--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your criticism may be worse than the…" description: "\"Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are trying to correct.\" — James E. Faust" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/james-e-faust-1274_criticism_your-criticism-may-be-worse-than-the-con_132544.png" --- # Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are… ![“Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are trying to correct.” quote by James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/james-e-faust-1274_criticism_your-criticism-may-be-worse-than-the-con_132544.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/james-e-faust-1274_criticism_your-criticism-may-be-worse-than-the-con_132544.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/james-e-faust-1274_criticism_your-criticism-may-be-worse-than-the-con_132544.png) > “Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are trying to correct.” [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizing others can be more harmful than the behavior being addressed. **In simple terms:** Criticism can be worse than the act. Key Takeaway Avoid harsh judgment; offer constructive guidance. Themes criticism ethics leadership communication self-awareness Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - parenting - public discourse Key Concepts moral philosophy conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - When is criticism constructive? - How to give feedback without harming? A Different Perspective Criticism can damage relationships and credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ## Related quotes > [If the world like it not, so much the worse for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/if-the-world-like-it-not-so-much-the-worse-for-them/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [Say someone cant be sad because someone else may have it worse is just like saying someone cant be happy because someone else might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangfroid-stalker/say-someone-cant-be-sad-because-someone-else-may-have-it-worse-is/) [SangFroid Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangfroid-stalker/) > [Things are never as bad or as good as they seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/things-are-never-as-bad-or-as-good-as-they-seem/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) > [There's nothing worse than poisoning our children's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/there-s-nothing-worse-than-poisoning-our-children-s-minds/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [Normally the ones who think that they're all that, end up one of the worse people on the inside that will ever live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/normally-the-ones-who-think-that-they-re-all-that-end-up-one-of-the/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [“They sound worse than the Goa'uld,” Juanita muttered,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-lionsdrake/they-sound-worse-than-the-goa-uld-juanita-muttered/) [Ruby Lionsdrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-lionsdrake/) > [“Nothing is worse than broken promises.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-amis/nothing-is-worse-than-broken-promises/) [Lily Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-amis/) > [“Smile! Tom orrow will be worse!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/smile-tom-orrow-will-be-worse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Being fed up of someone can be even worse than disliking them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-fed-up-of-someone-can-be-even-worse-than-disliking-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We come to know best what men are, in their worse jeopardizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-daniel/we-come-to-know-best-what-men-are-in-their-worse-jeopardizes/) [Samuel Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-daniel/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [... there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/there-are-far-far-worse-things-in-the-living-world-than-dying/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“This was going to be worse than the time I table danced in the diner in high school!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bryson/this-was-going-to-be-worse-than-the-time-i-table-danced-in-the-diner/) [Kathy Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bryson/) ## More by James E. Faust > [Leadership is about three-fourths show-the-way and about one-fourth follow-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/leadership-is-about-three-fourths-show-the-way-and-about-one-fourth/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [The Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-holy-ghost-is-the-greatest-guarantor-of-inward-peace-in-our/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I hope that each of you girls will become an individual of significant worth and a person of virtue so that your contributions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-hope-that-each-of-you-girls-will-become-an-individual-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/for-women-the-important-ingredients-for-happiness-are-to-forge-an/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/you-want-to-make-your-own-decisions-but-you-ought-to-make-those/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [ Satan had two conditions \[to his plan\]: the first was the denial of agency, and the second, that he would have the honor. In… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/satan-had-two-conditions-to-his-plan-the-first-was-the-denial-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Just as order gave life and beauty to the earth when it was dark and void, so it does to us. Obedience helps us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/just-as-order-gave-life-and-beauty-to-the-earth-when-it-was-dark-and/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Integrity is the value we set on ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/integrity-is-the-value-we-set-on-ourselves/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [You cannot convert people beyond your own conversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/you-cannot-convert-people-beyond-your-own-conversion/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [In order to do well, missionary work has to be totally positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/in-order-to-do-well-missionary-work-has-to-be-totally-positive/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [We were called, male and female, to do great works with separate approaches and separate assignments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/we-were-called-male-and-female-to-do-great-works-with-separate/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [It is not good practice to become intrigued by Satan and his mysteries. No good can come from getting close to evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/it-is-not-good-practice-to-become-intrigued-by-satan-and-his/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [As children of the Lord we should strive every day to rise to a higher level of personal righteousness in all of our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/as-children-of-the-lord-we-should-strive-every-day-to-rise-to-a/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [The saving principles and doctrines of the Church are established, fixed, and unchangeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-saving-principles-and-doctrines-of-the-church-are-established/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) [Explore all 263 James E. Faust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## 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": "Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are trying to correct.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James E. 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