--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds…" description: "\"“Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.”\" — Dale Carnegie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dale-carnegie-382_anger_criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds_2330768.jpg" --- # Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's… ![“Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.” quote by Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dale-carnegie-382_anger_criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds_2330768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dale-carnegie-382_anger_criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds_2330768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dale-carnegie-382_anger_criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds_2330768.jpg) > ““Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.”” [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism harms self‑esteem, diminishing confidence and sparking anger. **In simple terms:** Criticism hurts pride and creates resentment. Key Takeaway Avoid harsh criticism; give constructive feedback. Themes selfesteem communication emotions Mood thoughtful empathetic Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - workplace feedback - parenting - friendship - leadership Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you give feedback that protects dignity? - What alternatives to criticism exist? A Different Perspective Criticism can be necessary for growth if delivered thoughtfully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Resentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resentment/) ## Related quotes > [“Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous, because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/criticism-is-futile-because-it-puts-a-person-on-the-defensive-and/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurt his sense of importace and arouse resentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds-a-person-s-precious-pride/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [The night of the fight, you may feel a slight sting. That's pride fucking with you. Fuck pride. Pride only hurts, it never helps.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pulp-fiction/the-night-of-the-fight-you-may-feel-a-slight-sting-that-s-pride/) Pulp Fiction > [Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes them strive to justify themselves. Criticism is dangerous, because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/criticism-is-futile-because-it-puts-a-person-on-the-defensive-and-2/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I'm afraid of being too sure, to just deliver. I think that's the biggest danger for actors - after a certain time, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-deneuve/i-m-afraid-of-being-too-sure-to-just-deliver-i-think-that-s-the/) [Catherine Deneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-deneuve/) > [After I finished racing in the United States, I received a lot of criticism for being dangerous, a little bit stupid, insane, you name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-zanardi/after-i-finished-racing-in-the-united-states-i-received-a-lot-of/) [Alex Zanardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-zanardi/) > [An environment of carping and criticism is dangerous to your mental health, whereas those who support and encourage you bring out your true potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-environment-of-carping-and-criticism-is-dangerous-to-your-mental/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Each one of us, in his timidity, has a limit beyond which he is outraged. It is inevitable that he who by concentrated application…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/each-one-of-us-in-his-timidity-has-a-limit-beyond-which-he-is/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [By criticizing, we do not make lasting changes and often incur resentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/by-criticizing-we-do-not-make-lasting-changes-and-often-incur/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Psychiatrists declare that most of our fatigue derives from our mental and emotional attitudes... What kinds of emotional factors tire the sedentary (or sitting)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/psychiatrists-declare-that-most-of-our-fatigue-derives-from-our/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/our-fatigue-is-often-caused-not-by-work-but-by-worry-frustration-and/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Criticism will plant FEAR in the human heart, or resentment, but it will not build love or affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/criticism-will-plant-fear-in-the-human-heart-or-resentment-but-it/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Let’s keep a record of the fool things we have done and criticize ourselves. Since we can’t hope to be perfect, let’s do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/let-s-keep-a-record-of-the-fool-things-we-have-done-and-criticize/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/any-fool-can-criticize-condemn-and-complain-but-it-takes-character/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by Dale Carnegie > [“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/when-dealing-with-people-remember-you-are-not-dealing-with-creatures/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I deal with the obvious. I present, reiterate, and glorify the obvious - because the obvious is what people need to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/i-deal-with-the-obvious-i-present-reiterate-and-glorify-the-obvious/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [You can make more friends in two months by becoming more interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/you-can-make-more-friends-in-two-months-by-becoming-more-interested/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/the-man-who-goes-farthest-is-generally-the-one-who-is-willing-to-do/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“Apply the blacksmith's homely principle when you are speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/apply-the-blacksmith-s-homely-principle-when-you-are-speaking-if-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/one-of-the-most-tragic-things-i-know-about-human-nature-is-that-all/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-can-t-sleep-then-get-up-and-do-something-instead-of-lying/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I realize now that people are not thinking about you and me or caring what is said about us. They are thinking about themselves-before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/i-realize-now-that-people-are-not-thinking-about-you-and-me-or-caring/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/those-convinced-against-their-will-are-of-the-same-opinion-still/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Each nation feels superior to other nations. That breeds patriotism - and wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/each-nation-feels-superior-to-other-nations-that-breeds-patriotism/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [We are gods in the chrysalis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/we-are-gods-in-the-chrysalis/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-make-people-shun-you-and-laugh-at-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [So if you aspire to be a good conversationali st, be an attentive listener. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/so-if-you-aspire-to-be-a-good-conversationali-st-be-an-attentive/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Don't be afraid of enemies who attack you. Be afraid of the friends who flatter you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/don-t-be-afraid-of-enemies-who-attack-you-be-afraid-of-the-friends/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) [Explore all 592 Dale Carnegie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [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/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dale Carnegie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds-a-person-s-precious-pride-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds-a-person-s-precious-pride-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dale-carnegie-382_anger_criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds_2330768.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dale-carnegie-382_anger_criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds_2330768.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dale-carnegie-382_anger_criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds_2330768.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and…” — Dale Carnegie", "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": "Dale Carnegie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds-a-person-s-precious-pride-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/criticism-is-dangerous-because-it-wounds-a-person-s-precious-pride-2/#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 } } ] } ```