--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even a bad review is still a review. It…" description: "\"“Even a bad review is still a review. It means someone cared enough to take the time to say: Hey, this sucks. Don’t bother. Buy a DVD instead...Yes, so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/c-w-gortner-23223_bad-reviews_even-a-bad-review-is-still-a-review-it-m_1026277.jpg" --- # Even a bad review is still a review. It means someone… ![“Even a bad review is still a review. It means someone cared enough to take the time to say: Hey, this sucks. Don’t bother. Buy a DVD instead...Yes, someone cared. And isn’t that what every writer dreams of?...So, how did I deal with bad reviews? How else? I cry. I get mad. I pretend not to care…” quote by C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/c-w-gortner-23223_bad-reviews_even-a-bad-review-is-still-a-review-it-m_1026277.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/c-w-gortner-23223_bad-reviews_even-a-bad-review-is-still-a-review-it-m_1026277.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/c-w-gortner-23223_bad-reviews_even-a-bad-review-is-still-a-review-it-m_1026277.jpg) > ““Even a bad review is still a review. It means someone cared enough to take the time to say: Hey, this sucks. Don’t bother. Buy a DVD instead...Yes, someone cared. And isn’t that what every writer dreams of?...So, how did I deal with bad reviews? How else? I cry. I get mad. I pretend not to care. Then I pour myself a glass of wine and call a friend to complain.”” [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bad reviews indicate someone engaged enough to give feedback, even if negative, showing audience interest. **In simple terms:** A bad review still means someone cared. Key Takeaway Accept feedback, process emotions, seek support. Themes feedback resilience creative process Mood reflective determined Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - author self‑reflection - publishing - marketing - mental health coping Key Concepts criticism emotional regulation support networks Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn criticism into growth? - What support systems help you stay balanced? A Different Perspective Negative reviews can discourage and may not reflect broader audience opinion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-review/) [Bad reviews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-reviews/) [Cared Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cared-isn-2317118/) [Friend Complain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-complain-2317117/) [Review Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/review-means-2317116/) [Reviews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reviews/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“A bad review – or several— is, of course, one of the unavoidable pitfalls of being published.Some authors cry. Others get drunk. Most get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/a-bad-review-or-several-is-of-course-one-of-the-unavoidable-pitfalls/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [I never expected to be in the papers. I personally never expected to be in the papers. The height of my ambition for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-never-expected-to-be-in-the-papers-i-personally-never-expected-to/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [You know, you get a bad review as a writer, you remember it for 10 years. You get a hundred good reviews, you forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/you-know-you-get-a-bad-review-as-a-writer-you-remember-it-for-10/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [If I get a bad review, I dont take it personally because everyone is entitled to their opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/if-i-get-a-bad-review-i-dont-take-it-personally-because-everyone-is/) [Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/) > [I was very vulnerable to criticism for many years. I could read a bad review and remember it my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-was-very-vulnerable-to-criticism-for-many-years-i-could-read-a-bad/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [One bad review doesn't ruin my day because I realize what a badge of honor it is to get a bit of criticism at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/one-bad-review-doesn-t-ruin-my-day-because-i-realize-what-a-badge-of/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [A bad review may spoil your breakfast, but you shouldn't allow it to spoil your lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/a-bad-review-may-spoil-your-breakfast-but-you-shouldn-t-allow-it-to/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [One thing I noticed over time is that if I got a bad review, usually the bad part of it was at the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/one-thing-i-noticed-over-time-is-that-if-i-got-a-bad-review-usually/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [In my game, you get brokenhearted a bit. 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I go, 'Okay, they didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/i-prefer-a-good-review-a-bad-review-that-dismisses-us-i-take-it-with/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [Since I got a really bad review when I was, like, 28 in 'The New York Times,' I don't read reviews anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-peet/since-i-got-a-really-bad-review-when-i-was-like-28-in-the-new-york/) [Amanda Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-peet/) > [Writers are funny about reviews: when they get a good one they ignore it-- but when they get a bad review they never forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/writers-are-funny-about-reviews-when-they-get-a-good-one-they-ignore/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [With all of my films if I get one bad review and a bunch of good reviews the bad one is the only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farrelly/with-all-of-my-films-if-i-get-one-bad-review-and-a-bunch-of-good/) [Peter Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farrelly/) ## More by C.W. Gortner > [“The truth is, not one of is innocent. We all have sins to confess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/the-truth-is-not-one-of-is-innocent-we-all-have-sins-to-confess/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“Youth is no protection; in the end, life scars us all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/youth-is-no-protection-in-the-end-life-scars-us-all/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“The world is only as small as we see it, my lady. Imagination knows no limits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/the-world-is-only-as-small-as-we-see-it-my-lady-imagination-knows-no/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“There are moments that define our existence, moments that, if we recognize them, become pivotal turning points in our life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/there-are-moments-that-define-our-existence-moments-that-if-we/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“You may come as a proud prince today young Habsburg. But you shall travel many more roads in Castile in death than you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/you-may-come-as-a-proud-prince-today-young-habsburg-but-you-shall/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“You'll fare beer without love. We Medici always do." As soon as I spoke, I regretted it. I'd remembered Papa Clement's phrase exactly, used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/you-ll-fare-beer-without-love-we-medici-always-do-as-soon-as-i-spoke/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“I’m married already—to my work.” