--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: once heard someone say that criticism is…" description: "\"“once heard someone say that criticism is like a nut surrounded by a hard shell. The hard shell represents a projected experience from a biased perspec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/chris-guillebeau-9841_criticism_once-heard-someone-say-that-criticism-is_1374276.png" --- # once heard someone say that criticism is like a nut… ![“once heard someone say that criticism is like a nut surrounded by a hard shell. The hard shell represents a projected experience from a biased perspective—something you should discard and ignore. If you can successfully discard the criticism’s outer trappings, there is often something you can…” quote by Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/chris-guillebeau-9841_criticism_once-heard-someone-say-that-criticism-is_1374276.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/chris-guillebeau-9841_criticism_once-heard-someone-say-that-criticism-is_1374276.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/chris-guillebeau-9841_criticism_once-heard-someone-say-that-criticism-is_1374276.png) > ““once heard someone say that criticism is like a nut surrounded by a hard shell. The hard shell represents a projected experience from a biased perspective—something you should discard and ignore. If you can successfully discard the criticism’s outer trappings, there is often something you can learn from its core, especially after you’ve allowed some time to pass.”” [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism often hides useful insight beneath biased, superficial judgments; removing the outer bias reveals a valuable core lesson. **In simple terms:** Discard bias to find useful feedback. Key Takeaway Look beyond the surface of criticism. Themes self-improvement feedback critical thinking Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - work reviews - creative projects Key Concepts bias perception learning Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify the core truth in harsh feedback? - What steps help you let go of emotional reactions? A Different Perspective Criticism may be harsh and demotivating, making it hard to separate useful parts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ## Related quotes > [In my eyes, there will never be another Haloti Ngata, but that comes from a biased perspective from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/in-my-eyes-there-will-never-be-another-haloti-ngata-but-that-comes/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [It's disingenuous to say that criticism doesn't get to you or you don't hear it or that you ignore it. When everybody says, 'That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/it-s-disingenuous-to-say-that-criticism-doesn-t-get-to-you-or-you-don/) [Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/) > [To be honest, I don't think I've played bad for England, I've certainly not been as bad as some people say. That criticism has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/to-be-honest-i-don-t-think-i-ve-played-bad-for-england-i-ve-certainly/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [The piecemeal criticism which, like the fly, scans only the edge of a plinth in the great edifice upon which it crawls, disappears under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/the-piecemeal-criticism-which-like-the-fly-scans-only-the-edge-of-a/) [William Greenough Thayer Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/) > [Criticism is like champagne, nothing more execrable if bad, nothing more excellent if good; if meagre, muddy, vapid and sour, both are fit only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/criticism-is-like-champagne-nothing-more-execrable-if-bad-nothing-2/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [As a songwriter, it's good to have criticism, and I like objective opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/as-a-songwriter-it-s-good-to-have-criticism-and-i-like-objective/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Asking a writer what he thinks about criticism is like asking a lamppost what it feels about dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/asking-a-writer-what-he-thinks-about-criticism-is-like-asking-a/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/criticism-like-rain-should-be-gentle-enough-to-nourish-a-man-s-growth/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [“Criticism, like swearing, is actually nothing more than a bad habit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/criticism-like-swearing-is-actually-nothing-more-than-a-bad-habit/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [Criticism is like many other things, it drags along after what has already been said and doesn't get out of its rut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/criticism-is-like-many-other-things-it-drags-along-after-what-has/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [To many people, dramatic criticism must seem like an attempt to tattoo soap bubbles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mason-brown/to-many-people-dramatic-criticism-must-seem-like-an-attempt-to-tattoo/) [John Mason Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mason-brown/) > [Criticism is like champagne, nothing more execrable if bad, nothing more excellent if good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/criticism-is-like-champagne-nothing-more-execrable-if-bad-nothing/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Criticism is like medicine. It’s poison unless carefully administered at the right dose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hyatt/criticism-is-like-medicine-it-s-poison-unless-carefully-administered/) [Michael Hyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hyatt/) > [“Chances are like criticism; few like to take it, some love to give it, yet most never see it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-henegan/chances-are-like-criticism-few-like-to-take-it-some-love-to-give-it/) [Carl Henegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-henegan/) > [“Philosophy without criticism is like hunting deer without a shotgun, so, if you want people to like you, avoid robust philosophical debate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/philosophy-without-criticism-is-like-hunting-deer-without-a-shotgun/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) ## More by Chris Guillebeau > [“Compared with working just to make a living, it’s much easier to do what you love and get paid for it. You just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/compared-with-working-just-to-make-a-living-it-s-much-easier-to-do/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [In the long-term, security comes from an asset you create or acquire, not a position in someone else's asset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/in-the-long-term-security-comes-from-an-asset-you-create-or-acquire/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [If you make your business about helping others, you'll always have plenty of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/if-you-make-your-business-about-helping-others-you-ll-always-have/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [Regret is what you should fear the most. If something is going to keep you awake at night, let it be the fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/regret-is-what-you-should-fear-the-most-if-something-is-going-to-keep/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/you-don-t-have-to-live-your-life-the-way-other-people-expect-you-to/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [“The concept of deferred gratification, or sacrificing now to save for the future, can be helpful in setting aside money in a retirement account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/the-concept-of-deferred-gratification-or-sacrificing-now-to-save-for/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [Why travel - because the world was meant to be experienced, not imagined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/why-travel-because-the-world-was-meant-to-be-experienced-not-imagined/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [We often feel paralyzed by choice and make no choice. 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Better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/what-if-you-save-for-40-years-putting-off-all-kinds-of-opportunities/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [Courage comes through achievement, but also through the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/courage-comes-through-achievement-but-also-through-the-attempt/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [“To succeed in a business project, especially one you’re excited about, it helps to think carefully about all the skills you have that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/to-succeed-in-a-business-project-especially-one-you-re-excited-about/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [Your possibilities are unlimited, but it all begins with the deliberate choice to think differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/your-possibilities-are-unlimited-but-it-all-begins-with-the/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [It's a lonely road for those of us who choose to be remarkable, and the path of convention can sometimes be appealing. That path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/it-s-a-lonely-road-for-those-of-us-who-choose-to-be-remarkable-and/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) [Explore all 65 Chris Guillebeau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) ## More Criticism quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [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/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) [Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“once heard someone say that criticism is like a nut surrounded by a hard shell. The hard shell represents a projected experience from a biased perspective—something you should discard and ignore. 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