Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker prefers helpful suggestions over rude remarks.
In plain terms
Ask nicely or stay silent.
What can you take from it?
Criticism should be constructive.

Where it applies

  • workplace feedback
  • online forums
  • social interaction

Putting it to work

  • offer helpful feedback
  • avoid snide comments

Questions to consider

  • How should we give feedback?
  • Is rudeness ever useful?

Another view

The tone is quite confrontational itself.

More from Iain Banks

  1. ...there came a point when if a conspiracy was that powerful and subtle it became pointless to worry about it.

    Permalink to quote #7
  2. The double-sun system was relatively poor in comets; there were only a hundred billion of them.

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. It was just like some ancient electricity-powered computer; it didn't matter how fast, error-free, and tireless it was, it didn't matter how great a labour-sav…

    Permalink to quote #5

Related quotes

  1. It is a barren kind of criticism which tells you what a thing is not.

    Alfred Whitney GriswoldAlfred Whitney Griswold quote #5
  2. 'We welcome constructive criticism and will abide by our commitment to address the concern of the community at large on the issue.'

    Josefa VosanibolaJosefa Vosanibola quote #7
  3. I don't take criticisms personally, which must be very annoying for people who mean them personally.

    Nigella LawsonNigella Lawson quote #17