Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself. Perhaps I should advise would-be enemies to send me their grievances beforehand, with full assurance that they will receive my every aid and support. I have even secretly longed to write, under a pen name, a merciless tirade against myself.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author jokes about wanting to write harsh critiques of himself to beat enemies to it.
- In plain terms
- He prefers his own criticism over that of others.
- What can you take from it?
- Self-criticism is a shield against external attack.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is self-criticism better than external?
- How do you handle hate?
Another view
Not everyone can or wants to criticize themselves this way.
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Permalink to quote #121 Of course, like all young men, I tried to be as unhappy as I could - a kind of Hamlet and Raskolnikov rolled into one.
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