--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To test a modest man's modesty do not…" description: "\"To test a modest man's modesty do not investigate if he ignores applause, find out if he abides criticism.\" — Franz Grillparzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/franz-grillparzer-1602_applause_to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-in_466308.png" --- # To test a modest man's modesty do not investigate if he… ![“To test a modest man's modesty do not investigate if he ignores applause, find out if he abides criticism.” quote by Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/franz-grillparzer-1602_applause_to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-in_466308.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/franz-grillparzer-1602_applause_to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-in_466308.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/franz-grillparzer-1602_applause_to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-in_466308.png) > “To test a modest man's modesty do not investigate if he ignores applause, find out if he abides criticism.” [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True modesty is shown by how one handles criticism, not by ignoring applause. **In simple terms:** Modesty measured by response to criticism. Key Takeaway Embrace critique, stay humble. Themes modesty criticism character humility Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - public speaking - personal development Key Concepts ethical behavior self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you react to criticism? - When does humility become self‑effacement? A Different Perspective Criticism can be harsh and discouraging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Ignores Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignores-applause-4039897/) [Man Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-modesty-4039895/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Modesty Investigate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty-investigate-4039894/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Test Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/test-modest-4039896/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) ## Related quotes > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/) [Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/) > [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/) [Oem Software Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oem-software-buy/) ## More by Franz Grillparzer > [Genius differs from talent not by the amount of original thoughts, but by making the latter fertile and by positioning them properly, in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/genius-differs-from-talent-not-by-the-amount-of-original-thoughts-but/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Plato calls complacency the companion of loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/plato-calls-complacency-the-companion-of-loneliness/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The noble woman is half a man, even a complete one. Only their imperfections make them women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-noble-woman-is-half-a-man-even-a-complete-one-only-their/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [It's the misfortune of German authors that not a single one of them dares to expose his true character. Everyone thinks that he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/it-s-the-misfortune-of-german-authors-that-not-a-single-one-of-them/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Genius resembles a bell; in order to ring it must be suspended into pure air, and when a foreign body touches it, its joyful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/genius-resembles-a-bell-in-order-to-ring-it-must-be-suspended-into/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Whoever considers morality the main objective of human existence, seems to me like a person who defines the purpose of a clock asnot going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/whoever-considers-morality-the-main-objective-of-human-existence/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Those who want to row on the ocean of human knowledge do not get far, and the storm drives those out of their course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/those-who-want-to-row-on-the-ocean-of-human-knowledge-do-not-get-far/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The military and the clergy cause us much annoyance; the clergy and the military, they empty our wallets and rob our intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-military-and-the-clergy-cause-us-much-annoyance-the-clergy-and/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [I'd wish the government took honest people into consideration, it shows enough consideration for scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/i-d-wish-the-government-took-honest-people-into-consideration-it/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Much as I honor the wisdom of the princess--there is something more dashing about a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/much-as-i-honor-the-wisdom-of-the-princess-there-is-something-more/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Only by himself, with one acre and a house, will a dunce be a dunce. Once he manages to gain power, he'll turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/only-by-himself-with-one-acre-and-a-house-will-a-dunce-be-a-dunce/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The old harlot, German philosophy, has finally turnedinto a church lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-old-harlot-german-philosophy-has-finally-turnedinto-a-church-lady/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Is it true that one travels in order to know mankind? It is easier to get to know other people at home, but abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/is-it-true-that-one-travels-in-order-to-know-mankind-it-is-easier-to/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Caution is the daughter of circumspection, but she tends to outgrow her mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/caution-is-the-daughter-of-circumspection-but-she-tends-to-outgrow/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [It is not a matter of desire, but of coercion and duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/it-is-not-a-matter-of-desire-but-of-coercion-and-duty/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) [Explore all 220 Franz Grillparzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) ## More Applause quotes > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/) [Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/) [Oem Software Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oem-software-buy/) [Browse all 556 Applause quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To test a modest man's modesty do not investigate if he ignores applause, find out if he abides criticism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franz Grillparzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-investigate-if-he-ignores/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Applause" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-investigate-if-he-ignores/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/franz-grillparzer-1602_applause_to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-in_466308.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/franz-grillparzer-1602_applause_to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-in_466308.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/franz-grillparzer-1602_applause_to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-in_466308.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To test a modest man's modesty do not investigate if he ignores applause, find out if he abides criticism.” — Franz Grillparzer", "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": "Franz Grillparzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To test a modest man's modesty...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-investigate-if-he-ignores/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/to-test-a-modest-man-s-modesty-do-not-investigate-if-he-ignores/#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 } } ] } ```