"Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them"
- Francois de La Rochefoucauld
About this Quote
This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld talks to the importance of being able to discern in between valuable criticism and deceptive praise. It recommends that wisdom is required to recognize the distinction in between the 2 and to select the previous over the latter. The wisdom to choose criticism that would do us good is an important asset, as it permits us to recognize our weaknesses and make every effort to improve ourselves. On the other hand, misleading praise can be harmful, as it can cause complacency and a false sense of security. It can likewise avoid us from recognizing our defects and taking the needed steps to address them. Eventually, this quote serves as a pointer to be conscious of the type of feedback we get and to be wise adequate to pick the criticism that will assist us grow.
"Raising children is an incredibly hard and risky business in which no cumulative wisdom is gained: each generation repeats the mistakes the previous one made"