--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People say you should read your criticism…" description: "\"People say you should read your criticism because it will make you a better person but it doesn't. It just makes you a sad bitter old showbiz nightmare..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/jo-brand-1915_better-person_people-say-you-should-read-your-criticis_2078714.png" --- # People say you should read your criticism because it will… ![“People say you should read your criticism because it will make you a better person but it doesn't. It just makes you a sad bitter old showbiz nightmare.” quote by Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/jo-brand-1915_better-person_people-say-you-should-read-your-criticis_2078714.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/jo-brand-1915_better-person_people-say-you-should-read-your-criticis_2078714.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/jo-brand-1915_better-person_people-say-you-should-read-your-criticis_2078714.png) > “People say you should read your criticism because it will make you a better person but it doesn't. It just makes you a sad bitter old showbiz nightmare.” [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism often harms rather than helps personal development, leading to resentment rather than growth. **In simple terms:** Reading criticism can make you bitter. Key Takeaway Avoid letting criticism dictate self‑worth. Themes criticism self‑esteem growth humor Mood candid reflective Type humorous critical When to use this quote - career feedback - online reviews - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology media communication Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate useful feedback? - What strategies prevent bitterness? A Different Perspective Some criticism can be constructive if filtered. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) [Bitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-make-1404607/) [Makes Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-sad-244225/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Read Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-criticism-1849214/) [Sad Bitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-bitter-1027967/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Showbiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showbiz/) [Showbiz Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showbiz-nightmare-4048207/) ## Related quotes > [Never did anybody look so sad. Bitter and black, halfway down, in the darkness, in the shaft which ran from the sunlight to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/never-did-anybody-look-so-sad-bitter-and-black-halfway-down-in-the/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [I leave a sad and bitter world; and if you remember me, and think of me as of one unjustly condemned, I am resigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-leave-a-sad-and-bitter-world-and-if-you-remember-me-and-think-of-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's too short,' she said, 'ever so much too short.' Never did anybody look so sad. Bitter and black, half-way down, in the darkness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/it-s-too-short-she-said-ever-so-much-too-short-never-did-anybody-look/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [It's better to be sad with the bitter facts rather than being happy with sweet lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-better-to-be-sad-with-the-bitter-facts-rather-than-being-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The purpose of a writer is to be read, and the criticism which would destroy the power of pleasing must be blown aside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-purpose-of-a-writer-is-to-be-read-and-the-criticism-which-would/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It's hard not to let criticism make you feel bad about yourself - I do continue to struggle with that as an older woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/it-s-hard-not-to-let-criticism-make-you-feel-bad-about-yourself-i-do/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [I will take every constructive criticism, make it my own, learn from my mistake, and go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/i-will-take-every-constructive-criticism-make-it-my-own-learn-from-my/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [People who are very confident in themselves aren't hurt by criticism. They make use of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/people-who-are-very-confident-in-themselves-aren-t-hurt-by-criticism/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I need a little criticism while I make a record so that I kind of feel like: okay, I know that I'm doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/i-need-a-little-criticism-while-i-make-a-record-so-that-i-kind-of/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [The effect, if not the prime office, of criticism is to make our absorption and our enjoyment of the things that feed the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/the-effect-if-not-the-prime-office-of-criticism-is-to-make-our/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [I personally read criticism - at least by writers I enjoy - to stimulate a conversation in my own mind, and I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-brantley/i-personally-read-criticism-at-least-by-writers-i-enjoy-to-stimulate/) [Ben Brantley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-brantley/) > [There's always loose points that people bring up, which is great, and I think that's why you read criticism is because you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-russo/there-s-always-loose-points-that-people-bring-up-which-is-great-and-i/) [Joe Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-russo/) > [Critics can be your most important friend. I don't read criticism of my stuff only because when it's bad, it's rough-and when it's good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/critics-can-be-your-most-important-friend-i-don-t-read-criticism-of/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [Those who do not read criticism will rarely merit to be criticised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-d-israeli/those-who-do-not-read-criticism-will-rarely-merit-to-be-criticised/) [Isaac D'Israeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-d-israeli/) > [A critique does not consist in saying that things aren't good the way they are. It consists in seeing on just what type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/a-critique-does-not-consist-in-saying-that-things-aren-t-good-the-way/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) ## More by Jo Brand > [Regular panelists on shows can be terrifying. They own that space, and many guest comics suspect they are favoured in the edit, while their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/regular-panelists-on-shows-can-be-terrifying-they-own-that-space-and/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [I suspect most politicians feel overwhelmed because people's lives are a real struggle, full of unhappiness, and you would probably feel powerless to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-suspect-most-politicians-feel-overwhelmed-because-people-s-lives/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [When I was at school you got an overall general education on many things, even just basic facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/when-i-was-at-school-you-got-an-overall-general-education-on-many/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [The funny thing is, I don't actually think of myself as fat at all. I don't think I am. Not really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/the-funny-thing-is-i-don-t-actually-think-of-myself-as-fat-at-all-i/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [What could be funnier than a fat person trying to run a marathon?