--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest compliment one can pay a…" description: "\"The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare him with Capablanca.\" — Irving Chernev" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/irving-chernev-46929_capablanca_the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-ma_1692886.png" --- # The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare… ![“The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare him with Capablanca.” quote by Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/irving-chernev-46929_capablanca_the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-ma_1692886.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/irving-chernev-46929_capablanca_the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-ma_1692886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/irving-chernev-46929_capablanca_the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-ma_1692886.png) > “The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare him with Capablanca.” [Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respecting a master is shown by likening them to the greatest, Capablanca, highlighting excellence. **In simple terms:** Compare a master to the best to show respect. Key Takeaway Show respect by praising excellence. Themes respect excellence chess mastery Mood admiring thoughtful Type inspirational appreciative When to use this quote - teaching - competitions - celebrations - awards Key Concepts comparison flattery legacy Questions to Reflect On - How does comparing to a legend affect perception? - What other ways can you honor a mentor? A Different Perspective May overlook other worthy qualities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capablanca/) [Compare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compare/) [Compare Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compare-capablanca-1072944/) [Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Greatest Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-compliment-905388/) [Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master/) [Master Compare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master-compare-1072945/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) ## Related quotes > [As a horn player, the greatest compliment one can get is when a person comes to you and says, 'I heard this saxophone on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-clemons/as-a-horn-player-the-greatest-compliment-one-can-get-is-when-a-person/) [Clarence Clemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-clemons/) > [Tell me I'm beautiful, it's nothing. Tell me I'm intellectual - I know it. Tell me I'm funny and it's the greatest compliment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-newmar/tell-me-i-m-beautiful-it-s-nothing-tell-me-i-m-intellectual-i-know-it/) [Julie Newmar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-newmar/) > [The greatest compliment that anyone can pay me is that after I say something, they remember it. I'll go over a piece of copy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-kasem/the-greatest-compliment-that-anyone-can-pay-me-is-that-after-i-say/) [Casey Kasem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-kasem/) > [The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-greatest-compliment-that-was-ever-paid-me-was-when-one-asked-me/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > ["You're more trouble than the children are" is the greatest compliment a grandparent can receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-perret/you-re-more-trouble-than-the-children-are-is-the-greatest-compliment/) [Gene Perret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-perret/) > [Whenever anybody does well spiritually, I usually ignore them. It's the greatest compliment I can pay them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/whenever-anybody-does-well-spiritually-i-usually-ignore-them-it-s-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The greatest compliment I ever got was when people called me an artist, and I understand that solo aspect of being an artist, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-greatest-compliment-i-ever-got-was-when-people-called-me-an/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [I have never pretended to be a great House of Commons man, but I pay the House the greatest compliment I can by saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-have-never-pretended-to-be-a-great-house-of-commons-man-but-i-pay/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [That's the greatest compliment I can get: when somebody from Key West says, 'Hey, Bubba.' That means I'm in!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/that-s-the-greatest-compliment-i-can-get-when-somebody-from-key-west/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [I am a writer and the greatest compliment I can get is to know that I've contributed language to the culture, that I've defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/i-am-a-writer-and-the-greatest-compliment-i-can-get-is-to-know-that-i/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [For Zidane to say he's impressed - well, that's the greatest compliment! He was my role model, I just loved to see him play,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/for-zidane-to-say-he-s-impressed-well-that-s-the-greatest-compliment/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [ The greatest compliment of the book \[One Thousand Gifts\]? Maybe the Muslim man in Iraq who was given the book and came to a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-greatest-compliment-of-the-book-one-thousand-gifts-maybe-the/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [So it's the greatest compliment in the world when people want to hear you sing. That means it feels good to them, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/so-it-s-the-greatest-compliment-in-the-world-when-people-want-to-hear/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) > [The greatest compliment I get about my writing is when people say, 'How did you know so much about me?' And of course, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-greatest-compliment-i-get-about-my-writing-is-when-people-say-how/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Jealousy is the greatest compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jealousy-is-the-greatest-compliment/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Irving Chernev > [On the chessboard, if nowhere else, justice does triumph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/on-the-chessboard-if-nowhere-else-justice-does-triumph/) [Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) > [Every Chess master was once a beginner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/every-chess-master-was-once-a-beginner/) [Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) > [The sign of a great Master is his ability to win a won game quickly and painlessly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/the-sign-of-a-great-master-is-his-ability-to-win-a-won-game-quickly/) [Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) > [Play the move that forces the win in the simplest way. Leave the brilliancies to Alekhine, Keres and Tal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/play-the-move-that-forces-the-win-in-the-simplest-way-leave-the/) [Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) > [Chess is not for the timid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/chess-is-not-for-the-timid/) [Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) > [The best initial move for white is 1. P-K4.