37 Quotes to Help You Deal with Haters, Naysayers, and Copycats
I’ve found there are a few different type of people that can threaten or otherwise make it more difficult for you to achieve your goals.
- Haters – these people have something negative to say about you, your goals, and your progress. They don’t offer constructive criticism – just negative, harsh, destructive opinions. They don’t want to see you win. If you are winning you’re stuck up, think you’re all that, or some other bias insult. Someone actually told my mom she thinks she’s all that because “she got all them degrees.” That’s a hater. Haters can deter you or even make you settle for smaller goals.
- Naysayers – these people have a reason why any and everything won’t work. It may not even have anything to do with you. It’s their own hangups that they project onto you. If you’re not careful they can instill a spirit of doubt and fear in you. Not the place you want to be when you have big goals to slay. It’s likely you already have your own doubts and fears. You don’t need theirs too!
- Copycats – these people steal your ideas and don’t even try to alter them. We all get inspired by other people’s work but when someone down right takes someone else’s creation (without giving credit) they’re a copycat. I had a client confess that she was afraid to share her ideas (which would help her gain traction toward her goals) because someone might steal them. I get it. People do steal ideas, but you can’t let it stop you. Someone who keeps all their ideas to themselves never goes anywhere.
On the way to achieving your goals you may encounter one or all three. Therefore, you have to be prepared in case you do. The main thing that comes to mind is what pastor Joel Osteen always says, “Run your own race.” If you’re focused on where you’re headed you likely won’t even notice who’s coming against you or potentially sabotaging your efforts. But for those moments when you do notice, here are 37 quotes to keep in mind when dealing with haters, naysayers, and copycats.
Related: How to Really Reach Your Goals in Life
Hater Quotes
“Expect while reaching for the stars, people to whirl by with their dark clouds and storm upon you.”
“The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.” – Timothy Ferriss
“I don’t have time, energy, or interest in hating the haters; I’m too busy loving the lovers.” – Steve Maraboli
“Behind every sucessful person lies a pack of Haters! I love my haters!” – Gloria Tesch
“Haters don’t really hate you, they hate themselves; because you’re a reflection of what they wish to be.” – Yaira N
“The strong-minded rise to the challenge of their goals and dreams. The weak-minded become haters.” – Steve Maraboli
“Haters are my favorite. I’ve built an empire with the bricks they’ve thrown at me. Keep on hating.” – C.M. Punk
“Remember that only God can judge us; forget the haters, because Somebody loves you.” – Miley Cyrus
“Negativity distracts me from my goals. So, I simply don’t entertain it. I’ll also occasionally laugh at it as well.” – Mama Zara
“Love your haters. They’re your biggest fans.” – Kanye West
“Have you ever met a hater doing better than you? Me neither.” – Unknown
“They hate you because you represent something they feel they don’t have. It really isn’t about you. It is about the hatred they have for themselves. So smile today because there is something you are doing right that has a lot of people thinking about you.” – Shannon L. Alder
“Most haters are stuck in a poisonous mental prison of jealousy and self-doubt that blinds them to their own potentiality.” – Steve Maraboli
Naysayer Quotes
“There will be haters, there will be doubters, there will be non believers and there will be you proving them wrong.” – Unknown
“Ignore the naysayers. Really the only option is head down and focus on the job.” – Chris Pine
“Naysayers have little power over us unless we give it to them.” – Arianna Huffington
“When people undermine your dreams, predict your doom, or criticize you, remember, they’re telling their story, not yours.” – Cynthia Occelli
“Unless someone can look into the core of your heart to see the degree of your passion or look into the depths of your soul to see the extent of your will — then they have NO business telling you what you can or cannot accomplish. Because, while they may know the odds, they do not know YOU.” – Sandra Kring
“Ignore the naysayers. They don’t know what they’re talking about when it comes to your life! Only you decide what is possible.” – Maria Lesetz
“Surround yourself with ‘yay sayers’ not ‘nay sayers’.” – Lynn Robinson
“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.” – Walter Bagehot
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that but the really great make you feel that you too can become great. When you are seeking to bring big plans to fruition it is important with whom you regularly associate. Hang out with friends who are like-minded and who are also designing purpose-filled lives. Similarly be that kind of a friend for your friends.” – Mark Twain
“The naysayers, they don’t mean a thing.” – Venus Williams
“As an artist you need the naysayers and nonbelievers to add fuel to your creative fire.” – Ice T.
“Keep moving forward, don’t listen to the naysayers, persevere, be persistent.” – Rudy Ruettiger
“I’ve always been inspired even more by any naysayers to keep going for what I really want and they’ve almost been my inspiration many times more so than any positive people around me.” – Christina Aguilera
Related: How to Be Self-Motivated in Life
Copycat Quotes
“In business, your style, your words may be copied. Don’t fret! It only means you’re the best. I’ve never seen someone copying from the worst.”
“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” – Herman Melville
“To refrain from imitation is the best revenge.” – Marcus Aurelius
“To be as good as our fathers we must be better, imitation is not discipleship.” – Wendell Phillips
“I know imitation is the highest form of flattery, but stealing one’s identity is totally different.” – AnnaLynne McCord
“No man was ever great by imitation.” – Samuel Johnson
“The best imitation in the world is not half as good as a poor original.” – Luise Rainer
“I’m into emulation, not imitation.” – Chuck Inglish
“You know you’re winning when you’re being copied.” – Robin Sharma
“You should learn from your competitor, but never copy. Copy and you die.” – Jack Ma
“You can’t copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you’re working without any real feeling.” – Billie Holiday
“Don’t worry about people stealing your design work. Worry about the day they stop.” – Jeffrey Zeldman
“Don’t follow the crowd. Let the crowd follow you.” – Margaret Thatcher
