--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Publicly criticizing people, even when I…" description: "\"Publicly criticizing people, even when I don't have the facts, is not that good of an idea.\" — Keith Ellison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/keith-ellison-4072_criticize_publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i_2995576.png" --- # Publicly criticizing people, even when I don't have the… ![“Publicly criticizing people, even when I don't have the facts, is not that good of an idea.” quote by Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/keith-ellison-4072_criticize_publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i_2995576.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/keith-ellison-4072_criticize_publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i_2995576.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/keith-ellison-4072_criticize_publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i_2995576.png) > “Publicly criticizing people, even when I don't have the facts, is not that good of an idea.” [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) ## 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 without facts is harmful, eroding trust and spreading misinformation. **In simple terms:** Calling out people without evidence is bad. Key Takeaway Speak only when informed. Themes communication integrity responsibility Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical practical When to use this quote - social media debates - workplace feedback - public statements - online forums - political discourse Key Concepts critical thinking ethical discourse Questions to Reflect On - When is it okay to voice concerns without full data? - How can you verify facts before speaking? A Different Perspective Sometimes speaking up is necessary despite uncertainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Bad Religion has never been about criticizing people who are Christian. But we've always been about pointing out the irony and contradictions in Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/bad-religion-has-never-been-about-criticizing-people-who-are/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [If you live criticizing people, you won't have time to love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/if-you-live-criticizing-people-you-won-t-have-time-to-love-them/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“There are those who see film and take it seriously as an artistic medium, and others who go to have a good time, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/there-are-those-who-see-film-and-take-it-seriously-as-an-artistic/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Don't be too severe in criticizing people's faults; consider how much they can bear. Don't be too lofty in enjoining virtue, so people may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/don-t-be-too-severe-in-criticizing-people-s-faults-consider-how-much/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [“If you find yourself criticizing other people, you're probably doing it out of Resistance. When we see others beginning to live their authentic selves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/if-you-find-yourself-criticizing-other-people-you-re-probably-doing/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [I'm not tough when it comes to people criticizing the people that I protect, and those are the actors. It makes them scared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-daniels/i-m-not-tough-when-it-comes-to-people-criticizing-the-people-that-i/) [Lee Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-daniels/) > [We on the Left are very good at criticizing people, but we need to build the base to pull people to the Left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/we-on-the-left-are-very-good-at-criticizing-people-but-we-need-to/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [“If you spend time judging and criticizing people, you will not have time to heal from your pain or brokenness. You cannot love yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-sogunle/if-you-spend-time-judging-and-criticizing-people-you-will-not-have/) [Kemi Sogunle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-sogunle/) > [“If you find yourself criticizing other people, your probably doing it out of Resistance. When we see others beginning to live their authentic selves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-find-yourself-criticizing-other-people-your-probably-doing-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Four things will shame the students of knowledge: Criticizing people, praising themselves, not teaching the knowledge,and not practicing what they know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luqman/four-things-will-shame-the-students-of-knowledge-criticizing-people/) [Luqman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luqman/) > [I want to avoid sounding like I'm criticizing because I don't have all the facts in front of me yet. And I am trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-want-to-avoid-sounding-like-i-m-criticizing-because-i-don-t-have/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I admit that when the facts are not good enough, I always exaggerate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/i-admit-that-when-the-facts-are-not-good-enough-i-always-exaggerate/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [So sometimes the facts are good and sometimes the facts are bad, the important thing from the point of view of a principle as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-abrams/so-sometimes-the-facts-are-good-and-sometimes-the-facts-are-bad-the/) [Floyd Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-abrams/) > [“Lima. Facts are good to know - Stories live on forever. Getting the facts is one thing but most important aspect is to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-suhardono/lima-facts-are-good-to-know-stories-live-on-forever-getting-the-facts/) Rene Suhardono > [ \[The scientist\] believes passionately in facts, in measured facts. He believes there are no bad facts, that all facts are good facts, though they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-watson-watt/the-scientist-believes-passionately-in-facts-in-measured-facts-he/) [Robert Watson-Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-watson-watt/) ## More by Keith Ellison > [If you put everything, your heart and soul into a campaign, it might take you a while to come around to the realization that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/if-you-put-everything-your-heart-and-soul-into-a-campaign-it-might/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I