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/the-best-initial-move-for-white-is-1-p-k4/) [Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) > [If once a man delays castling and his king remains in the center, files will open up against him, bishops sweep the board, rooks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/if-once-a-man-delays-castling-and-his-king-remains-in-the-center/) [Irving Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) [Explore all 8 Irving Chernev quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/) ## More Capablanca quotes > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [Never before and never since have I seen - and I cannot even imagine, such an amazing rapidity of chess thinking that Capablanca possessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/never-before-and-never-since-have-i-seen-and-i-cannot-even-imagine/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [I can remember a case where Capablanca worked out an impressive combination, but then chose to make a simple move in answer to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/i-can-remember-a-case-where-capablanca-worked-out-an-impressive/) [Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/) > [Capablanca's play produced and still produces an irresistable artistic effect. In his games a tendency towards simplicity predominated, and in this simplicity there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-botvinnik/capablanca-s-play-produced-and-still-produces-an-irresistable/) [Mikhail Botvinnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-botvinnik/) > [Capablanca possessed an amazing ability to quickly see into a position and intuitively grasp its main features. His style, one of the purest, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/capablanca-possessed-an-amazing-ability-to-quickly-see-into-a/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Capablanca used to talk calmly and moderately about everything. However, when our conversation turned to the problems of the battle for the world championship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-koblencs/capablanca-used-to-talk-calmly-and-moderately-about-everything/) [Alexander Koblencs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-koblencs/) > [Poor Capablanca! Thou wert a brilliant technician, but no philosopher. Thou wert not capable of believing that in chess, another style could be victorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-euwe/poor-capablanca-thou-wert-a-brilliant-technician-but-no-philosopher/) [Max Euwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-euwe/) > [Without technique it is impossible to reach the top in chess, and therefore we all try to borrow from Capablanca his wonderful, subtle technique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/without-technique-it-is-impossible-to-reach-the-top-in-chess-and/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [No one has ever played these endgames with such elegant ease as Capablanca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reti/no-one-has-ever-played-these-endgames-with-such-elegant-ease-as/) [Richard Reti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reti/) > [For my victory over Capablanca I am indebted primarily to my superiority in the field of psychology. Capablanca played, relying almost exclusively on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/for-my-victory-over-capablanca-i-am-indebted-primarily-to-my/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [I honestly feel very humble when I study Capablanca's games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-euwe/i-honestly-feel-very-humble-when-i-study-capablanca-s-games/) [Max Euwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-euwe/) > [One interesting indication of Capablanca's greatness is that to non-chess players his name was better known than the names of all other chess masters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-reinfeld/one-interesting-indication-of-capablanca-s-greatness-is-that-to-non/) [Fred Reinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-reinfeld/) > [The ideal in chess can only be a collective image, but in my opinion it is Capablanca who most closely approaches this ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-karpov/the-ideal-in-chess-can-only-be-a-collective-image-but-in-my-opinion/) [Anatoly Karpov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-karpov/) > [As with Steinitz, Fischer's genius has often been concealed by controversies away from the board. Like Lasker, Fischer has raised chess to new financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-soltis/as-with-steinitz-fischer-s-genius-has-often-been-concealed-by/) [Andrew Soltis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-soltis/) > [Capablanca plays very superficially sometimes, in a way that can only be ascribed to lack of concentration. This is an integral weakness of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-euwe/capablanca-plays-very-superficially-sometimes-in-a-way-that-can-only/) [Max Euwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-euwe/) [Browse all 30 Capablanca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capablanca/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare him with Capablanca.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irving Chernev" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-master-is-to-compare-him-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capablanca" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-master-is-to-compare-him-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/irving-chernev-46929_capablanca_the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-ma_1692886.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/irving-chernev-46929_capablanca_the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-ma_1692886.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88b/irving-chernev-46929_capablanca_the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-ma_1692886.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest compliment one can pay a master is to compare him with Capablanca.” — Irving Chernev", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Irving Chernev", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-chernev/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greatest compliment one can pay...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-master-is-to-compare-him-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-chernev/the-greatest-compliment-one-can-pay-a-master-is-to-compare-him-with/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```