--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People who want to improve should take…" description: "\"People who want to improve should take their defeats as lessons, and endeavor to learn what to avoid in the future. You must also have the courage of y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/jose-raul-capablanca-16410_chess_people-who-want-to-improve-should-take-t_1198905.jpg" --- # People who want to improve should take their defeats as… ![“People who want to improve should take their defeats as lessons, and endeavor to learn what to avoid in the future. You must also have the courage of your convictions. If you think your move is good, make it.” quote by Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/jose-raul-capablanca-16410_chess_people-who-want-to-improve-should-take-t_1198905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/jose-raul-capablanca-16410_chess_people-who-want-to-improve-should-take-t_1198905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/jose-raul-capablanca-16410_chess_people-who-want-to-improve-should-take-t_1198905.jpg) > “People who want to improve should take their defeats as lessons, and endeavor to learn what to avoid in the future. You must also have the courage of your convictions. If you think your move is good, make it.” [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning from defeats builds wisdom; act on convictions when you trust your judgment. **In simple terms:** Learn from loss, act on belief. Key Takeaway Use setbacks as lessons and follow your convictions. Themes growth courage learning Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - sports competition - business ventures - personal projects - academic pursuits Key Concepts reflection decision‑making self‑confidence Questions to Reflect On - What lessons have you learned from past defeats? - When should you trust your intuition over analysis? A Different Perspective Fear of failure can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I want to improve for myself, not for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/i-want-to-improve-for-myself-not-for-other-people/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [Every area of your life deserves gradual improvement. But to start your own personal improvements. sit down and choose the area of your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumesh-nair/every-area-of-your-life-deserves-gradual-improvement-but-to-start/) [Sumesh Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumesh-nair/) > [I want to improve myself; I believe I can be a big player in the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/memphis-depay/i-want-to-improve-myself-i-believe-i-can-be-a-big-player-in-the/) [Memphis Depay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/memphis-depay/) > [I just want to improve as an actor, and I am also fond of dancing and learning musical instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mithila-palkar/i-just-want-to-improve-as-an-actor-and-i-am-also-fond-of-dancing-and/) [Mithila Palkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mithila-palkar/) > [I want to improve my dance moves and achieve perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tresa/i-want-to-improve-my-dance-moves-and-achieve-perfection/) [Catherine Tresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tresa/) > [I want to improve more, and maybe when I am older, I can do more endorsements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-sane/i-want-to-improve-more-and-maybe-when-i-am-older-i-can-do-more/) [Leroy Sane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-sane/) > [I just want to improve and show the people what I can do on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/i-just-want-to-improve-and-show-the-people-what-i-can-do-on-the-pitch/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [I want to improve my bunker, fairway and putting status because that's been my weakness over the last three years. If I can just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/i-want-to-improve-my-bunker-fairway-and-putting-status-because-that-s/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [I have to give all the solutions and feedback to my players if we want to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-silva/i-have-to-give-all-the-solutions-and-feedback-to-my-players-if-we/) [Marco Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-silva/) > [“If You and I want to improve the world, You and I have to improve the school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumit-dahiya/if-you-and-i-want-to-improve-the-world-you-and-i-have-to-improve-the/) Sumit Dahiya > [If I don't win the match I at least want to improve my game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/if-i-don-t-win-the-match-i-at-least-want-to-improve-my-game/) [Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/) > [If you want to improve, you have to set high targets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-dybala/if-you-want-to-improve-you-have-to-set-high-targets/) [Paulo Dybala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-dybala/) > [I prefer being able to choose who I want to help or what I want to improve in the world by making a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/i-prefer-being-able-to-choose-who-i-want-to-help-or-what-i-want-to/) [Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/) > [You don't have any days to spare if you want to improve!