think that you need all perspectives to reflect the needs of the country. If you only give people one perspective, inputting their views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-think-that-you-need-all-perspectives-to-reflect-the-needs-of-the/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I've been winning with 70 percent of the vote, and if you look at my district, you know it's a majority Christian district, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-ve-been-winning-with-70-percent-of-the-vote-and-if-you-look-at-my/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [If you ignore somebody's record and only focus on something that happened 25 years ago when all they were doing even then was trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/if-you-ignore-somebody-s-record-and-only-focus-on-something-that/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [When you're a leader, you cannot ignore parts of your constituency, even if you know they're not going to vote for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/when-you-re-a-leader-you-cannot-ignore-parts-of-your-constituency/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [We need a strong farm bill that gives assistance to farmers during times of drought, creates markets for local goods, protects our environment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/we-need-a-strong-farm-bill-that-gives-assistance-to-farmers-during/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [Donald Trump was tainted every kind of way you could imagine. I mean, no way in the world that Donald Trump is a champion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/donald-trump-was-tainted-every-kind-of-way-you-could-imagine-i-mean/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [The middle class should not continue to foot the bill for tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/the-middle-class-should-not-continue-to-foot-the-bill-for-tax-breaks/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I think that Donald Trump picked on people's fears, their anxieties and he gave them somebody to blame, and some folks just really turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-think-that-donald-trump-picked-on-people-s-fears-their-anxieties/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I've been talking to people all over the country, city council members, grassroots leaders, party leaders, members in Congress - and you know what?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-ve-been-talking-to-people-all-over-the-country-city-council-members/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I love the donors and we thank them, but it has to be that the guys in the barber shop, the lady at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-love-the-donors-and-we-thank-them-but-it-has-to-be-that-the-guys-in/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I'm particularly good at turnout. So in my district, I had the lowest voter turnout in 2006. And now I have the highest turnout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-m-particularly-good-at-turnout-so-in-my-district-i-had-the-lowest/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I want to avoid sounding like I'm criticizing because I don't have all the facts in front of me yet. And I am trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-want-to-avoid-sounding-like-i-m-criticizing-because-i-don-t-have/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [ “\[Martin Luther King\] said that little black boys and little black girls would be able to join hands with little white boys and little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/martin-luther-king-said-that-little-black-boys-and-little-black-girls/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [“America operates under the notion of equality before the law. Basic fairness is an article of faith. We may not agree on everything all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/america-operates-under-the-notion-of-equality-before-the-law-basic/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) [Explore all 116 Keith Ellison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) ## More Criticize quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [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/) > [Those who lack the confidence and esteem to make the decisions that they need to make for themselves, are usually the same ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-lack-the-confidence-and-esteem-to-make-the-decisions-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginningmay feel betrayed and criticize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/we-are-all-too-keenly-aware-that-those-of-you-who-supported-us-by/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [Woody Allen is a genius. His films are wonderful. He's poetic, but he's also a critic. He artfully steps back from a social setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/woody-allen-is-a-genius-his-films-are-wonderful-he-s-poetic-but-he-s/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [When I first prepared this particular talk... I realized that my usual approach is usually critical. That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) Browse all 1,182 Criticize quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Publicly criticizing people, even when I don't have the facts, is not that good of an idea.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keith Ellison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i-don-t-have-the-facts-is-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticize" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i-don-t-have-the-facts-is-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/keith-ellison-4072_criticize_publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i_2995576.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/keith-ellison-4072_criticize_publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i_2995576.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/keith-ellison-4072_criticize_publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i_2995576.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Publicly criticizing people, even when I don't have the facts, is not that good of an idea.” — Keith Ellison", "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": "Keith Ellison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Publicly criticizing people, even when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i-don-t-have-the-facts-is-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/publicly-criticizing-people-even-when-i-don-t-have-the-facts-is-not/#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 } } ] } ```