...writers are often the worst judges of what they have written.

Put down everything that comes into your head and then you're a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff's worth, without pity, and destroy most of it., 1964)

We dedicate most of the time worrying about our deficiencies and self-criticism instead of concentrating on our goals and believing in our destination

All censure of a man's self is oblique praise. It is in order to show how much he can spare.

Any one is to be pitied who has just sense enough to perceive his deficiencies.

He is a man whom it is impossible to please, because he is never pleased with himself.

How shall we expect charity towards others, when we are uncharitable to ourselves?

Self-criticism is an art not many are qualified to practice.

He who makes great demands upon himself is naturally inclined to make great demands on others.

What is this self inside us, this silent observer, Severe and speechless critic, who can terrorize us And urge us on to futile activity, And in the end, judge us still more severely For the errors into which his own reproaches drove us?