--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth…" description: "\"Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem.\" — H. Burke Peterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/h-burke-peterson-29302_criticism_criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-a_1201494.png" --- # Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem. ![“Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem.” quote by H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/h-burke-peterson-29302_criticism_criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-a_1201494.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/h-burke-peterson-29302_criticism_criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-a_1201494.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/h-burke-peterson-29302_criticism_criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-a_1201494.png) > “Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem.” [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism can damage self‑esteem and personal value. **In simple terms:** Criticism harms self‑worth. Key Takeaway Build resilience against negative feedback. Themes self‑esteem criticism psychological health Mood cautious reflective Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - workplace feedback - social media - personal relationships Key Concepts self‑compassion confidence building Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate constructive from destructive criticism? - What strategies protect self‑worth? A Different Perspective Constructive criticism can be beneficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Destroyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyers/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Self worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-worth/) ## Related quotes > [Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem. It is heartbreaking how criticism can wound children and diminish their self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-and-esteem-it-is-heartbreaking/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [If all of your self worth and esteem is invested in how much you consume, how many likes you get, or other quantifiable measures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-harvey/if-all-of-your-self-worth-and-esteem-is-invested-in-how-much-you/) [Larry Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-harvey/) > [“Ladies, get confident about yourselves, build up your self-worth and esteem, love yourself and be proud of your achievements and your man will adore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/ladies-get-confident-about-yourselves-build-up-your-self-worth-and/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“Ladies, get confident bout yourselves, build up your self-worth and esteem, love yourself and be proud of your achievements and your man will adore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/ladies-get-confident-bout-yourselves-build-up-your-self-worth-and/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [Never let the opinion of another affect your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/never-let-the-opinion-of-another-affect-your-opinion-of-yourself/) [Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/) > [I work out all the time. Cardio, resistance and a lot of jogging. I love to go hiking. I'm going to invest this in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-work-out-all-the-time-cardio-resistance-and-a-lot-of-jogging-i-love/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [You don't need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/you-don-t-need-to-be-accepted-by-others-you-need-to-accept-yourself/) [Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/) > [You are wonderful. Valuable. Worthwhile. Lovable. Not because others think so. Self worth comes from only one place: self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-salmansohn/you-are-wonderful-valuable-worthwhile-lovable-not-because-others/) [Karen Salmansohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-salmansohn/) > [It is confidence in our bodies, minds and spirits that allows us to keep looking for new adventures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/it-is-confidence-in-our-bodies-minds-and-spirits-that-allows-us-to/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Self-esteem is that deep-down inside the skin feeling you have of your own self-worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-esteem-is-that-deep-down-inside-the-skin-feeling-you-have-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The self-esteem of western women is founded on physical being (body mass index, youth, beauty). This creates a tricky emphasis on image, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonella-gambotto-burke/the-self-esteem-of-western-women-is-founded-on-physical-being-body/) [Antonella Gambotto-Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonella-gambotto-burke/) > [If you don't believe inside yourself that you can learn a lot, nobody's ever going to do that for you. Nobody's ever gonna give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-ali/if-you-don-t-believe-inside-yourself-that-you-can-learn-a-lot-nobody/) [Brother Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-ali/) > [“Self-esteem is the way you regard yourself as either being worth your mother’s while to care for you, protect you and keep you safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-solomons/self-esteem-is-the-way-you-regard-yourself-as-either-being-worth-your/) Kevin Solomons > [Self perception makes you the person of self worth. If you have conviction and courage you can achieve anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-kumar-sinha/self-perception-makes-you-the-person-of-self-worth-if-you-have/) [Anil Kumar Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-kumar-sinha/) > [“Real self-worth comes from mastery, from getting good at something. It doesn't matter what. Then you don't have to worry about empty compliments. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-borris/real-self-worth-comes-from-mastery-from-getting-good-at-something-it/) [Albert Borris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-borris/) ## More by H. Burke Peterson > [“Listening is an essential part of praying. Answers from the Lord come quietly—ever so quietly. In fact, few hear his answers audibly with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/listening-is-an-essential-part-of-praying-answers-from-the-lord-come/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [Perhaps a supreme form of charity may be exhibited by one who withholds judgment of another's acts or conduct, remembering that there is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/perhaps-a-supreme-form-of-charity-may-be-exhibited-by-one-who/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [Let us remember: trials are an evidence of a Father's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/let-us-remember-trials-are-an-evidence-of-a-father-s-love/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [Impossible mountains are climbed by those who have the self confidence that comes from truly being loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/impossible-mountains-are-climbed-by-those-who-have-the-self/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [My dear friends you are a royal generation. You were preserved to come to the earth in this time for a special purpose. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/my-dear-friends-you-are-a-royal-generation-you-were-preserved-to-come/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [Listening is an essential part of praying. Answers from the Lord come quietly-every so quietly. In fact, few hear his answers audibly with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/listening-is-an-essential-part-of-praying-answers-from-the-lord-come-2/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [“The Man of Power is one who presides— By persuasion. He uses no demeaning words or behavior, does not manipulate others, appeals to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/the-man-of-power-is-one-who-presides-by-persuasion-he-uses-no/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [We have been told mankind will be judged on the intent of the heart. No mortal can see into the depth of another. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/we-have-been-told-mankind-will-be-judged-on-the-intent-of-the-heart/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [Praying is the most important thing you will do on any day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/praying-is-the-most-important-thing-you-will-do-on-any-day/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [You learn to do by doing. You learn to be by being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/you-learn-to-do-by-doing-you-learn-to-be-by-being/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [Too often, charity is extended to another when his actions or conduct are acceptable to us. The exhibition of charity to another must not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/too-often-charity-is-extended-to-another-when-his-actions-or-conduct/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [The dictionary describes a selfish person as one who is 'concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking pleasure or well-being without regard for others.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/the-dictionary-describes-a-selfish-person-as-one-who-is-concerned/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [If our words are not consistent with our actions, they will never be heard above the thunder of our deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/if-our-words-are-not-consistent-with-our-actions-they-will-never-be/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [It may be relatively mild when expressed as criticism, anger, or feelings of severe frustration. Criticism has a negative influence on the feelings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/it-may-be-relatively-mild-when-expressed-as-criticism-anger-or/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem. It is heartbreaking how criticism can wound children and diminish their self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-and-esteem-it-is-heartbreaking/) [H. Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) [Explore all 18 H. Burke Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) ## More Criticism quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [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/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [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/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) [Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "H. Burke Peterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-and-esteem/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-and-esteem/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/h-burke-peterson-29302_criticism_criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-a_1201494.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/h-burke-peterson-29302_criticism_criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-a_1201494.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/h-burke-peterson-29302_criticism_criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-a_1201494.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth and esteem.” — H. Burke Peterson", "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": "H. Burke Peterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Criticism is a destroyer of self-worth...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-and-esteem/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-burke-peterson/criticism-is-a-destroyer-of-self-worth-and-esteem/#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 } } ] } ```