--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Book critics or theatre critics can be…" description: "\"Book critics or theatre critics can be derisively negative and gain delighted praise for the trenchant with of their review. But in criticisms of relig..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/richard-dawkins-115_aggressive_book-critics-or-theatre-critics-can-be-d_126680.jpg" --- # Book critics or theatre critics can be derisively negative… ![“Book critics or theatre critics can be derisively negative and gain delighted praise for the trenchant with of their review. But in criticisms of religion even clarity ceases to be a virtue and sounds like aggressive hostility. A politician may attack an opponent scathingly across the floor of the…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/richard-dawkins-115_aggressive_book-critics-or-theatre-critics-can-be-d_126680.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/richard-dawkins-115_aggressive_book-critics-or-theatre-critics-can-be-d_126680.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72c/richard-dawkins-115_aggressive_book-critics-or-theatre-critics-can-be-d_126680.jpg) > “Book critics or theatre critics can be derisively negative and gain delighted praise for the trenchant with of their review. But in criticisms of religion even clarity ceases to be a virtue and sounds like aggressive hostility. A politician may attack an opponent scathingly across the floor of the House and earn plaudits for his robust pugnacity. But let a soberly reasoning critic of religion employ what would in other contexts sound merely direct or forthright, and it will be described as a 'rant'.” [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious criticism is unfairly labeled hostile, unlike similar criticism in other fields. **In simple terms:** Religion faces double standards. Key Takeaway Challenge bias in discourse. Themes freedom of speech religion media bias Mood analytical skeptical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - academic debate - public policy Practical Applications - defend equal standards for all topics - expose bias in reviews Questions to Reflect On - Why are religious critiques singled out? - How can we ensure fair criticism? A Different Perspective Critics may overstate bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Clarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clarity/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism of religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-of-religion/) [Hostility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostility/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Rant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rant/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [“For many years, I have been a vocal critic of religion, and I won’t ride the same hobbyhorse here. I hope that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/for-many-years-i-have-been-a-vocal-critic-of-religion-and-i-won-t/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Man makes religion, religion does not make man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/man-makes-religion-religion-does-not-make-man/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/is-he-neither-able-nor-willing-then-why-call-him-god/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The criticism of Religion is the beginning of all criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-criticism-of-religion-is-the-beginning-of-all-criticism/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Criticism has plucked the imaginary flowers on the chain not in order that man shall continue to bear that chain without fantasy or consolation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/criticism-has-plucked-the-imaginary-flowers-on-the-chain-not-in-order-2/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-abolition-of-religion-as-the-illusory-happiness-of-the-people-is/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“The foundation of irreligious criticism is: Man makes religion, religion does not make man. Religion is, indeed, the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-foundation-of-irreligious-criticism-is-man-makes-religion/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Expressions of sharp and even violent criticism of religion and the church have been welcomed, for they usually imply sincerity of thought. If caustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/expressions-of-sharp-and-even-violent-criticism-of-religion-and-the/) [Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/) > [The most important thing is to know how to awaken in the still undeveloped masses an intelligent attitude towards religious questions and an intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/the-most-important-thing-is-to-know-how-to-awaken-in-the-still/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/is-he-able-but-not-willing-then-he-is-malevolent/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The mildest criticism of religion is also the most radical and the most devastating one. Religion is man-made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-mildest-criticism-of-religion-is-also-the-most-radical-and-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Barth was the first theologian to begin the criticism of religion...but he set in its place the positivist doctrine of revelation which says in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/barth-was-the-first-theologian-to-begin-the-criticism-of-religion-but/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/man-would-indeeded-be-in-a-poor-way-if-he-had-to-be-restrained-by/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Authors of published papers and editors of scientific journals can, unfortunately, be slow to come to terms with criticism, and it's good that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gelman/authors-of-published-papers-and-editors-of-scientific-journals-can/) Andrew Gelman ## More by Richard Dawkins > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The fundamentalist Kurt Wise proclaims that all the evidence in the universe would not change his mind. The true scientist, however passionately he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-fundamentalist-kurt-wise-proclaims-that-all-the-evidence-in-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Religions do make claims about the universe--the same kinds of claims that scientists make, except they're usually false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/religions-do-make-claims-about-the-universe-the-same-kinds-of-claims/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/much-of-the-bible-is-not-systematically-evil-but-just-plain-weird-as/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The Roman Catholic Church is an institution for whose gains the phrase "ill-gotten" might have been specially invented. And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/let-us-understand-what-our-own-selfish-genes-are-up-to-because-we-may/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [What's going to happen when I die? I may be buried, or I may be cremated, I may give my body to science. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-s-going-to-happen-when-i-die-i-may-be-buried-or-i-may-be/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We have seen that living things are too improbable and too beautifully 'designed' to have come into existence by chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-have-seen-that-living-things-are-too-improbable-and-too/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“We will not go quietly away. If in the future that requires violence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-will-not-go-quietly-away-if-in-the-future-that-requires-violence/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Explore all 1,239 Richard Dawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More Aggressive quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Passive...Aggressive...Pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/passive-aggressive-pussy/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [I'm not a fan of endless mystery in storytelling - I like to know where the mythology's going; I like to get there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/i-m-not-a-fan-of-endless-mystery-in-storytelling-i-like-to-know-where/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [If I serve good and play aggressive from the baseline, I can beat everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/if-i-serve-good-and-play-aggressive-from-the-baseline-i-can-beat/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [I'm just trying to be aggressive. Be aggressive with my shot. Be aggressive going to the rim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-just-trying-to-be-aggressive-be-aggressive-with-my-shot-be/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [I see other teams playing aggressive, attacking football, they are games I switch on and watch. 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