Michael Ian Black Quotes

To me, constructive criticism is when people take ownership of their ideas. That's why I don't listen to anything that's anonymous. But it's hard; when there's something hurtful out there, I still want to read it over and over and memorize it and explain my point of view to the person.

I guess it became easier for me to accept negative comments about my work, my profession - anything work-related because like I said I take them as positive criticisms.

In fact, I often accept criticism because I feel it helps me to get better and get stronger. And I hardly ever remember the compliments.

Reviews are great. I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'

People understand me so poorly that they don't even understand my complaint about them not understanding me.

There are few performers who would have had the audacity to even bring up the fact that they had been poorly reviewed.

I've always been motivated more by negative comments than by positive ones. I know what I do well. Tell me what I don't do well.

It's difficult sometimes when you have somebody who is of a different culture trying to make light of something that is maybe not quite something that they understand.

Criticism is always hard to take - we musicians are sensitive. It's always hard when someone says something negative - but you try to learn to just let it roll off and not worry about it.

You can't take people's opinions personally. Usually what people say about it is a reflection of them own issues.

It seems a little self-involved to be like, 'Oh, he's hitting on me.' Maybe he's just trying to start up an innocent conversation.

The idea that feeling confident and feeling misunderstood are mutually exclusive really bugs me.

All criticism is constructive.

Long ago, I made up my mind that when things were said involving only me, I would pay no attention to them, except when valid criticism was carried by which I could profit.

It was kind of a hard lesson when I figured out that not everybody is going to be kind, be sweet. So I've learned that I am never going to make everybody happy. There's always going to be someone who can't stand the way I write, and I can't take that personally.

I never liked talking about myself or my background because I hated bringing back bad memories. And sometimes when I talked, it would come out the wrong way, and I'd look like a jerk. That's why I became an enigma to people.

In any job, you can come under attack or have a door slammed in your face. You do want to listen to critics; you don't want to be in a cocoon and never change. Get a second opinion from coworkers and friends. Know that criticism can be valid, but don't take it personally.

My advice gets misconstrued as being mean.

Some people, when they get criticism, they shy away from it.

I take criticism positively, and I keep trying to develop as an actor.

Dealing with negative comments is part of this job, and I've had to develop a thick skin, though some days it's easier than others.

We need to know how to handle the criticism.

There are always going to be your supporters, and then there are going to be haters. I kind of laugh at them.

I take criticism very positively if it's genuine.

When I see things through my eyes, I don't want to ever just be really negative towards someone's performance. There are many ways to skin a cat. Sometimes I watch the guys, and they're doing different things than I would have done, but I don't ever want to be too critical.