--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Critics are our friends, they show us our…" description: "\"Critics are our friends, they show us our faults.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/benjamin-franklin-65_critics_critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our_1865233.png" --- # Critics are our friends, they show us our faults. ![“Critics are our friends, they show us our faults.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/benjamin-franklin-65_critics_critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our_1865233.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/benjamin-franklin-65_critics_critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our_1865233.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/benjamin-franklin-65_critics_critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our_1865233.png) > “Critics are our friends, they show us our faults.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism serves as a guide, revealing personal flaws. **In simple terms:** Critics help us see faults. Key Takeaway Use criticism for self‑improvement. Themes self‑criticism growth humility learning Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - career development - creative writing - personal coaching Key Concepts Philosophy of self‑improvement feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - How can we discern constructive criticism? - What strategies turn critique into growth? A Different Perspective Criticism can be harsh or unfounded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's unfortunate to have critics for friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/i-think-it-s-unfortunate-to-have-critics-for-friends/) [William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/) > [I've lost many of my best friends... I'm going to satisfy myself now, not the critics, not even my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-ve-lost-many-of-my-best-friends-i-m-going-to-satisfy-myself-now-not/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [We easily forgive our friends those faults that do no affect us ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-easily-forgive-our-friends-those-faults-that-do-no-affect-us/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“When you're young, you're more prone to overlook friends' faults and forgive their weaknesses because you know you're all still cooking and nobody's done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaize-clement/when-you-re-young-you-re-more-prone-to-overlook-friends-faults-and/) [Blaize Clement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaize-clement/) > [“...anyone looking for friends without faults shall remain friendless. The choice is yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-lynn-payne/anyone-looking-for-friends-without-faults-shall-remain-friendless-the/) [Holly Lynn Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-lynn-payne/) > [From the writer's point of view, critics should be ignored, although it's hard not to do what they suggest. I think it's unfortunate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/from-the-writer-s-point-of-view-critics-should-be-ignored-although-it/) [William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/) > [Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/wink-at-small-faults-remember-thou-hast-great-ones/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [A perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-perfect-character-might-be-attended-with-the-inconvenience-of-being/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I never knew a critic who made it his business to lash the faults of other writers that was not guilty of greater himself--as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/i-never-knew-a-critic-who-made-it-his-business-to-lash-the-faults-of/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Most critical fault-finding, when reduced to its essentials, simply amounts to reproach of the author because he is himself -- thinks, feels, sees, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/most-critical-fault-finding-when-reduced-to-its-essentials-simply/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [It is a well-known fact that we see the faults in other's works more readily than we do in our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-is-a-well-known-fact-that-we-see-the-faults-in-other-s-works-more/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [My fellow critics and I may occasionally fault a movie for departing, in detail or in spirit, from its literary source, but the grousing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-o-scott/my-fellow-critics-and-i-may-occasionally-fault-a-movie-for-departing/) [A. O. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-o-scott/) > [It is necessary a writing critic should understand how to write. And though every writer is not bound to show himself in the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/it-is-necessary-a-writing-critic-should-understand-how-to-write-and/) [Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/) > [I don’t want to have to be like a Scarlett Johansson – who I have nothing against, but I don’t want to have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-don-t-want-to-have-to-be-like-a-scarlett-johansson-who-i-have/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [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/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## 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": "Critics are our friends, they show us our faults.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our-faults/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Critics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our-faults/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/benjamin-franklin-65_critics_critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our_1865233.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/benjamin-franklin-65_critics_critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our_1865233.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/benjamin-franklin-65_critics_critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our_1865233.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Critics are our friends, they show us our faults.” — Benjamin Franklin", "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": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Critics are our friends, they show...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our-faults/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/critics-are-our-friends-they-show-us-our-faults/#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 } } ] } ```