“People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise.”

—  W. Somerset Maugham , book Of Human Bondage

Source: Of Human Bondage (1915), Ch. 50

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise." by W. Somerset Maugham?
W. Somerset Maugham photo
W. Somerset Maugham 158
British playwright, novelist, short story writer 1874–1965

Related quotes

Auberon Waugh photo

“I don't want 'constructive criticism'. I want praise.”

Auberon Waugh (1939–2001) Author

Cited in Times Literary Supplement, 6 March 2009.

Bhumibol Adulyadej photo

“If they want to write about me in a good way, they should write how I do things that are useful. If they want to criticize me, I don't care, I don't mind. But they must criticize me fairly. Usually the criticism is not fair. Or the praise, even the praise sometimes is not fair.”

Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927–2016) King of Thailand

Source: "King Bhumibol's Reign" in The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/21/magazine/king-bhumibol-s-reign.html (21 May 1989)

Jay Samit photo

“Too many people’s careers are ruined by praise instead of propelled by criticism.”

Jay Samit (1961) American businessman

Future Proofing You (2021)

Warren Buffett photo

“Criticize by category — praise by name.”

Warren Buffett (1930) American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist

[CNCB's Becky Quick interviews Warren Buffett (2/25/19), February 25, 2019, CNBC Television, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqc56crs56s] (quote at 48:00 of 2:00:00)

Nancy Kwan photo

“People always criticize. If they want to, they will find something to criticize. Hey, we all criticize. You like a film or you don’t. It’s up to you. You can’t stop that anyway. That’s part of human nature”

Nancy Kwan (1939) Chinese-American actress and restauranter

How Nancy Kwan Went From Ballet to the Big Screen https://www.shondaland.com/live/a22986681/nancy-kwan-interview/ (September 11, 2018)

Marcus Aurelius photo

“You want praise from people who kick themselves every fifteen minutes, the approval of people who despise themselves.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Is it a sign of self-respect to regret nearly everything you do?
Hays translation
VIII, 53
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VIII

Oliver Wendell Holmes photo

“You may set it down as a truth which admits of few exceptions, that those who ask your opinion really want your praise, and will be contented with nothing less.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809–1894) Poet, essayist, physician

The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table (1858)

Megyn Kelly photo

“The-the-the criticism people have of your position, Reverend, is— you want God out of everything!”

Megyn Kelly (1970) American reporter

2010-04-16
America Live w/Megyn Kelly
Fox News
regarding interviewee Barry W. Lynn's position that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional

Noel Coward photo

“I love criticism just so long as it's unqualified praise.”

Noel Coward (1899–1973) English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer

Source: Quote in Margaret McManus, "Noël Coward a 'Blithe Spirit' — in Sunny Jamaica", The Des Moines Register (January 8, 1956), Section: Iowa TV Magazine, p. 5

Related topics