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/i-m-married-already-to-my-work-i/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“Was it worth it?" she sighed "I have found it is always worth fighting for what we believe in, regardless of the outcome. Risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/was-it-worth-it-she-sighed-i-have-found-it-is-always-worth-fighting/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“having someone I could belong to was a lure I’d always both fought against and gravitated to. I did not like the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/having-someone-i-could-belong-to-was-a-lure-i-d-always-both-fought/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“Vote for me, Adolf Hitler, and I’ll restore Germany to its rightful glory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/vote-for-me-adolf-hitler-and-i-ll-restore-germany-to-its-rightful/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“Love is a treacherous emotion. You will fare better without it. We Medici always have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/love-is-a-treacherous-emotion-you-will-fare-better-without-it-we/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) > [“A bad review – or several— is, of course, one of the unavoidable pitfalls of being published.Some authors cry. Others get drunk. Most get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/a-bad-review-or-several-is-of-course-one-of-the-unavoidable-pitfalls/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) [Explore all 13 C.W. Gortner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) ## More Bad review quotes > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [One bad review doesn't ruin my day because I realize what a badge of honor it is to get a bit of criticism at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/one-bad-review-doesn-t-ruin-my-day-because-i-realize-what-a-badge-of/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Writers are funny about reviews: when they get a good one they ignore it-- but when they get a bad review they never forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/writers-are-funny-about-reviews-when-they-get-a-good-one-they-ignore/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [Since I got a really bad review when I was, like, 28 in 'The New York Times,' I don't read reviews anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-peet/since-i-got-a-really-bad-review-when-i-was-like-28-in-the-new-york/) [Amanda Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-peet/) > [I was very vulnerable to criticism for many years. I could read a bad review and remember it my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-was-very-vulnerable-to-criticism-for-many-years-i-could-read-a-bad/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [If I get a bad review, I don't take it personally because everyone is entitled to their opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/if-i-get-a-bad-review-i-don-t-take-it-personally-because-everyone-is/) [Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/) > [If I get a bad review, I dont take it personally because everyone is entitled to their opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/if-i-get-a-bad-review-i-dont-take-it-personally-because-everyone-is/) [Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/) > [With all of my films if I get one bad review and a bunch of good reviews the bad one is the only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farrelly/with-all-of-my-films-if-i-get-one-bad-review-and-a-bunch-of-good/) [Peter Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farrelly/) > [I prefer a good review. A bad review that dismisses us... I take it with a grain of salt. I go, 'Okay, they didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/i-prefer-a-good-review-a-bad-review-that-dismisses-us-i-take-it-with/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [I don't read my reviews. Unless I'm unfortunate enough to catch something by accident, which happens, and it's always a bad review. Always, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-don-t-read-my-reviews-unless-i-m-unfortunate-enough-to-catch/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I was in the original cast of 'Wicked', and that got a bad review in 'The New York Times,' and it's the most successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-leo-butz/i-was-in-the-original-cast-of-wicked-and-that-got-a-bad-review-in-the/) [Norbert Leo Butz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-leo-butz/) > [You know, you get a bad review as a writer, you remember it for 10 years. You get a hundred good reviews, you forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/you-know-you-get-a-bad-review-as-a-writer-you-remember-it-for-10/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [I never expected to be in the papers. I personally never expected to be in the papers. The height of my ambition for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-never-expected-to-be-in-the-papers-i-personally-never-expected-to/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [The only thing worse than a bad review from the Ayatollah Khomeini would be a good review from the Ayatollah Khomeini.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-only-thing-worse-than-a-bad-review-from-the-ayatollah-khomeini/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [A bad review is even less important than whether it is raining in Patagonia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/a-bad-review-is-even-less-important-than-whether-it-is-raining-in/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) [Browse all 43 Bad review quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-review/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even a bad review is still a review. It means someone cared enough to take the time to say: Hey, this sucks. Don’t bother. Buy a DVD instead...Yes, someone cared. 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