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Criticism is futile; it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes them strive to justify themselves - Dale Carnegie
At its core, this quote means that criticizing someone is a counterproductive strategy. It doesn't fix the problem; it just makes the other person dig in their heels.

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Criticism is dangerous because it wounds a person’s pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment - Dale Carnegie
At its core, this quote means that criticism is a direct attack on a person's ego and sense of self-worth, and the natural human response to that attack is a defensive, resentful backlash.
Criticism is futile because it puts a person Meaning Factcheck Usage

Verified Quote

Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself - Dale Carnegie
The core message is brutally simple: criticism, as a tool for change, is fundamentally broken. It triggers a primal defensive reaction that makes people dig in their heels, not open their minds.