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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.

Jorge Luis Borges#120

WritingSelfCriticismDefenseEnemiesHumorIrony

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

  • public life
  • writing
  • handling critics

Putting it to work

  • write self-critiques
  • anticipate attacks
  • use humor

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.

More from Jorge Luis Borges

  1. I found America the friendliest, most forgiving, and most generous nation I had ever visited. We South Americans tend to think of things in terms of convenienc…

    Permalink to quote #119
  2. ?De que otra forma se puede amenazar que no sea de muerte? Lo interesante, lo original, seria que alguien lo amenace a uno con la inmortalidad.

    Permalink to quote #121
  3. Of course, like all young men, I tried to be as unhappy as I could - a kind of Hamlet and Raskolnikov rolled into one.

    Permalink to quote #118

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