feel quite at peace when fault is found with them, but who become quite elated and fairly unbalanced when they are praised. And sometimes they get so puffed up, that there comes the pride that goes before a fall, because they are so out of balance. On the other hand, there are people who can stand praise, it seems so natural, but when one little fault in them is pointed out, one little condemnation, they "go all to pieces." They are so sensitive, they grow weak as water before criticism.

Neither praise nor blame should move us. The praise you receive, you can ascribe to your divine Self and silently say, “I give all glory to the universal Life --- the Holy Spirit. I am nothing of myself. I am nothing except by this power.” Thus you will keep your modesty and your peace, and praise will not be able to move you. And when, on the other hand, you are condemned or blamed, you will not be moved either, because you remember this, that the carnal self can never be anything of itself. Only as the power of the universal Spirit fills it, can it be anything. Why blame it? Why find fault with it?

Simply take every one of these things as a help to further expression of your divinity--- as a means of correction, just as artists love to have the master give them “a criticism.” They know they advance by it and it does not hurt them, even when he speaks quite sharply and is very sweeping in his condemnation and his general view of their work. It only means that they will correct this and go on further.