills. Themes leadership decision-making independence Mood analytical reflective Type political advisory When to use this quote - policy formulation - campaign strategy - media relations - personal branding Key Concepts political strategy public opinion analysis Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust poll data? - How do you balance data with intuition? A Different Perspective Polls can still provide valuable data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Polls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polls/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) ## Related quotes > [I don't do my job as minister based on polls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/i-don-t-do-my-job-as-minister-based-on-polls/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [I never felt comfortable with making political decisions based on whether, you know, it was the right thing to do in terms of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-never-felt-comfortable-with-making-political-decisions-based-on/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I have faith in the United States and our ability to make good decisions based on the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-have-faith-in-the-united-states-and-our-ability-to-make-good/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [When we make decisions based on factors other than the available empirical evidence, we are less than objective, which means we are no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/when-we-make-decisions-based-on-factors-other-than-the-available/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [No disrespect, but I don't make decisions based on opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/no-disrespect-but-i-don-t-make-decisions-based-on-opinions/) [Andre Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ward/) > [“SENSE Do you make decisions based on what makes sense in your mind or what you sense in your heart?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-downer/sense-do-you-make-decisions-based-on-what-makes-sense-in-your-mind-or/) [Kitty Downer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-downer/) > [I like to make decisions based on things I'm interested in doing, not what seems like the next move in my quote-unquote career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-like-to-make-decisions-based-on-things-i-m-interested-in-doing-not/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I've always made my decisions based on two factors: intellectual analysis and my gut. And when they meet, that's a go from me. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-ve-always-made-my-decisions-based-on-two-factors-intellectual/) [Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/) > [“All you can do is make your decisions based on what you know now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malinda-lo/all-you-can-do-is-make-your-decisions-based-on-what-you-know-now/) [Malinda Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malinda-lo/) > [Perhaps the critics are right: this generation may not produce literature equal to that of any past generation-who cares? The writer will be dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perhaps-the-critics-are-right-this-generation-may-not-produce/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Acknowledge your critics, but do what's right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/acknowledge-your-critics-but-do-what-s-right/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [If the critics were always right we should be in deep trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morley/if-the-critics-were-always-right-we-should-be-in-deep-trouble/) [Robert Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morley/) > [The critics are always right. The only way you shut them up is by winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/the-critics-are-always-right-the-only-way-you-shut-them-up-is-by/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [If I spent my career responding to critics, I'd never be where I'm at right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-jones-jr/if-i-spent-my-career-responding-to-critics-i-d-never-be-where-i-m-at/) [Roy Jones Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-jones-jr/) > [Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whatever-course-you-decide-upon-there-is-always-someone-to-tell-you/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Critics quotes > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Critics are biased, and so are readers. (Indeed, a critic is a bundle of biases held loosely together by a sense of taste.) But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-balliett/critics-are-biased-and-so-are-readers-indeed-a-critic-is-a-bundle-of/) Whitney Balliett > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Yippies, their lifestyle is different from mine. But I consider Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman inspired critics of the kind of society that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dellinger/the-yippies-their-lifestyle-is-different-from-mine-but-i-consider/) [David Dellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dellinger/) > [This one goes out to all my critics: don't you feel stupid? Look how I did it. Look how it came to pass when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/this-one-goes-out-to-all-my-critics-don-t-you-feel-stupid-look-how-i/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [There's a lot of stuff I want to do, just things that I want to explore that don't involve show business. I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/there-s-a-lot-of-stuff-i-want-to-do-just-things-that-i-want-to/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whatever-course-you-decide-upon-there-is-always-someone-to-tell-you/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nearly all the writing of our time is likely to disappear in a hundred years. Certainly most readers - and nearly all critics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/nearly-all-the-writing-of-our-time-is-likely-to-disappear-in-a/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [The boundaries between contemporary art and cinema are so rigid. It's unbelievable. The film critics don't know my artwork and the art world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/the-boundaries-between-contemporary-art-and-cinema-are-so-rigid-it-s/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [A certain type of critic doesn't really want French movies to be visual. They think movies started from books and they forgot this part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/a-certain-type-of-critic-doesn-t-really-want-french-movies-to-be/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) Browse all 2,637 Critics quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the critics are right that I've made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at reading them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made-all-my-decisions-based-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Critics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made-all-my-decisions-based-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/barack-obama-17_critics_if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made_1108348.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/barack-obama-17_critics_if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made_1108348.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/barack-obama-17_critics_if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made_1108348.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the critics are right that I've made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at…” — Barack Obama", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the critics are right that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made-all-my-decisions-based-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made-all-my-decisions-based-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```