--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a grave error for any leader to be…" description: "\"It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism\" — Nelson Mandela" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/nelson-mandela-248_criticism_it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be_184631.jpg" --- # It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in… ![“It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism” quote by Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/nelson-mandela-248_criticism_it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be_184631.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/nelson-mandela-248_criticism_it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be_184631.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/nelson-mandela-248_criticism_it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be_184631.jpg) > “It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism” [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders must tolerate criticism rather than react overly sensitively, as openness fosters growth and trust. **In simple terms:** Leaders should accept criticism without being too sensitive. Key Takeaway Embrace feedback to improve leadership. Themes leadership criticism growth Mood reflective determined Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate management - team leadership - public speaking - media relations Key Concepts emotional intelligence resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance humility with confidence? - What practices help manage emotional reactions to critique? A Different Perspective Over‑sensitivity can paralyze decision‑making and erode credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Oversensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oversensitive/) ## Related quotes > [It is also the fate of leadership to be misunderstood. It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-also-the-fate-of-leadership-to-be-misunderstood-it-is-a-grave/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [What aren't the pressures of being an actress? Don't get me wrong, I love my job. It has been my one and only dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyra-dastur/what-aren-t-the-pressures-of-being-an-actress-don-t-get-me-wrong-i/) [Amyra Dastur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyra-dastur/) > [“Step Away from the Mean Girls… …and say bye-bye to feeling bad about your looks. Are you ready to stop colluding with a culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/step-away-from-the-mean-girls-and-say-bye-bye-to-feeling-bad-about/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We will all face criticism throughout our lives, no matter where we live and what we weigh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-burke/we-will-all-face-criticism-throughout-our-lives-no-matter-where-we/) [Cheryl Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-burke/) > [Find out who you are & embrace it. It's so much easier to face criticism when you are comfortable in your own skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-adams/find-out-who-you-are-embrace-it-it-s-so-much-easier-to-face-criticism/) [Amy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-adams/) > [The next time you look into the mirror, try to let go of the storyline that says you're too fat or too sallow, too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-next-time-you-look-into-the-mirror-try-to-let-go-of-the-storyline/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It is tough to run for public office and face an opponent, to decide on issues what is the best thing, then face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/it-is-tough-to-run-for-public-office-and-face-an-opponent-to-decide/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [Becoming critical in the face of criticism, only inspires more criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/becoming-critical-in-the-face-of-criticism-only-inspires-more/) [Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/) > [I had worked on the markets with my father before going to university, so I possessed an apparent street-smartness, had access to a colourful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/i-had-worked-on-the-markets-with-my-father-before-going-to-university/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [I felt accidents make a person strong but realized they make a person oversensitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukulika-mahajan/i-felt-accidents-make-a-person-strong-but-realized-they-make-a-person/) Mukulika Mahajan > [“Perhaps you’re being oversensitive and a bit overdramatic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/perhaps-you-re-being-oversensitive-and-a-bit-overdramatic/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [Who knows what oversensitive is, considering all there is to be sensitive to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-maxwell/who-knows-what-oversensitive-is-considering-all-there-is-to-be/) [William Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-maxwell/) > [The best Defense against being oversensitive is having great sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnreyes/the-best-defense-against-being-oversensitive-is-having-great-sense-of/) [JOHNREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnreyes/) > [“I am both numb and oversensitive, overwhelmed by the need, the raw and desperate need of the girls I am listening to and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lloyd/i-am-both-numb-and-oversensitive-overwhelmed-by-the-need-the-raw-and/) [Rachel Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lloyd/) > [Comedians are ridiculously oversensitive, so, especially with the Internet, you feel everything, like a spider on a web going, 'Oh God, I'm getting stomped'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/comedians-are-ridiculously-oversensitive-so-especially-with-the/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) ## More by Nelson Mandela > [We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-must-work-together-to-ensure-the-equitable-distribution-of-wealth/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [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/) > [Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/courageous-people-do-not-fear-forgiving-for-the-sake-of-peace/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [As a leader... I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-a-leader-i-have-always-endeavored-to-listen-to-what-each-and-every/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Some of the mission groups that have been responsible for our education have not been part of the government. In fact, they acted contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/some-of-the-mission-groups-that-have-been-responsible-for-our/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“I believed that I would become a counsellor to the Thembu king,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-believed-that-i-would-become-a-counsellor-to-the-thembu-king/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [What he means by this is that instead of saying you'll "try", you need to "do". And as we let our light shine, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/what-he-means-by-this-is-that-instead-of-saying-you-ll-try-you-need/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-learned-that-courage-was-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-triumph/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We need to exert ourselves that much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-need-to-exert-ourselves-that-much-more-and-break-out-of-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Prison is a still point in a turning world, and it is very easy to remain in the same place in jail while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/prison-is-a-still-point-in-a-turning-world-and-it-is-very-easy-to/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-fundamental-concern-for-others-in-our-individual-and-community/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I am aware of what the position is in the United States of America. If somebody gives to charity, then he gets a tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-am-aware-of-what-the-position-is-in-the-united-states-of-america-if/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It is our duty to give support to the brother leader ... especially in regards to the sanctions which are not hitting just him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-our-duty-to-give-support-to-the-brother-leader-especially-in/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of our own people became a hunger for the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-was-during-those-long-and-lonely-years-that-my-hunger-for-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Explore all 809 Nelson Mandela quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## 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": "It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelson Mandela" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be-oversensitive-in-the-face-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be-oversensitive-in-the-face-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/nelson-mandela-248_criticism_it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be_184631.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/nelson-mandela-248_criticism_it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be_184631.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/nelson-mandela-248_criticism_it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be_184631.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism” — Nelson Mandela", "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": "Nelson Mandela", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a grave error for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be-oversensitive-in-the-face-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-a-grave-error-for-any-leader-to-be-oversensitive-in-the-face-of/#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 } } ] } ```