George Clooney’s Rule for Handling Critics: You Win by Creating

Let’s talk about criticism. You know, that wonderful mix of judgment and mostly unsolicited advice that seems to follow anyone doing anything remotely interesting. And if you’ve seen the George Clooney criticism quote from CBS Sunday Morning, you know he captures that sting perfectly.

And when it hits you, it hits hard.

You tell yourself not to care, but like Clooney said, that’s not entirely true: “I don’t think anybody could ever—people say they don’t—but I can’t say that. People will say, ‘I don’t care,’ but I don’t know anyone who fully doesn’t care. ‘Cause it’s hurtful. You know, on the other hand—I get to make ’em. They get to talk about ’em. So I win.”

Simple. Perfect. Movie star-level wisdom.

Because even when criticism stings, creating something still beats sitting on the sidelines.

Critics Have Always Been Loud

Critics didn’t start with Twitter or Rotten Tomatoes. The first one showed up around 350 BCE, Aristotle, probably sitting in the back row of a Greek theater, shouting, “Skip it!” And no one’s stopped since.

We went from critics in newspapers, to Siskel & Ebert on TV, to full-blown online dogpiles. Now, anyone with Wi-Fi can throw shade at your work before they’ve even seen it.

But typing a hot take isn’t creating. It’s not risking anything. You don’t fail when you post a snarky comment. You fail when you make something, share it, and open yourself to the world’s opinion.

And that’s why creators win every time. Because you’re in the arena, not in the comments.

The Real Courage Is in the Making

Think about it. No one remembers the person who left a nasty review on a song. They remember the artist who made the song. The movie. The podcast. The painting. The risk. Critics fade. Work lasts.

And sure, criticism hurts. Whether you’re an actor like Clooney or someone uploading their first TikTok, rejection feels personal. You put a piece of yourself into something, and people judge it in seconds.

But here’s the thing: that’s part of the deal. When you make something, you’re choosing courage over comfort. You’re saying, “I know someone will hate this, but I’m doing it anyway.”

That’s how progress happens. That’s how creators grow. You keep showing up. You keep making.

Clooney’s Rule to Live By

Clooney summed it up better than any self-help book ever could: “I get to make ’em. They get to talk about ’em. So I win.”

It’s not arrogance. It’s clarity. He knows who holds the power—the creator, not the critic. The one who takes the risk, not the one who writes the review.

So when you face criticism—whether it’s a troll online or someone “helpfully” suggesting you do it differently—remember who’s actually creating something.

You are.

You’re doing the thing most people are too scared to do. You’re making something that didn’t exist before you decided to act. That’s the win.