Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots.

Clark likens criticism to rainfall: necessary for growth, but only beneficial when delivered in the right measure and manner. Gentle rain sustains plants; a downpour can wash away soil and expose or damage roots. Likewise, feedback should aim to strengthen character and capability rather than humiliate, destabilize, or strip away a person’s confidence and sense of identity. The image implies that effective criticism is both constructive and proportionate—focused on improvement, timed appropriately, and tempered with respect—so that it supports development without undermining the foundations on which a person’s growth depends.