" Washington
grew as a leader because he engaged in searching self- criticism. “I can bear to hear
of imputed or real errors,” he once wrote. “The man who wishes to stand well in the
opinion of others must do this, because he is thereby enabled to correct his faults
or remove prejudices which are imbibed against him.”41 The one thing Washington
could not abide was when people published criticisms of him without first giving
him a chance to respond privately "

― Ron Chernow , Washington: A Life