--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I can understand criticism, I take it…" description: "\"If I can understand criticism, I take it very seriously. But it's a process; it doesn't happen overnight.\" — Jerome Boateng" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jerome-boateng-8344_criticism_if-i-can-understand-criticism-i-take-it_1715912.jpg" --- # If I can understand criticism, I take it very seriously… ![“If I can understand criticism, I take it very seriously. But it's a process; it doesn't happen overnight.” quote by Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jerome-boateng-8344_criticism_if-i-can-understand-criticism-i-take-it_1715912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jerome-boateng-8344_criticism_if-i-can-understand-criticism-i-take-it_1715912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/jerome-boateng-8344_criticism_if-i-can-understand-criticism-i-take-it_1715912.jpg) > “If I can understand criticism, I take it very seriously. But it's a process; it doesn't happen overnight.” [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding criticism requires time and seriousness; growth is gradual, not immediate. **In simple terms:** Criticism needs time and seriousness. Key Takeaway Take criticism seriously and allow time for growth. Themes self‑improvement feedback patience Mood analytical encouraging Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career development - skill training - personal relationships Key Concepts Growth mindset critical analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance criticism with self‑confidence? - What steps help you process feedback? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on criticism can hinder confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) ## Related quotes > [It's important to take criticism seriously - not personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-take-criticism-seriously-not-personally/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I don't take praise or criticism seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasprit-bumrah/i-don-t-take-praise-or-criticism-seriously/) [Jasprit Bumrah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasprit-bumrah/) > [We appreciate every rational and every true comment, and we take criticism very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toto-wolff/we-appreciate-every-rational-and-every-true-comment-and-we-take/) [Toto Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toto-wolff/) > [Criticism at the wrong time, even if it's legitimate criticism, can be seriously damaging and make the writer lose faith in what he's doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/criticism-at-the-wrong-time-even-if-it-s-legitimate-criticism-can-be/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“In reply to '@cloppingemo: everyone sees me as a failure and a horrible person and they make sure I know: 'Everyone', doesn't. Trust me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/in-reply-to-cloppingemo-everyone-sees-me-as-a-failure-and-a-horrible/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [I can understand criticism coming from people who have met me, but it is off-putting to hear nasty things about myself from people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-randhawa/i-can-understand-criticism-coming-from-people-who-have-met-me-but-it/) [Guru Randhawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-randhawa/) > [When you are a player, you don't really understand the criticism when you feel like you played pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/when-you-are-a-player-you-don-t-really-understand-the-criticism-when/) [Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/) > [Critics do their job, and I take their criticism seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/critics-do-their-job-and-i-take-their-criticism-seriously/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [It is important to learn how to take criticism seriously, but not personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-is-important-to-learn-how-to-take-criticism-seriously-but-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The curious hocus-pocus of criticism I can't take seriously. It consists in squirreling up some odd phrases and then waiting for a book to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-curious-hocus-pocus-of-criticism-i-can-t-take-seriously-it/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I think the challenge for anyone in a visible industry, whether it's media, government, or political organizing, is to take serious criticism seriously and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/i-think-the-challenge-for-anyone-in-a-visible-industry-whether-it-s/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [In general, the best advice I can give people is to take criticism seriously, apologize for anything you have done wrong, and pull back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/in-general-the-best-advice-i-can-give-people-is-to-take-criticism/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [“learn to take criticism seriously but not personally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/learn-to-take-criticism-seriously-but-not-personally/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/take-criticism-seriously-but-not-personally-if-there-is-truth-or/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [The constructive criticism that I take very seriously is from people I know and respect, and they don't have to be musicians. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/the-constructive-criticism-that-i-take-very-seriously-is-from-people/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) ## More by Jerome Boateng > [Jay-Z is one of the biggest stars in the world and such an icon. He was so down to earth. It was like talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/jay-z-is-one-of-the-biggest-stars-in-the-world-and-such-an-icon-he/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [I'm a fighter - I learned this as a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/i-m-a-fighter-i-learned-this-as-a-child/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [When you have two daughters, you are complete. The whole day changes for you. It's a lot about them, how you act, how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/when-you-have-two-daughters-you-are-complete-the-whole-day-changes/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [For the most part, I don't care who plays at my side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/for-the-most-part-i-don-t-care-who-plays-at-my-side/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [It's really difficult for me to watch when I'm unable to play myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/it-s-really-difficult-for-me-to-watch-when-i-m-unable-to-play-myself/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [The Ballon d'Or is nice, but at the end of the day, I want to have success and play good, and if people recognise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/the-ballon-d-or-is-nice-but-at-the-end-of-the-day-i-want-to-have/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [In Germany, young players are given more time, more patience. In England, they prefer to buy already-high-level players rather than spending some time building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/in-germany-young-players-are-given-more-time-more-patience-in-england/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [Fatherhood has changed my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/fatherhood-has-changed-my-whole-life/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [When we lose the ball, I don't want to win it back directly. I act smarter now, have better anticipation, and also start earlier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/when-we-lose-the-ball-i-don-t-want-to-win-it-back-directly-i-act/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [I can play at full back on either side, but I prefer the central defensive position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/i-can-play-at-full-back-on-either-side-but-i-prefer-the-central/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [It's difficult to leave FC Bayern. Everything has to fall in place to top this club if I do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/it-s-difficult-to-leave-fc-bayern-everything-has-to-fall-in-place-to/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [I play where the coach puts me and try to help the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/i-play-where-the-coach-puts-me-and-try-to-help-the-team/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [You need bad times to become a better and strong player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/you-need-bad-times-to-become-a-better-and-strong-player/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [Bayern is the biggest team in Germany, one of the biggest teams in Europe. Every year, world class players come along, so it's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/bayern-is-the-biggest-team-in-germany-one-of-the-biggest-teams-in/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) > [As a child, I played on the road against bigger players. Due to my technical skills, I've always got by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-boateng/as-a-child-i-played-on-the-road-against-bigger-players-due-to-my/) [Jerome Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) [Explore all 81 Jerome Boateng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-boateng/) ## 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": "If I can understand criticism, I take it very seriously. 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