--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Criticize the act, not the person." description: "\"Criticize the act, not the person.\" — Mary Kay Ash" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/mary-kay-ash-3346_criticize_criticize-the-act-not-the-person-1052921_1052921.jpg" --- # Criticize the act, not the person. ![“Criticize the act, not the person.” quote by Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/mary-kay-ash-3346_criticize_criticize-the-act-not-the-person-1052921_1052921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/mary-kay-ash-3346_criticize_criticize-the-act-not-the-person-1052921_1052921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/mary-kay-ash-3346_criticize_criticize-the-act-not-the-person-1052921_1052921.jpg) > “Criticize the act, not the person.” [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticize the action, not the individual, to address issues without personal attacks. **In simple terms:** Focus on the deed, not the person. Key Takeaway Separate behavior from identity. Themes feedback respect conflict resolution Mood professional constructive Type advice principle When to use this quote - workplace disputes - customer service - team dynamics Key Concepts nonviolent communication ethical criticism Questions to Reflect On - How can you frame feedback constructively? - What strategies prevent personal offense? A Different Perspective People may resist criticism if they feel attacked personally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ## Related quotes > [The way I change my life is to act as if I am the person I really want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-way-i-change-my-life-is-to-act-as-if-i-am-the-person-i-really/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [I'm the same as I am on the field as I am off the field. It's not an act. I can't be another person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/i-m-the-same-as-i-am-on-the-field-as-i-am-off-the-field-it-s-not-an/) [Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/) > [“You have a responsibility to act for others when you're the only person in a position to do so. It's how you handle it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbert-rideau/you-have-a-responsibility-to-act-for-others-when-you-re-the-only/) [Wilbert Rideau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbert-rideau/) > [Act as if you are the person you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/act-as-if-you-are-the-person-you-want-to-be/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Never lose yourself on the stage. Always act in your own person, as an artist. The moment you lose yourself on the stage marks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-stanislavski/never-lose-yourself-on-the-stage-always-act-in-your-own-person-as-an/) [Constantin Stanislavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-stanislavski/) > [Somebody once said that you can never act and be another person; you're only acting facets of yourself. I think there's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/somebody-once-said-that-you-can-never-act-and-be-another-person-you/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [“See. My one act. I might be a person. Beneath the.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eimear-mcbride/see-my-one-act-i-might-be-a-person-beneath-the/) [Eimear McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eimear-mcbride/) > [Act as if you were already the person you want most to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/act-as-if-you-were-already-the-person-you-want-most-to-be/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [One of the best ways to change is to act as if you are the person you want to become. When you behave as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/one-of-the-best-ways-to-change-is-to-act-as-if-you-are-the-person-you/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [It takes strong ears indeed to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure criticism without being stung by it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-takes-strong-ears-indeed-to-hear-ourselves-judged-frankly-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are those who criticize everything. There are those who appreciate everything because no matter what, they are able to recognize the blessings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/there-are-those-who-criticize-everything-there-are-those-who/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [The success of the Inklings also helps us to see criticism in a positive light. There are, unfortunately, people who boost their own sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/the-success-of-the-inklings-also-helps-us-to-see-criticism-in-a/) [Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Mary Kay Ash > [Sometimes listening itself may not be enough-some people must be prodded if you are to find out what they're thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/sometimes-listening-itself-may-not-be-enough-some-people-must-be/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [I put a lot of emphasis on how to treat people. The reason for this is simple. The real success of our personal lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/i-put-a-lot-of-emphasis-on-how-to-treat-people-the-reason-for-this-is/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [God does not ask your ability Or your inability. He asks only your availability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/god-does-not-ask-your-ability-or-your-inability-he-asks-only-your/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [My priorities have always been God first, family second, career third. I have found that when I put my life in this order, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/my-priorities-have-always-been-god-first-family-second-career-third-i/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/if-you-think-you-can-you-can-and-if-you-think-you-can-t-you-re-right/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [Many women have made the mistake of changing their beliefs to accommodate their work; it must be the other way around. No circumstance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/many-women-have-made-the-mistake-of-changing-their-beliefs-to/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [I've often said that we are doing something far more important than just selling cosmetics; we are changing lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/i-ve-often-said-that-we-are-doing-something-far-more-important-than/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don't keep it a secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/everyone-wants-to-be-appreciated-so-if-you-appreciate-someone-don-t/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/honesty-is-the-cornerstone-of-all-success-without-which-confidence/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [Individuals sometimes feel insignificant and doubt that one person can really make a difference in this world. Well, believe me, one person can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/individuals-sometimes-feel-insignificant-and-doubt-that-one-person/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [What's interesting about subscribing to a life of giving is that you become addicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/what-s-interesting-about-subscribing-to-a-life-of-giving-is-that-you/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [God first, family second, career third](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/god-first-family-second-career-third/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [While clothes may not make the woman, they certainly have a strong effect on her self-confidence, which, I believe, does make the woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/while-clothes-may-not-make-the-woman-they-certainly-have-a-strong/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [I have learned to imagine an invisible sign around each person’s neck that says ‘Make me feel important,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/i-have-learned-to-imagine-an-invisible-sign-around-each-person-s-neck/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [God didn't have time to make a nobody, only a somebody.I believe that each of us has God-given talents within us waiting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/god-didn-t-have-time-to-make-a-nobody-only-a-somebody-i-believe-that/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) [Explore all 133 Mary Kay Ash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) ## 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": "Criticize the act, not the person.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Kay Ash" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/criticize-the-act-not-the-person/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/criticize-the-act-not-the-person/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/mary-kay-ash-3346_criticize_criticize-the-act-not-the-person-1052921_1052921.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/mary-kay-ash-3346_criticize_criticize-the-act-not-the-person-1052921_1052921.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/mary-kay-ash-3346_criticize_criticize-the-act-not-the-person-1052921_1052921.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Criticize the act, not the person.” — Mary Kay Ash", "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": "Mary Kay Ash", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Criticize the act, not the person.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/criticize-the-act-not-the-person/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/criticize-the-act-not-the-person/#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 } } ] } ```