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/you-don-t-have-any-days-to-spare-if-you-want-to-improve/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [People, in general, want to improve their lives and the lives of their children and other loved ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/people-in-general-want-to-improve-their-lives-and-the-lives-of-their/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) ## More by Jose Raul Capablanca > [I have not given any drawn or lost games, because I thought them inadequate to the purpose of the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/i-have-not-given-any-drawn-or-lost-games-because-i-thought-them/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [The best way to learn endings, as well as openings, is from the games of the masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/the-best-way-to-learn-endings-as-well-as-openings-is-from-the-games/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [Endings of one rook and pawns are about the most common sort of endings arising on the chess board. Yet though they do occur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/endings-of-one-rook-and-pawns-are-about-the-most-common-sort-of/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [In order to improve your game, you must study the Endgame before everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/in-order-to-improve-your-game-you-must-study-the-endgame-before/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [As one by one I mowed them down, my superiority soon became apparent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/as-one-by-one-i-mowed-them-down-my-superiority-soon-became-apparent/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [The weaker the player the more terrible the Knight is to him, but as a player increases in strength the value of the Bishop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/the-weaker-the-player-the-more-terrible-the-knight-is-to-him-but-as-a/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [“One must attempt to increase whatever weakness there may be in the opponent’s position; or, if there is none, one or more must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/one-must-attempt-to-increase-whatever-weakness-there-may-be-in-the/) [José Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [During the course of many years I have observed that a great number of doctors, lawyers, and important businessmen make a habit of visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/during-the-course-of-many-years-i-have-observed-that-a-great-number/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [In chess, as played by a good player, logic and imagination must go hand in hand, compensating each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/in-chess-as-played-by-a-good-player-logic-and-imagination-must-go/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [Chess books should be used as we use glasses: to assist the sight, although some players make use of them as if they thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/chess-books-should-be-used-as-we-use-glasses-to-assist-the-sight/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [To improve at chess you should in the first instance study the endgame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/to-improve-at-chess-you-should-in-the-first-instance-study-the-endgame/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [Most players ... do not like losing, and consider defeat as something shameful. This is a wrong attitude. Those who wish to perfect themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/most-players-do-not-like-losing-and-consider-defeat-as-something/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [There was a time in my life when I almost thought I could never lose a single duel of chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/there-was-a-time-in-my-life-when-i-almost-thought-i-could-never-lose/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else. For whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/in-order-to-improve-your-game-you-must-study-the-endgame-before-2/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) > [Morphy gained most of his wins by playing directly and simply, and it is simple and logical method that constitutes the true brilliance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-raul-capablanca/morphy-gained-most-of-his-wins-by-playing-directly-and-simply-and-it/) [Jose Raul Capablanca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) [Explore all 40 Jose Raul Capablanca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-raul-capablanca/) ## More Chess 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/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) Simen Agdestein > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/relationships-are-chess-for-women-he-said-they-can-see-the-whole/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [“the shadows. “Why do you think they invented chess?” “He’s got you there,” said the captain, following Fletcher. Jake jogged slightly to catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-blake/the-shadows-why-do-you-think-they-invented-chess-he-s-got-you-there/) [Russell Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-blake/) > [ \[Photographer Julian Wasser\] had this great idea that I should play chess naked with Marcel Duchamp and it seem to be such a great… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/photographer-julian-wasser-had-this-great-idea-that-i-should-play/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Chess is a good mistress but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-abrahams/chess-is-a-good-mistress-but-a-bad-master/) [Gerald Abrahams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-abrahams/) > [I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-am-not-some-sort-of-freak-i-might-be-very-good-at-chess-but-i-m/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/some-sacrifices-are-sound-the-rest-are-mine/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [In high school, my sister went out with the captain of the chess team. My parents loved him... They figured that any guy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kiley/in-high-school-my-sister-went-out-with-the-captain-of-the-chess-team/) [Brian Kiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kiley/) > [The King is a fighting piece. Use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/the-king-is-a-fighting-piece-use-it/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Browse all 2,003 Chess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People who want to improve should take their defeats as lessons, and endeavor to learn what to avoid in the future. You must also have the courage of your convictions. 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