--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It bothers me when nobody is criticizing…" description: "\"It bothers me when nobody is criticizing me, because then I am not doing something.\" — Stephen A. Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09a/stephen-a-smith-7133_bothers_it-bothers-me-when-nobody-is-criticizing_3063708.jpg" --- # It bothers me when nobody is criticizing me, because then… ![“It bothers me when nobody is criticizing me, because then I am not doing something.” quote by Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09a/stephen-a-smith-7133_bothers_it-bothers-me-when-nobody-is-criticizing_3063708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09a/stephen-a-smith-7133_bothers_it-bothers-me-when-nobody-is-criticizing_3063708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09a/stephen-a-smith-7133_bothers_it-bothers-me-when-nobody-is-criticizing_3063708.jpg) > “It bothers me when nobody is criticizing me, because then I am not doing something.” [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He feels uneasy when lacking criticism, interpreting it as a sign of inactivity. **In simple terms:** No criticism feels like doing nothing. Key Takeaway Seek constructive feedback regularly. Themes motivation criticism performance Mood thoughtful analytical Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - workplace - creative projects - sports training Key Concepts self‑assessment feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate useful critique? - What motivates you without external feedback? A Different Perspective Criticism can be negative or unhelpful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bothers/) [Bothers Criticizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bothers-criticizing-5150724/) [Criticizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticizing/) [Criticizing Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticizing-doing-5150725/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Nobody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobody/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) ## Related quotes > [Well, just that there would be somebody in the office and the voters - it was more or less an understanding in the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/well-just-that-there-would-be-somebody-in-the-office-and-the-voters/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [What's frustrating to me is when, on a low-budget movie, people don't take chances. A big-budget movie, that script's your bible; nobody's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/what-s-frustrating-to-me-is-when-on-a-low-budget-movie-people-don-t/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) > [It's hard to be a clubhouse guy without being a great guy. I mean, the nature of the job is, you know, you're picking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-francona/it-s-hard-to-be-a-clubhouse-guy-without-being-a-great-guy-i-mean-the/) [Terry Francona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-francona/) > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [People have the right to call themselves whatever they like. That doesn't bother me. It's other people doing the calling that bothers me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-the-right-to-call-themselves-whatever-they-like-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never try to get ahead of myself because there's nothing that bothers me more than cockiness. I don't think that's necessary at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/i-never-try-to-get-ahead-of-myself-because-there-s-nothing-that/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [What bothers me most is that I don't bother you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/what-bothers-me-most-is-that-i-don-t-bother-you/) [Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/) > [In the past, there were many times when I thought, 'This photo doesn't look good with a low angle, or this part bothers me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayeon/in-the-past-there-were-many-times-when-i-thought-this-photo-doesn-t/) [Nayeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayeon/) > [When you're a mom to three children, nothing bothers you. Trust me. Who cares what people say? I've got other things to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/when-you-re-a-mom-to-three-children-nothing-bothers-you-trust-me-who/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [It's not what happens in life that bothers us. It's what we're believing about it that bothers us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-s-not-what-happens-in-life-that-bothers-us-it-s-what-we-re/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [People frequently ask me if adverse criticism bothers me. I've had a lot of it, and I have been able to shrug most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/people-frequently-ask-me-if-adverse-criticism-bothers-me-i-ve-had-a/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [It bothers me when I hear it in a car commercial or some such. But for the most part, it's better than seeing sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-morris/it-bothers-me-when-i-hear-it-in-a-car-commercial-or-some-such-but-for/) [Richard Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-morris/) > [What bothers me about TV is that it tends to take our minds off our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/what-bothers-me-about-tv-is-that-it-tends-to-take-our-minds-off-our/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [What bothers me is when my players don't train well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kewell/what-bothers-me-is-when-my-players-don-t-train-well/) [Harry Kewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kewell/) > [It really bothers me when a guy is controlling. Dont just say Im picking the place - ask me where I want to go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-scerbo/it-really-bothers-me-when-a-guy-is-controlling-dont-just-say-im/) [Cassie Scerbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-scerbo/) ## More by Stephen A. Smith > [You can criticize me. You can crucify me. You can love me. You can hate me. Just don't make the mistake of calling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/you-can-criticize-me-you-can-crucify-me-you-can-love-me-you-can-hate/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [There's nothing about Tony Romo that deserves to be associated with America's Team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/there-s-nothing-about-tony-romo-that-deserves-to-be-associated-with/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [When I was at the 'Philadelphia Inquirer,' I was promoted nine times in my first 13 years. I ultimately went from general assignment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/when-i-was-at-the-philadelphia-inquirer-i-was-promoted-nine-times-in/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I was the youngest of six, with four older sisters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-was-the-youngest-of-six-with-four-older-sisters/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I'm associated with Walt Disney, but dammit, everybody knows that I'm a bottom feeder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-m-associated-with-walt-disney-but-dammit-everybody-knows-that-i-m-a/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [No one on the planet Earth is going to be able to look at me on television and say that I'm a liar. