Fear of Criticism, failure to create plans and put them into action, because of what other people will think, do or say is the biggest enemy for most of the people.

Majority of people permit relative, friends, and the public at large to influence them that they cannot live their own lives, because they fear criticism.

Huge number of people make mistakes in marriage, stand by the bargain and go through life miserable and unhappy, because they fear criticism which may follow if they correct the mistake. Fear of Criticism destroys ambition, self-reliance, and desire to achieve.

Millions of people neglect to acquire belated educations, after having left school, because they fear criticism. Countless numbers of men and women, both young and old, permit relatives to wreck their lives in the name of duty, because they fear criticism.

People refuse to take chances in business, because they fear criticism which may follow if they fail. The fear of criticism can many times become stronger than the desire for success.

Too many people refuse to set high goals for themselves, or even neglect selecting a career, because they fear criticism of relatives and friends who may say “Don’t aim so high, people will think you are crazy.”

Most ideas are still born and nedd the breath of life injected into them through definite plans of immediate action. The time to nurse an idea is at the time of its birth. Every minute it lives, gives it a better chance of surviving. The FEAR of CRITICISM is the bottom of the destruction of most ideas which never reach the planning and action stage.

From Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill