On aime mieux dire du mal de soi-meme que de n'en point parler.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People prefer to criticize themselves than to stay completely silent about their faults.
- In plain terms
- People would rather talk about their bad qualities than not talk about them at all.
- What can you take from it?
- People use self-criticism to avoid silence or gain attention.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do you talk about your flaws?
- Is self-criticism a form of attention seeking?
Another view
Sometimes self-criticism is genuinely meant to improve.
More from Francois de La Rochefoucauld
On parle peu quand la vanite ne fait pas parler.
Permalink to quote #45 On ne loue d'ordinaire que pour etre loue.
Permalink to quote #47 Il est plus aise d'etre sage pour les autres que de l'etre pour soi-meme.
Permalink to quote #44
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