--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The concept of loyalty is distorted when…" description: "\"The concept of loyalty is distorted when it is understood to mean blind acceptance. It is correctly interpreted when it is assumed to cover honest crit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/dag-hammarskj-ld-2606_acceptance_the-concept-of-loyalty-is-distorted-when_206576.png" --- # The concept of loyalty is distorted when it is understood… ![“The concept of loyalty is distorted when it is understood to mean blind acceptance. It is correctly interpreted when it is assumed to cover honest criticism.” quote by Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/dag-hammarskj-ld-2606_acceptance_the-concept-of-loyalty-is-distorted-when_206576.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/dag-hammarskj-ld-2606_acceptance_the-concept-of-loyalty-is-distorted-when_206576.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/dag-hammarskj-ld-2606_acceptance_the-concept-of-loyalty-is-distorted-when_206576.png) > “The concept of loyalty is distorted when it is understood to mean blind acceptance. It is correctly interpreted when it is assumed to cover honest criticism.” [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True loyalty includes honest critique, not blind obedience. **In simple terms:** Loyalty means speaking truth, not just agreeing. Key Takeaway Value honest feedback in relationships. Themes loyalty integrity criticism Mood reflective serious Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - political discourse - family decisions Key Concepts ethical leadership trust communication Questions to Reflect On - When have you spoken truth to a leader? - How can criticism be given constructively? A Different Perspective Blind loyalty can enable harmful decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blind acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-acceptance-21357/) [Concept Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concept-loyalty-2143805/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Distorted Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distorted-understood-2143804/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-criticism/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Loyalty Distorted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty-distorted-2143803/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) ## Related quotes > [The concept of loyalty is a very strange concept. When loyalty is to be tested, the real answer is that may it never be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babatunde-fashola/the-concept-of-loyalty-is-a-very-strange-concept-when-loyalty-is-to/) [Babatunde Fashola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babatunde-fashola/) > [It is impossible to repristinate a past world picture by sheer resolve, especially a mythical world picture, now that all of our thinking is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-bultmann/it-is-impossible-to-repristinate-a-past-world-picture-by-sheer/) [Rudolf Bultmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-bultmann/) > [The intelligent employer encourages challenge, questioning--not blind acceptance and "our Leader knows best" acclaim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-barnett-gilson/the-intelligent-employer-encourages-challenge-questioning-not-blind/) [Mary Barnett Gilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-barnett-gilson/) > [I am all in favor of the skeptical mind. Do not believe anything unless you have experienced it. Do not believe anything - go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/i-am-all-in-favor-of-the-skeptical-mind-do-not-believe-anything/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [See that you are not what you believe yourself to be. Fight with all the strength at your disposal against the idea that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/see-that-you-are-not-what-you-believe-yourself-to-be-fight-with-all/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [And the faith that grows out of questioning is stronger than the faith born of blind acceptance. It can withstand the shocks of circumstance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dillet-freeman/and-the-faith-that-grows-out-of-questioning-is-stronger-than-the/) [James Dillet Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dillet-freeman/) > [Nonviolent Communication shows us a way of being very honest, but without any criticism, without any insults, without any put-downs, without any intellectual diagnosis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/nonviolent-communication-shows-us-a-way-of-being-very-honest-but/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [People fed on sugared praises cannot be expected to feel an appetite for the black broth of honest criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/people-fed-on-sugared-praises-cannot-be-expected-to-feel-an-appetite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you want to be honest with yourself, you have to take criticism, even if you attract adverse comments from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/if-you-want-to-be-honest-with-yourself-you-have-to-take-criticism/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Honest criticism means nothing: what one wants is unrestrained passion, fire for fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/honest-criticism-means-nothing-what-one-wants-is-unrestrained-passion/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Honest criticism, I suppose, has its place. But honest writing is infinitely more valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cusk/honest-criticism-i-suppose-has-its-place-but-honest-writing-is/) [Rachel Cusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cusk/) > [Particularly with MFA students, who have so much invested - literally and figuratively - I feel like honest criticism is something they're owed. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tod-goldberg/particularly-with-mfa-students-who-have-so-much-invested-literally/) [Tod Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tod-goldberg/) > [Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-p-jones-2/honest-criticism-is-hard-to-take-particularly-from-a-relative-a/) [Franklin P Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-p-jones-2/) > [Some critics have been very harsh. That's okay. I like honest criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nargis-fakhri/some-critics-have-been-very-harsh-that-s-okay-i-like-honest-criticism/) [Nargis Fakhri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nargis-fakhri/) > [Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation are directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/honest-criticism-and-sensitive-appreciation-are-directed-not-upon-the/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) ## More by Dag Hammarskjold > [“Didst thou give me this inescapable loneliness so that it would be easier for me to give thee all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/didst-thou-give-me-this-inescapable-loneliness-so-that-it-would-be/) [Dag Hammarskjöld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Beneath the hush a whisper from long ago, promising peace of mind and a burden shared. No peace which is not peace for all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/beneath-the-hush-a-whisper-from-long-ago-promising-peace-of-mind-and/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [For the sacrificed, in the hour of sacrifice, only one thing counts: faith-alone among enemies and skeptics. Faith, in spite of the humiliation which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/for-the-sacrificed-in-the-hour-of-sacrifice-only-one-thing-counts/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Friendship needs no words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/friendship-needs-no-words/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [If even dying is to be made a social function, then, grant me the favor of sneaking out on tiptoe without disturbing the party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/if-even-dying-is-to-be-made-a-social-function-then-grant-me-the-favor/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Your position never gives you the right to command. It only imposes on you the duty of so living your life that others can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/your-position-never-gives-you-the-right-to-command-it-only-imposes-on/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [I have only my own burden to bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/i-have-only-my-own-burden-to-bear/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Life yields only to the conqueror. Never accept whatcan be gained by giving in. You will be living off stolen goods, and your muscles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/life-yields-only-to-the-conqueror-never-accept-whatcan-be-gained-by/) [Dag Hammarskjöld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [I never discuss discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/i-never-discuss-discussions/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [We all have within us a center of stillness surrounded by silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/we-all-have-within-us-a-center-of-stillness-surrounded-by-silence/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [There is a point at which everything becomes simple and there is no longer any question of choice, because all you have staked will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/there-is-a-point-at-which-everything-becomes-simple-and-there-is-no/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a personal deity, but we die on the day when our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/god-does-not-die-on-the-day-when-we-cease-to-believe-in-a-personal/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Those who invoke history will certainly be heard by history. And they will have to accept its verdict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/those-who-invoke-history-will-certainly-be-heard-by-history-and-they/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Your body must become familiar with its death - in all its possible forms and degrees - as a self-evident, imminent, and emotionally neutral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/your-body-must-become-familiar-with-its-death-in-all-its-possible/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Unless there is a spiritual renaissance, the world will know no peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/unless-there-is-a-spiritual-renaissance-the-world-will-know-no-peace/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) [Explore all 155 Dag Hammarskjold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. 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