--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who can, teach; those who can't…" description: "\"“Those who can, teach; those who can't, criticize.”\" — Dan Hokstad" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/dan-hokstad-97385_criticize_those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-crit_3153060.jpg" --- # Those who can, teach; those who can't, criticize. ![“Those who can, teach; those who can't, criticize.” quote by Dan Hokstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/dan-hokstad-97385_criticize_those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-crit_3153060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/dan-hokstad-97385_criticize_those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-crit_3153060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/dan-hokstad-97385_criticize_those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-crit_3153060.jpg) > ““Those who can, teach; those who can't, criticize.”” [Dan Hokstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hokstad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those capable can teach, those unable often criticize, highlighting the divide between action and judgment. **In simple terms:** Teach if you can; criticize if you cannot. Key Takeaway Focus on contribution over criticism. Themes education criticism skill humor social dynamics Mood witty insightful critical Type Criticize:1 Education:1 Humour:0 Shaw:0 Teach:1 Teacher:0 Teach Criticize:0 When to use this quote - classroom settings - workplace feedback - public discourse Key Concepts pedagogy social psychology leadership Questions to Reflect On - When is criticism helpful? - How can you transition from critic to teacher? A Different Perspective Criticism can also be constructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaw/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-criticize-4834353/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [“On Critique – Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. Those who can’t do or teach, criticize.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-hinds/on-critique-those-who-can-do-those-who-can-t-teach-those-who-can-t-do/) [Marsha Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-hinds/) > [“Teach her that if you criticize X in women but do not criticize X in men, then you do not have a problem with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/teach-her-that-if-you-criticize-x-in-women-but-do-not-criticize-x-in/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“Loyalty in a critic is corruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/loyalty-in-a-critic-is-corruption/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-levinson/the-people-who-get-on-in-this-world-are-the-people-who-get-up-and/) [Steve Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-levinson/) > [Shaw, we're going to die, aren't we?" Probably. Why?" Just wanted confirmation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/shaw-we-re-going-to-die-aren-t-we-probably-why-just-wanted/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [“This is what I have to offer you Shaw and just like you let me be your first, I'm letting you be mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/this-is-what-i-have-to-offer-you-shaw-and-just-like-you-let-me-be/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [As yet, Bernard Shaw hasn't become prominent enough to have any enemies, but none of his friends like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/as-yet-bernard-shaw-hasn-t-become-prominent-enough-to-have-any/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“When a beautiful blonde asks, you don't say no.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-t-davy/when-a-beautiful-blonde-asks-you-don-t-say-no/) [V.T. Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-t-davy/) > [“The weak may not be admired and hero-worshipped; but they are by no means disliked or shunned; and they never seem to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-weak-may-not-be-admired-and-hero-worshipped-but-they-are-by-no/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I agree about Shaw - he is haunted by the mystery he flouts. He is an atheist who trembles in the haunted corridor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-agree-about-shaw-he-is-haunted-by-the-mystery-he-flouts-he-is-an/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“If an imaginative boy has a sufficiently rich mother who has intelligence, personal grace, dignity of character without harshness, and a cultivated sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/if-an-imaginative-boy-has-a-sufficiently-rich-mother-who-has/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I went to what is known as, and was at that time, too, Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. In fact, because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-went-to-what-is-known-as-and-was-at-that-time-too-shaw-university/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [“The men who killed your monsters weren’t heroes. They were even more frightening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-henry/the-men-who-killed-your-monsters-weren-t-heroes-they-were-even-more/) [Lisa Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-henry/) > [“Shaw, what if I did love you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/shaw-what-if-i-did-love-you/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [“The knuckles of his hand that had Shaw's name inked across them caught my eye. I pointed to them. "You have her with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/the-knuckles-of-his-hand-that-had-shaw-s-name-inked-across-them/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) ## More by Dan Hokstad > [“My pet peeve is the misuse of the word, "quote!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hokstad/my-pet-peeve-is-the-misuse-of-the-word-quote/) [Dan Hokstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hokstad/) [Explore all 2 Dan Hokstad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hokstad/) ## More Criticize quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [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/) > [Those who lack the confidence and esteem to make the decisions that they need to make for themselves, are usually the same ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-lack-the-confidence-and-esteem-to-make-the-decisions-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginningmay feel betrayed and criticize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/we-are-all-too-keenly-aware-that-those-of-you-who-supported-us-by/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [Woody Allen is a genius. His films are wonderful. He's poetic, but he's also a critic. He artfully steps back from a social setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/woody-allen-is-a-genius-his-films-are-wonderful-he-s-poetic-but-he-s/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [When I first prepared this particular talk... I realized that my usual approach is usually critical. That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) [Browse all 1,182 Criticize quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Those who can, teach; those who can't, criticize.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Hokstad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hokstad/those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-criticize/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticize" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hokstad/those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-criticize/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/dan-hokstad-97385_criticize_those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-crit_3153060.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/dan-hokstad-97385_criticize_those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-crit_3153060.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/dan-hokstad-97385_criticize_those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-crit_3153060.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who can, teach; those who can't, criticize.” — Dan Hokstad", "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": "Dan Hokstad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hokstad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Those who can, teach; those who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hokstad/those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-criticize/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hokstad/those-who-can-teach-those-who-can-t-criticize/#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 } } ] } ```