--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People would rather be praised than…" description: "\"People would rather be praised than criticized but the later may help us make more progress.\" — Sterling W Sill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/sterling-w-sill-9927_criticism_people-would-rather-be-praised-than-crit_1942231.jpg" --- # People would rather be praised than criticized but the… ![“People would rather be praised than criticized but the later may help us make more progress.” quote by Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/sterling-w-sill-9927_criticism_people-would-rather-be-praised-than-crit_1942231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/sterling-w-sill-9927_criticism_people-would-rather-be-praised-than-crit_1942231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/sterling-w-sill-9927_criticism_people-would-rather-be-praised-than-crit_1942231.jpg) > “People would rather be praised than criticized but the later may help us make more progress.” [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People prefer praise, yet criticism can be a stronger driver for growth and improvement. **In simple terms:** Criticism can push us further than praise. Key Takeaway Seek constructive feedback. Themes growth feedback motivation self-improvement Mood encouraging critical Type advisory reflective When to use this quote - career development - personal coaching - academic settings - team management Key Concepts psychology learning theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle criticism? - When is praise insufficient? A Different Perspective Praise still boosts confidence; criticism can be demotivating if harsh. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticized/) [Criticized Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticized-later-3102573/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Make Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-progress-385250/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Praised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-praised-3102574/) [Praised Criticized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praised-criticized-3074556/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) ## Related quotes > [I have been both praised and criticized. The criticism stung, but the praise sometimes bothered me even more. To have received such praise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-have-been-both-praised-and-criticized-the-criticism-stung-but-the/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [When I came into the industry as a newbie, some people praised me and I wondered, 'Is it really like that?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/when-i-came-into-the-industry-as-a-newbie-some-people-praised-me-and/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [If you can't be criticized for it, it's probably not remarkable. Are you devoting yourself to something devoid of criticism?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-can-t-be-criticized-for-it-it-s-probably-not-remarkable-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You may be worried about earning their respect, and that’s natural. Unfortunately, though, being overly focused on respect can backfire because it’ll make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/you-may-be-worried-about-earning-their-respect-and-that-s-natural/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [To make progress you must actually get started. The key is to take a step today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/to-make-progress-you-must-actually-get-started-the-key-is-to-take-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it means you can never make progress toward your goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-failure-for-it-means-you-can/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [You never stop trying to make progress as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/you-never-stop-trying-to-make-progress-as-a-musician/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [If you're going to worry about what people say, you're never going to make any progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murray/if-you-re-going-to-worry-about-what-people-say-you-re-never-going-to/) [Joseph Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murray/) > [Although you perform many works, if you do not deny your will and submit yourself, losing all solicitude about yourself and your affairs, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-john-of-the-cross/although-you-perform-many-works-if-you-do-not-deny-your-will-and/) [St John Of The Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-john-of-the-cross/) > [Those who are not dissatisfied will never make any progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeo-shingo/those-who-are-not-dissatisfied-will-never-make-any-progress/) [Shigeo Shingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeo-shingo/) > [“If you do not chase in directly toward the place where your opponents have gathered, you will not make progress. And, if you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/if-you-do-not-chase-in-directly-toward-the-place-where-your-opponents/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [We make progress in society only if we stop cursing and complaining about its shortcomings and have the courage to do something about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-make-progress-in-society-only-if-we-stop-cursing-and-complaining/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [One way to become enthusiastic is to look for the plus sign. To make progress in any difficult situation, you have to start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-way-to-become-enthusiastic-is-to-look-for-the-plus-sign-to-make/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Do you want to make progress? If so, then take each problem not as a challenging rival, but as an encouraging friend of yours,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/do-you-want-to-make-progress-if-so-then-take-each-problem-not-as-a/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) ## More by Sterling W Sill > [Hang on the walls of your mind the memory of your successes. Take counsel of your strength, not your weakness. Think of the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/hang-on-the-walls-of-your-mind-the-memory-of-your-successes-take/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [I heard of somebody once who said he was interested in doing the greatest amount of good for the greatest number, and that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/i-heard-of-somebody-once-who-said-he-was-interested-in-doing-the/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Make sure that your ambitions are really lofty - not just seem to be. Sometimes instead of engaging in those so called "mountaintop employments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/make-sure-that-your-ambitions-are-really-lofty-not-just-seem-to-be/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Planning is the mother of almost every other ability. Make your plan and set a timetable for its accomplishment in writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/planning-is-the-mother-of-almost-every-other-ability-make-your-plan/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Building a successful life is much like building anything else: it should be thoroughly thought about in advance and then carried through to completion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/building-a-successful-life-is-much-like-building-anything-else-it/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [When in our minds we pre-live our marriage, we help to determine the kind of person that we would like to be when that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/when-in-our-minds-we-pre-live-our-marriage-we-help-to-determine-the/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [A story is told that Whistler once painted a tiny picture of a spray of roses. The artistry involved in the picture was magnificent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/a-story-is-told-that-whistler-once-painted-a-tiny-picture-of-a-spray/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [The greatest opportunity of our lives is to wake ourselves up and get going. There is so much to be done and so little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/the-greatest-opportunity-of-our-lives-is-to-wake-ourselves-up-and-get/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Life begins when we begin and each day we ought to be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/life-begins-when-we-begin-and-each-day-we-ought-to-be-born-again/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Wealth is not only what you have but it is also what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/wealth-is-not-only-what-you-have-but-it-is-also-what-you-are/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Everything depends on attitude. We are ambitious or lazy, enthusiastic or dull, loyal or undependable, according to our attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/everything-depends-on-attitude-we-are-ambitious-or-lazy-enthusiastic/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [We insist on near perfection in everyone except ourselves. But if our course is questioned we become offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/we-insist-on-near-perfection-in-everyone-except-ourselves-but-if-our/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Perhaps punctuality is a quality made even more valuable because it is found in so few people. Punctuality is not usually thought of in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/perhaps-punctuality-is-a-quality-made-even-more-valuable-because-it/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [Punctuality is closely related to faithfulness and dependability. Being tardy can be linked to uninterest, apathy, slothfulness and procrastination...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/punctuality-is-closely-related-to-faithfulness-and-dependability/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) > [You can't judge a man by watching him live. . . . I personally watched Babe Ruth at bat three times, and he struck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/you-can-t-judge-a-man-by-watching-him-live-i-personally-watched-babe/) [Sterling W Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) [Explore all 69 Sterling W Sill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/) ## 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": "People would rather be praised than criticized but the later may help us make more progress.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sterling W Sill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/people-would-rather-be-praised-than-criticized-but-the-later-may-help/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/people-would-rather-be-praised-than-criticized-but-the-later-may-help/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/sterling-w-sill-9927_criticism_people-would-rather-be-praised-than-crit_1942231.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/sterling-w-sill-9927_criticism_people-would-rather-be-praised-than-crit_1942231.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/sterling-w-sill-9927_criticism_people-would-rather-be-praised-than-crit_1942231.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People would rather be praised than criticized but the later may help us make more progress.” — Sterling W Sill", "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": "Sterling W Sill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-w-sill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People would rather be praised than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/people-would-rather-be-praised-than-criticized-but-the-later-may-help/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-w-sill/people-would-rather-be-praised-than-criticized-but-the-later-may-help/#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 } } ] } ```