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/what-could-be-funnier-than-a-fat-person-trying-to-run-a-marathon/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [I like men. They are hugely entertaining, but they have a lot of shortcomings and you just have to bear those in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-like-men-they-are-hugely-entertaining-but-they-have-a-lot-of/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [Does anyone really go into nursing intending to be apathetic, cold and removed from suffering? I find that very difficult to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/does-anyone-really-go-into-nursing-intending-to-be-apathetic-cold-and/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [I have such admiration for single mothers. I simply don't comprehend how you'd cope with that intensity, the lack of breaks, ever, on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-have-such-admiration-for-single-mothers-i-simply-don-t-comprehend/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [The reason I used a name was because I was a nurse at the time, and I didn't want my name in Timeout and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/the-reason-i-used-a-name-was-because-i-was-a-nurse-at-the-time-and-i/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [You look across the board at comedy quiz shows, and they are mainly hosted by men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/you-look-across-the-board-at-comedy-quiz-shows-and-they-are-mainly/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [My mum is bright, ambitious, well read, political and very bolshie: when my dad was conscripted into the Army and posted to Libya, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/my-mum-is-bright-ambitious-well-read-political-and-very-bolshie-when/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [I know there are certain men that hate women or don't like women, and in order to make women feel small, they tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-know-there-are-certain-men-that-hate-women-or-don-t-like-women-and/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [Not many women will go out on a limb to make themselves really unattractive and unfeminine so you can get the laughs, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/not-many-women-will-go-out-on-a-limb-to-make-themselves-really/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [When I was a nurse my favourite assignment was the anorexic ward. I sometimes ate as many as seventeen dinners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/when-i-was-a-nurse-my-favourite-assignment-was-the-anorexic-ward-i/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [There are lots of people who believe that caricature of me the tabloids created, so they think they don't like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/there-are-lots-of-people-who-believe-that-caricature-of-me-the/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) [Explore all 198 Jo Brand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) ## More Better person quotes > [“Claiming to be offended is a great way to elevate yourself at the expense of others: “Look at me! I'm a much better person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/claiming-to-be-offended-is-a-great-way-to-elevate-yourself-at-the/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt and for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/go-afield-with-a-good-attitude-with-respect-for-the-wildlife-you-hunt/) [Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [A real good artist learns to be a better person through all the changes they've been through. They keep their loving and honesty growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/a-real-good-artist-learns-to-be-a-better-person-through-all-the/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I wasn't paid a dime for my track career. But participating in the Olympics gave me the opportunity to learn about different cultures; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyomia-tyus/i-wasn-t-paid-a-dime-for-my-track-career-but-participating-in-the/) [Wyomia Tyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyomia-tyus/) > [I'm a better person when I'm preparing for a role, when I'm studying a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-a-better-person-when-i-m-preparing-for-a-role-when-i-m-studying-a/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I found myself thinking a lot about my own spirituality. What it means to be Jewish, what it means to forgive, what it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tod-goldberg/i-found-myself-thinking-a-lot-about-my-own-spirituality-what-it-means/) [Tod Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tod-goldberg/) > [I found the emotion that as an athlete you block out, and it really helped me to understand myself as a person. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-found-the-emotion-that-as-an-athlete-you-block-out-and-it-really/) [Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/) > [I always try to see my weakness, work on it, to be better as a person and a player, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-salah/i-always-try-to-see-my-weakness-work-on-it-to-be-better-as-a-person/) [Mohamed Salah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-salah/) > [Life is like a circle it has no end point and every turn is a challenge did you notice it a circle has every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-is-like-a-circle-it-has-no-end-point-and-every-turn-is-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I started running ultras to become a better person,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-shelton/i-started-running-ultras-to-become-a-better-person/) [Jenn Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-shelton/) > [If you live with a single parent, you don't see compromise. You witness a grown person living in a world where they do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/if-you-live-with-a-single-parent-you-don-t-see-compromise-you-witness/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Sometimes you have to steer away from the crowd in order to be a better person. It's not always easy, that's for sure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/sometimes-you-have-to-steer-away-from-the-crowd-in-order-to-be-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/nobody-ever-feels-100-ready-when-an-opportunity-arises-because-most/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) [Browse all 980 Better person quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People say you should read your criticism because it will make you a better person but it doesn't. It just makes you a sad bitter old showbiz nightmare.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jo Brand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/people-say-you-should-read-your-criticism-because-it-will-make-you-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better person" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/people-say-you-should-read-your-criticism-because-it-will-make-you-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/jo-brand-1915_better-person_people-say-you-should-read-your-criticis_2078714.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/jo-brand-1915_better-person_people-say-you-should-read-your-criticis_2078714.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/838/jo-brand-1915_better-person_people-say-you-should-read-your-criticis_2078714.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People say you should read your criticism because it will make you a better person but it doesn't. It just…” — Jo Brand", "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": "Jo Brand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People say you should read your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/people-say-you-should-read-your-criticism-because-it-will-make-you-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/people-say-you-should-read-your-criticism-because-it-will-make-you-a/#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 } } ] } ```