--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If behind the erratic gunfire of the…" description: "\"If behind the erratic gunfire of the press the author felt that there was another kind of criticism, the opinion of people readingfor the love of readi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/virginia-woolf-49_behinds_if-behind-the-erratic-gunfire-of-the-pre_546120.jpg" --- # If behind the erratic gunfire of the press the author felt… ![“If behind the erratic gunfire of the press the author felt that there was another kind of criticism, the opinion of people readingfor the love of reading, slowly and unprofessionally, and judging with great sympathy and yet with great severity, might this not improve the quality of his work? And…” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/virginia-woolf-49_behinds_if-behind-the-erratic-gunfire-of-the-pre_546120.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/virginia-woolf-49_behinds_if-behind-the-erratic-gunfire-of-the-pre_546120.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/virginia-woolf-49_behinds_if-behind-the-erratic-gunfire-of-the-pre_546120.jpg) > “If behind the erratic gunfire of the press the author felt that there was another kind of criticism, the opinion of people readingfor the love of reading, slowly and unprofessionally, and judging with great sympathy and yet with great severity, might this not improve the quality of his work? And if by our means books were to become stronger, richer, and more varied, that would be an end worth reaching.” [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author suggests that readers who love books, though untrained, offer sincere yet harsh criticism that can elevate a writer’s work, and that improving books is a worthy goal. **In simple terms:** Readers’ honest feedback can improve writing; better books are a noble aim. Key Takeaway Value sincere reader feedback. Themes literature criticism improvement reading authorship Mood reflective optimistic thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - publishing - creative writing - book clubs - educational curricula Key Concepts Reader response literary quality cultural enrichment Questions to Reflect On - How can writers balance professional critique with passionate reader feedback? - What methods can amplify the positive impact of earnest but untrained readers? A Different Perspective Not all readers have the expertise to give constructive criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Author Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-felt-4555554/) [Become Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become-strong/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-opinion-2340304/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Erratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erratic/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-criticism-1302242/) [Literary criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-criticism/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love of reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-reading/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Readingfor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-readingfor-4555553/) [Presses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presses/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Severity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/severity/) [Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“The people who believe themselves superior to you will reveal themselves in how they respond to criticism from you. An opinion of anyone carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-people-who-believe-themselves-superior-to-you-will-reveal/) [Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/) > [I want to be engaged and moved by theatre, there's nothing more disappointing than being left cold. After 'The Author,' I felt wrung out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-want-to-be-engaged-and-moved-by-theatre-there-s-nothing-more/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [What is meant by reality? It would seem to be something very erratic, very undependable - now to be found in a dusty road,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-is-meant-by-reality-it-would-seem-to-be-something-very-erratic/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [When you are writing the kind of criticism you hope you're writing, everything depends on keeping your calm or your cool. You're trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/when-you-are-writing-the-kind-of-criticism-you-hope-you-re-writing/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) > [I have been frequently accused of deliberately twisting subject matter to my point of view. Above all, I know that life for a photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frank/i-have-been-frequently-accused-of-deliberately-twisting-subject/) [Robert Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frank/) > [It's the difference between someone who loves you more than anything in the world giving you criticism and getting it from some bitter stranger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/it-s-the-difference-between-someone-who-loves-you-more-than-anything/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [We will take almost any kind of criticism except the observation that we have no sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/we-will-take-almost-any-kind-of-criticism-except-the-observation-that/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [As a director, you're open to any kind of criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-melfi/as-a-director-you-re-open-to-any-kind-of-criticism/) [Theodore Melfi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-melfi/) > [“No matter what kind of criticism is thrown your way; always remember that you are special.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hart/no-matter-what-kind-of-criticism-is-thrown-your-way-always-remember/) [Barbara Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hart/) > [It is a barren kind of criticism which tells you what a thing is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-whitney-griswold/it-is-a-barren-kind-of-criticism-which-tells-you-what-a-thing-is-not/) [Alfred Whitney Griswold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-whitney-griswold/) > [There are some people in our lives who make us feel small and insignificant. The only kind of criticism you should listen to are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/there-are-some-people-in-our-lives-who-make-us-feel-small-and/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Time collapses and expands like an erratic accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/time-collapses-and-expands-like-an-erratic-accordion/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [ \[...\]my memory is reasonably good—unlike yours, dear sir!” “Mine is erratic,” he said imperturbably. “I remember only what interests me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/my-memory-is-reasonably-good-unlike-yours-dear-sir-mine-is-erratic-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Juliet's version of cleanliness was next to godliness, which was to say it was erratic, past all understanding and was seldom seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/juliet-s-version-of-cleanliness-was-next-to-godliness-which-was-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The course of the flight up and down was exceedingly erratic, partly due to the irregularity of the air, and partly to lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orville-wright/the-course-of-the-flight-up-and-down-was-exceedingly-erratic-partly/) [Orville Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orville-wright/) ## More by Virginia Woolf > [Fatigue is the safest sleeping draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/fatigue-is-the-safest-sleeping-draught/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“The train slows and lengthens, as we approach London, the centre, and my heart draws out too, in fear, in exaltation. I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-train-slows-and-lengthens-as-we-approach-london-the-centre-and-my/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword. On one side all is correct, definite, orderly; the paths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/across-the-broad-continent-of-a-woman-s-life-falls-the-shadow-of-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Other worshipful objects were content with worship; men, women, God, all let one kneel prostrate; but this form, were it only the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/other-worshipful-objects-were-content-with-worship-men-women-god-all/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Why does Samuel Butler say, 'Wise men never say what they think of women'? Wise men never say anything else apparently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/why-does-samuel-butler-say-wise-men-never-say-what-they-think-of/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Sometimes he woke with a brain like lead; at others it was as if a thousand wax tapers were alight and people were throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/sometimes-he-woke-with-a-brain-like-lead-at-others-it-was-as-if-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [A veil of insanity everywhere: Oh why I was born in this age? It is a terrible age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-veil-of-insanity-everywhere-oh-why-i-was-born-in-this-age-it-is-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Love ought to stop on both sides, don’t you think, simultaneously?’ He spoke without any stress on the words, so as not to wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/love-ought-to-stop-on-both-sides-don-t-you-think-simultaneously-he/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“It is so vast an alleviation to be able to point for another to look at. And then not to talk. To follow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/it-is-so-vast-an-alleviation-to-be-able-to-point-for-another-to-look/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“What a vast fertility of pleasure books hold for me! (...) I think I could happily live here & read forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-vast-fertility-of-pleasure-books-hold-for-me-i-think-i-could/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“what a luxury to be alone once more,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-luxury-to-be-alone-once-more/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“...a woman writing thinks back through her mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-woman-writing-thinks-back-through-her-mothers/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“For one's children so often gave one's own perceptions a little thrust forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/for-one-s-children-so-often-gave-one-s-own-perceptions-a-little/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“She would not say of anyone in the world now that they were this or were that. She felt very young; at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-would-not-say-of-anyone-in-the-world-now-that-they-were-this-or/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) [Explore all 1,872 Virginia Woolf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) [Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If behind the erratic gunfire of the press the author felt that there was another kind of criticism, the opinion of people readingfor the love of reading, slowly and unprofessionally, and judging with great sympathy and yet with great severity, might this not improve the quality of his work? 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