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/no-one-on-the-planet-earth-is-going-to-be-able-to-look-at-me-on/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I'm not just a black man, I'm a brotha. I love my people. When I'm on the air I am fully aware that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-m-not-just-a-black-man-i-m-a-brotha-i-love-my-people-when-i-m-on/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [Maybe, instead of putting our standards on other people, we should be very reticent, apprehensive, and deliberate and methodical in choosing whom we choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/maybe-instead-of-putting-our-standards-on-other-people-we-should-be/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [Don't fake what you feel. I've never been about that. I never will be about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/don-t-fake-what-you-feel-i-ve-never-been-about-that-i-never-will-be/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [There are many dimensions to Stephen A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/there-are-many-dimensions-to-stephen-a/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I know what I know, and what I don't know, I'm willing to admit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-know-what-i-know-and-what-i-don-t-know-i-m-willing-to-admit/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [If you are the president of the United States of America, you are 70 years of age, and you are tweeting - literally competing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/if-you-are-the-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-you-are-70/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [A season is not made in a week or two any more than a stellar game epitomizes greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/a-season-is-not-made-in-a-week-or-two-any-more-than-a-stellar-game/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [I don't consider myself just a black man. I consider myself a brotha. I love my people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/i-don-t-consider-myself-just-a-black-man-i-consider-myself-a-brotha-i/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [If you are in the world of business, that means you are in the business of making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/if-you-are-in-the-world-of-business-that-means-you-are-in-the/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) [Explore all 93 Stephen A. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) ## More Bothers quotes > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [What bothers me is when my players don't train well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kewell/what-bothers-me-is-when-my-players-don-t-train-well/) [Harry Kewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kewell/) > [What bothers me about TV is that it tends to take our minds off our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/what-bothers-me-about-tv-is-that-it-tends-to-take-our-minds-off-our/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [It bothers me when I hear it in a car commercial or some such. But for the most part, it's better than seeing sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-morris/it-bothers-me-when-i-hear-it-in-a-car-commercial-or-some-such-but-for/) [Richard Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-morris/) > [People frequently ask me if adverse criticism bothers me. I've had a lot of it, and I have been able to shrug most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/people-frequently-ask-me-if-adverse-criticism-bothers-me-i-ve-had-a/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [It's not what happens in life that bothers us. It's what we're believing about it that bothers us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-s-not-what-happens-in-life-that-bothers-us-it-s-what-we-re/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [When you're a mom to three children, nothing bothers you. Trust me. Who cares what people say? I've got other things to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/when-you-re-a-mom-to-three-children-nothing-bothers-you-trust-me-who/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [In the past, there were many times when I thought, 'This photo doesn't look good with a low angle, or this part bothers me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayeon/in-the-past-there-were-many-times-when-i-thought-this-photo-doesn-t/) [Nayeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayeon/) > [What bothers me most is that I don't bother you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/what-bothers-me-most-is-that-i-don-t-bother-you/) [Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/) > [I never try to get ahead of myself because there's nothing that bothers me more than cockiness. I don't think that's necessary at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/i-never-try-to-get-ahead-of-myself-because-there-s-nothing-that/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [People have the right to call themselves whatever they like. That doesn't bother me. It's other people doing the calling that bothers me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-the-right-to-call-themselves-whatever-they-like-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It really bothers me when a guy is controlling. Dont just say Im picking the place - ask me where I want to go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-scerbo/it-really-bothers-me-when-a-guy-is-controlling-dont-just-say-im/) [Cassie Scerbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-scerbo/) > [To me, score is really important. I would rather not have any score if it's something that's going to detract from the film. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/to-me-score-is-really-important-i-would-rather-not-have-any-score-if/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [If I see something I don't like, or something that bothers me, I can't hold it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-cheban/if-i-see-something-i-don-t-like-or-something-that-bothers-me-i-can-t/) [Jonathan Cheban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-cheban/) > [“If it bothers you to see me when then stop looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-barnes/if-it-bothers-you-to-see-me-when-then-stop-looking/) [Victoria Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-barnes/) [Browse all 150 Bothers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bothers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It bothers me when nobody is criticizing me, because then I am not doing something.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen A. 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