--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It took me getting to my 50s before I…" description: "\"It took me getting to my 50s before I could say \"Whatever!\" about other people's criticism, especially when it's not true.\" — Sally Field" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/sally-field-4843_criticism_it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-co_882174.jpg" --- # It took me getting to my 50s before I could say… ![“It took me getting to my 50s before I could say "Whatever!" about other people's criticism, especially when it's not true.” quote by Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/sally-field-4843_criticism_it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-co_882174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/sally-field-4843_criticism_it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-co_882174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/sally-field-4843_criticism_it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-co_882174.jpg) > “It took me getting to my 50s before I could say "Whatever!" about other people's criticism, especially when it's not true.” [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maturity brings confidence to dismiss unfounded criticism, especially when it’s false. **In simple terms:** Age brings confidence to ignore false criticism. Key Takeaway Embrace confidence, ignore false criticism. Themes confidence self‑esteem criticism Mood reflective empowering Type memoir advice When to use this quote - workplace feedback - social media comments - family advice Key Concepts personal growth resilience Questions to Reflect On - When have you let criticism affect you? - What helps you stay grounded? A Different Perspective Criticism can still affect self‑image despite confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-especially-1064316/) [Getting 50S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-50s-1064317/) [People Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-criticism-262241/) [Say People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-people/) ## Related quotes > [Ignore people's criticism about who you are, be yourself and live better than what they expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/ignore-people-s-criticism-about-who-you-are-be-yourself-and-live/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Personally, I can handle criticism, especially when it is deserved, and it's because my dad never, ever said 'Well done' to me. He did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/granit-xhaka/personally-i-can-handle-criticism-especially-when-it-is-deserved-and/) [Granit Xhaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/granit-xhaka/) > [I've met some very difficult people and I've had some very difficult conversations and had lots of criticism, especially from away supporters who sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-ve-met-some-very-difficult-people-and-i-ve-had-some-very-difficult/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [I think most athletes want to be told when they make a mistake. They don't want to be coddled. They can deal with criticism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-think-most-athletes-want-to-be-told-when-they-make-a-mistake-they/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Sometimes People Tend To Look Your Ability On The Negative Aspect, People's Criticism Has A Lot Of Negative Stereotypes. Keep Away From Those Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-people-tend-to-look-your-ability-on-the-negative-aspect-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people, when they get criticism, they shy away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/some-people-when-they-get-criticism-they-shy-away-from-it/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [“What kind of ministry is that, just talking to people?" Criticism directed at Francis Schaeffer's plan to open an obscure spot in the Swiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/what-kind-of-ministry-is-that-just-talking-to-people-criticism/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [People's criticism on you doesn't actually reveal what kind of person you are. It reveals what kind of people they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/people-s-criticism-on-you-doesn-t-actually-reveal-what-kind-of-person/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Extremely religious, legalistic people have a criticism or judgment about everyone and everything. They just have a way of bringing people down with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/extremely-religious-legalistic-people-have-a-criticism-or-judgment/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Face your path with courage, don't be scared of people's criticism. And, above all, don't let yourself get paralyzed by your own criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/face-your-path-with-courage-don-t-be-scared-of-people-s-criticism-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The English can be a very critical, unforgiving people, but criticism can be good. And this is a country that loves comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/the-english-can-be-a-very-critical-unforgiving-people-but-criticism/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [Sometimes you get looked at harder than other people. I can take the criticism and I can take the heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-peppers/sometimes-you-get-looked-at-harder-than-other-people-i-can-take-the/) [Julius Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-peppers/) > [In general, the best advice I can give people is to take criticism seriously, apologize for anything you have done wrong, and pull back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/in-general-the-best-advice-i-can-give-people-is-to-take-criticism/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [You learn as a player not to listen to the criticism. Many of the people who put out that criticism might not be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/you-learn-as-a-player-not-to-listen-to-the-criticism-many-of-the/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Just be you. Do what you love. I've learned that in the end, you can't make everyone happy no matter what you say or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/just-be-you-do-what-you-love-i-ve-learned-that-in-the-end-you-can-t/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) ## More by Sally Field > [I can't deny the fact that you like me! You like me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-can-t-deny-the-fact-that-you-like-me-you-like-me/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I grew up in a show-business family, but we were working-class show business. There was nothing glamorous about it. You had great things one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-grew-up-in-a-show-business-family-but-we-were-working-class-show/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I came from a real working-class show business family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-came-from-a-real-working-class-show-business-family/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I don't want to look old and worn, but what can you do? My real focus is being an actor. I care more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-don-t-want-to-look-old-and-worn-but-what-can-you-do-my-real-focus/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I have never been beautiful in cliche terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-have-never-been-beautiful-in-cliche-terms/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I wouldnt mind having my heart broken because it would mean that I had that much feeling connected to somebody. And that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-wouldnt-mind-having-my-heart-broken-because-it-would-mean-that-i/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > ['Forrest Gump' is filled full of moments where your heart just cheers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/forrest-gump-is-filled-full-of-moments-where-your-heart-just-cheers/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I've had such an odd career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-ve-had-such-an-odd-career/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I really like cable T.V.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-really-like-cable-t-v/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [The whole world is waiting. The whole world needs you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/the-whole-world-is-waiting-the-whole-world-needs-you/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [I have a tendency to think of myself as the mutt of the litter. I'm not purebred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-have-a-tendency-to-think-of-myself-as-the-mutt-of-the-litter-i-m/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [Motherhood is given the brush-off in our society. 'Oh, I'm just a mom,' you hear women say. 'Just' a mom? Please! Being a mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/motherhood-is-given-the-brush-off-in-our-society-oh-i-m-just-a-mom/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [There were the days when women were under contract, and they were thought of as a commodity, so they hired the best writers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/there-were-the-days-when-women-were-under-contract-and-they-were/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [For almost every character I've played in the 43 years I've been working as a professional actor, I've found parts of myself. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/for-almost-every-character-i-ve-played-in-the-43-years-i-ve-been/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [In reality, people are people. Age does a weird thing to your body on the outside. It makes your face fall and weird things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/in-reality-people-are-people-age-does-a-weird-thing-to-your-body-on/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) [Explore all 106 Sally Field quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) ## 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 took me getting to my 50s before I could say \"Whatever!\" about other people's criticism, especially when it's not true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sally Field" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-could-say-whatever-about-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-could-say-whatever-about-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/sally-field-4843_criticism_it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-co_882174.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/sally-field-4843_criticism_it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-co_882174.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/sally-field-4843_criticism_it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-co_882174.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It took me getting to my 50s before I could say \"Whatever!\" about other people's criticism, especially when…” — Sally Field", "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": "Sally Field", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It took me getting to my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-could-say-whatever-about-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/it-took-me-getting-to-my-50s-before-i-could-say-whatever-about-other/#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 } } ] } ```