The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.
Compliments make me vain: and when I am vain, I am insolent and overbearing. It is a pity, too, because I love compliments. I love them even when they are not so. My child, I can live on a good compliment two weeks with nothing else to eat.
Arrogance sort of destroys that nervousness because you're having a bunch of people flatter you and tell you you're awesome, and it keeps you from striving as hard for the kind of validation you seek from a good show.
I never want to get caught up in praises. Never want to get caught up in people telling me how good I am.
People fed on sugared praises cannot be expected to feel an appetite for the black broth of honest criticism.
Even just a little bit of praise can weaken you.
If anything I was probably loved and praised too much as a child. I think that's why I can't accept any compliments.
Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came, And the puff a dunce, he mistook it for fame; Till his relish grown callous, almost to displease, Who pepper'd the highest was surest to please.
One very common thing is that often very brilliant children stop working because they're praised so often that it's what they want to live as - brilliant - not as someone who ever makes mistakes. It really stunts their motivation.
