---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reprove your friend in secret and praise…"
description: "\"Reprove your friend in secret and praise him openly.\" — Leonardo da Vinci"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/leonardo-da-vinci-330_aries_reprove-your-friend-in-secret-and-praise_1535219.jpg"
---

#  Reprove your friend in secret and praise him openly.

![“Reprove your friend in secret and praise him openly.” quote by Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/leonardo-da-vinci-330_aries_reprove-your-friend-in-secret-and-praise_1535219.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/leonardo-da-vinci-330_aries_reprove-your-friend-in-secret-and-praise_1535219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/879/leonardo-da-vinci-330_aries_reprove-your-friend-in-secret-and-praise_1535219.jpg)

> “Reprove your friend in secret and praise him openly.”

[Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Criticize a friend's mistakes privately but acknowledge their virtues publicly, balancing honesty with respect.

**In simple terms:** Private correction, public praise.

Key Takeaway

Offer constructive feedback discreetly.

Themes

ethics communication humility

Mood

thoughtful balanced

Type

advice ethical

When to use this quote

- workplace
- friendships
- team leadership

Key Concepts

conflict resolution social grace

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it appropriate to give public praise?
- How can private criticism be delivered kindly?

A Different Perspective

Public praise may seem insincere if not genuine.

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## Related quotes

> [“Reprove your friend in secret and praise him in public.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/reprove-your-friend-in-secret-and-praise-him-in-public/)

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> [Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/think-twice-before-burdening-a-friend-with-a-secret/)

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> [You know you are a lucky girl when your boyfriend, best friend, secret keeper, memory maker, your whole world, & your favorite thing are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-know-you-are-a-lucky-girl-when-your-boyfriend-best-friend-secret/)

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> [When you kill somebody a good friend would keep it a secret. But your best friend would help you kill the person the help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-marie/when-you-kill-somebody-a-good-friend-would-keep-it-a-secret-but-your/)

Ally Marie

> [If you tell a friend a secret, she will keep the secret by telling only one other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-birnbach/if-you-tell-a-friend-a-secret-she-will-keep-the-secret-by-telling/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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## More by Leonardo da Vinci

> [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/)

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[Leonardo Da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

> [An arch consists of two weaknesses which, leaning one against the other, make a strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/an-arch-consists-of-two-weaknesses-which-leaning-one-against-the/)

[Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

> [But to me all sciences seem vain and full of error that are not born of experience, mother of all certainty, and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/but-to-me-all-sciences-seem-vain-and-full-of-error-that-are-not-born/)

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## More Aries quotes

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