Any Fool Can Condemn, Criticize And Complain – Dale Carnegie

Morning folks and here is our quote of the day from Dale Carnegie. I found his book both inspiring and thought-provoking. Although it does take a sales approach, he makes some strong points about relationships and basic courtesy with people.

We have all faced this, haven’t we? No matter what we do and where we are, criticism is a natural outcome. Sometimes these critics are so harsh that they make us doubt ourselves. This article doesn’t talk about how to handle criticism. But, it appeals to the humane side of us to think before we criticise and help out.

Any Fool Can Condemn, Criticize And Complain Meaning

The phrase “Any fool can condemn, criticize, and complain” suggests that it takes no special wisdom or intelligence to find fault and express negative opinions. It implies that anyone can be quick to pass judgment and point out flaws without offering constructive solutions. With social media and online comments forums, criticising people has become too easy. I see so much hate online that it sometimes makes me wonder why I even bother checking comments. And each time I reply, I see a flurry of other comments that further agitated me.

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Any fool can criticize and condemn

Perhaps there’s some sense in remembering this quote – any fool can condemn criticize and complain. It is also a very useful thing for us to remember. I’m sure I’ve been too free with my language and unfairly criticised people. Being an armchair expert is easy. Events and outcomes in life are more complicated, and we must respect them. Criticism is important, but it needs to be offered with the purpose of improving something or helping someone. If it is just to point out something wrong – then it is nothing but a self-serving ego massage and rather petty!

This quote emphasizes the importance of being thoughtful, understanding, and empathetic rather than engaging in shallow criticism and complaining. It encourages us to focus on finding solutions and contributing positively to improve circumstances, rather than merely finding fault.

Dale Carnegie quotes: https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3317.Dale_Carnegie

Why people criticize?

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Welcome to our society, you will be judged on what you wear, your taste in music, what you look like and how you act – Society Quotes
  • What is the reason for people to criticize others?
  • Is it because they want you to succeed?
  • Is it because they expect nothing short of perfection in life?
  • Are they jealous of you, cos you have achieved something they have not?

And so on. There can be plenty of reasons for people who criticize and complain which I have never understood. Not that I don’t criticize and condemn people, we all do that either knowingly or inadvertently. Perhaps a common reason why we criticize is when we try to understand the lives of others through our own experiences. A couple of days ago we wrote a post – “You can’t judge people because they sin differently than you”. I mean we all know it is wrong to judge people because we don’t know what is happening in their life.

Why is there so much hatred, anger and criticism? – Any Fool Can Condemn, Criticize And Complain

It really makes me question – where are we headed as a culture? What is the pleasure in finding fault with someone when we have enough and more on our plate.

Another very common example I come across is with these toppers. Somewhere, somehow in our culture or education or the environment, we have been taught to expect perfection out of our heroes. A few days ago, I saw someone ask a question on Quora – “Should I respect Mahatma Gandhi Or Not?, Was He perfect”. I mean I don’t really understand the obsession with perfection! How can one expect perfection out of someone else? How perfect are we to do that? And what gives us the right? And why should someone else be perfect? Just because we need a hero?

If that is the case, doesn’t it actually defeat the purpose of having an idol or a role model – A person we can relate to aspire to be? Instead of being judgemental and critical, can we be a little more sensitive and sensible and look at things the way they are and probably try to appreciate life as it is, a life which is true and real – not a life which is made up and not a life where we expect things to be the exact same way our imagination is.

Empathy, understanding the flaws and respecting limitations

I mean there is a lot of beauty in curiosity and understanding people and the real troubles they go through in life.It is really easy to criticize and condemn and complain and do a lot of other things as well. Truth is no one really cares for a person who is constantly complaining or criticizing. No one wants to be with a negative person who drains all the energy from within. My only answer to the people who constantly criticize is this “If you want to help, then help, if not then please Shut UP! I don’t really have time and energy to deal with a blabber mouth

It is great to aspire to an extraordinary life. While in the process, we must be very careful to ensure that we don’t fall prey to the sense of entitlement and expectation from the world. The world is filled with imperfection and people trying to do their best within their own limitations. The best thing we can do is be kind and helpful rather than critical and harsh. Life is a beautiful thing, we need not ruin it with these petty immoral morals. The goal is to become better each day, and more tolerant cos that is not just a virtue but a sign of true maturity.

“Any fool can condemn, criticize and complain – and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving” 


18 thoughts on “Any Fool Can Condemn, Criticize And Complain – Dale Carnegie”

  1. I think no good example would have found other than AAP rally:)
    very well written…..

  2. Thank you Somali. Indeed, such people are a drain on our energy level sand also the quality of our lives. Unknowingly we stoop down on our levels when we spend a lot of emotions on these people who really don’t deserve it. He he he, I will always be there to support you on this :D.
    I had a bit of an issue with the disqus commenting system, it was truncating right after the post and not allowing subsequent visitors to comment. So I was kinda forced to remove that. I am trying to work that out and in the meanwhile using this as a makeshift arrangement.
    Sorry for the inconvenience, even I am not a big fan of this one. Entering the credentials each time is a pain and I really appreciate it.

  3. I agree Vinay. Don’t have the time or energy to deal with those to always manage to find some or the other reason to criticize. My dislike such people with the habit to criticise had led meto write a similar post on Why People Criticize Others. I have company now. :-)
    Btw why do I need to key in my credentials each time for posing a comment nowadays? Sometime to do with settings.

  4. Thanks Ravish. Indeed, I think the blame game has gone on forever in history and also the current day affairs and not to exclude our lives as well. They never cease to end and I guess it has to be a conscious decision to steer clear of those and take charge of our very own lives.

  5. Thank you Fayaz :). Indeed, these are the three demons to steer clear from in a conversation or communication. If we use any of that, it is serious downhill from there and it is not very easy to recover from there..

  6. He he completely agree to that Maniparna. Some people are simply incorrigible and they derive pleasure from putting others down. Maybe it is their source of confidence. Pity is a much better way to handle them than getting pissed off. I usually get really pissed off :D :D

  7. That’s actually a very nice perspective Tara, people reflect the internal thoughts through the external responses. I have been meaning to attend Vipasana meditation from a long time but I haven’t been able to yet. Sounds like a very enriching course.
    True indeed, the true strength of character I believe is tolerance. It is very hard to accept things the way they are and sometimes not to do anything about it not cos we don’t want to but because we know that our presence will not be of any great value add sometimes. An unperturbed mind is a hard trait to achieve and a very noble goal too. :)

  8. Very well said Vinay. These are the three Cs that everybody should remember. The more of it they use, the more they isolate from relationships for nobody wants a negative person 24/7 around them.

  9. Maniparna Sengupta Majumder

    Some people are incorrigible. They will eventually criticize …just everything under the sun. They have great skills at nitpicking :-D I feel pity for them and ignore them wholeheartedly.

  10. Some criticizes cuz they are upset from their own lives, this is what I have learnt from Vipassana meditation center. So the case is whoever feels whatever inside… shows outside which points to others but not on self. And forgiving such characters needs a strong… VERY strong heart. Because you know, you don’t want to mess up your day arguing or explaining things to such people. So listen and then… don’t get bothered. At least this is what I do :)

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