--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If anyone should tell you that a…" description: "\"If anyone should tell you that a particular person has spoken critically of you, don't bother with excuses or defenses. Just smile and reply, \"I guess ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/epictetus-413_bother_if-anyone-should-tell-you-that-a-particu_2015165.jpg" --- # If anyone should tell you that a particular person has… ![“If anyone should tell you that a particular person has spoken critically of you, don't bother with excuses or defenses. Just smile and reply, "I guess that person doesn't know about all my other faults. Otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned only these."” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/epictetus-413_bother_if-anyone-should-tell-you-that-a-particu_2015165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/epictetus-413_bother_if-anyone-should-tell-you-that-a-particu_2015165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/epictetus-413_bother_if-anyone-should-tell-you-that-a-particu_2015165.jpg) > “If anyone should tell you that a particular person has spoken critically of you, don't bother with excuses or defenses. Just smile and reply, "I guess that person doesn't know about all my other faults. Otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned only these."” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When criticized, respond with humor and self‑acceptance, highlighting that others only see a fragment of your flaws. **In simple terms:** Accept criticism with humor. Key Takeaway Embrace humility. Themes resilience humor self‑awareness Mood calm confident Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - workplace feedback - social media criticism - personal relationships Key Concepts Stoicism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does this response reveal about your self‑esteem? - How can you turn criticism into growth? A Different Perspective Humor may not suit all contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) ## Related quotes > [When we try to describe one person to another …, what do we say? Not usually how or what that person ate, rarely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleanth-brooks/when-we-try-to-describe-one-person-to-another-what-do-we-say-not/) [Cleanth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleanth-brooks/) > [There’s no right way to tell all stories, only the right way to tell a particular story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/there-s-no-right-way-to-tell-all-stories-only-the-right-way-to-tell-a/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [I like to go into things, and I like to make the most bold choice to tell the particular story being told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-duke/i-like-to-go-into-things-and-i-like-to-make-the-most-bold-choice-to/) [Winston Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-duke/) > [“Friendship is not a thing I have ever experienced. Not as a child, and not as I am now. Except. One month ago, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/friendship-is-not-a-thing-i-have-ever-experienced-not-as-a-child-and-2/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Is it possible to make a sharp distinction between the content and the the form, between the personality of the Texas auctioneer and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleanth-brooks/is-it-possible-to-make-a-sharp-distinction-between-the-content-and/) [Cleanth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleanth-brooks/) > [My wife will tell you that I'm very particular and it's annoying for other people. I eat the same thing every day. I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-black/my-wife-will-tell-you-that-i-m-very-particular-and-it-s-annoying-for/) [Chris Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-black/) > [If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-anyone-tells-you-that-a-certain-person-speaks-ill-of-you-do-not/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Even when he uses you just keep a smile one your face. He will wish he never did what he did when he sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-when-he-uses-you-just-keep-a-smile-one-your-face-he-will-wish-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As an actress, it is so easy to spread happiness with just a smile. That is a gift I will always cherish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poonam-dhillon/as-an-actress-it-is-so-easy-to-spread-happiness-with-just-a-smile/) [Poonam Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poonam-dhillon/) > [“No matter how grouchy you're feeling, you'll find the smile more or less healing. It grows in a wreath all around the teeth thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-euwer/no-matter-how-grouchy-you-re-feeling-you-ll-find-the-smile-more-or/) Anthony Euwer > [my lips never know my problem they just always smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/my-lips-never-know-my-problem-they-just-always-smile/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [Just smile. Never give up. Im here for any of you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/just-smile-never-give-up-im-here-for-any-of-you/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [People often take me wrong I didn't feel bad I just smile beause onely god knows what is in person heart :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/musfirah/people-often-take-me-wrong-i-didn-t-feel-bad-i-just-smile-beause/) [Musfirah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/musfirah/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Bother quotes > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [One day I decided I would like to put a record into my system. 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Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [I've always been a late bloomer in some ways, and extremely precocious in other ways. 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And so that's why Trump's tone doesn't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-ve-said-i-want-the-meanest-toughest-sob-i-can-find-to-protect/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [This hype word bothers me though It always sounds like an accusation, what does it mean, advertising, column inches in the press? Bands themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/this-hype-word-bothers-me-though-it-always-sounds-like-an-accusation/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [Our students wanted to know everything: but only the newest theory seemed to them worth bothering with. Knowing nothing of the intellectual achievements of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-levi-strauss/our-students-wanted-to-know-everything-but-only-the-newest-theory/) [Claude Levi-Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-levi-strauss/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) Lawrence Dale Bell > [People are people. All that celebrity tagging doesn't bother me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-price/people-are-people-all-that-celebrity-tagging-doesn-t-bother-me-at-all/) [Katie Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-price/) Browse all 1,604 Bother quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If anyone should tell you that a particular person has spoken critically of you, don't bother with excuses or defenses. 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