Brilliant words from Mike Nichols

From: Follies Of God

“Creatives are getting more and more thin-skinned, I’m afraid. Teaching is a danger zone, littered with bruised egos and grievances. Directing requires a helmet and a protective cup and two lawyers. It’s even getting tough to level with a friend, and this confuses me terribly, because I want to be told when I’m wrong, when I’m bad, when I’m headed toward a ledge where I and others are likely to be hurt. This is now seen as cruelty or bullying.

“We’re in for tough times if we can’t push everyone to be their best, and this often requires a brief visit to the duck press that is criticism. I’ve never abandoned anyone who told me my work was bad, but I’ve lost a few friends and I’ve irritated a few creatives when I’ve made suggestions on how we can make things better.

“I always wanted to get better. I still do. But I think many more people now don’t want to get better as much as they want to get noticed.”–Mike Nichols/Interview with James Grissom/2011/