--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unfortunately, many regard the critic as…" description: "\"Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead of seeing him as a guide to the truth.\" — Wilhelm Steinitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_chess_unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as_2448944.png" --- # Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead… ![“Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead of seeing him as a guide to the truth.” quote by Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_chess_unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as_2448944.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_chess_unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as_2448944.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_chess_unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as_2448944.png) > “Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead of seeing him as a guide to the truth.” [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that critics are often misperceived as foes rather than valuable sources of truth and improvement. **In simple terms:** Critics can guide us to truth if we see them as allies. Key Takeaway Embrace criticism as a tool for growth. Themes perception criticism truth growth Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - performance reviews - creative projects - academic research - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology communication conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate constructive criticism from destructive? - What steps help you use criticism productively? A Different Perspective Critics may have biases or hidden agendas that can mislead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Critic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critic/) [Critic Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critic-enemy-553398/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-instead-553400/) [Guides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guides/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Regard Critic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard-critic-553399/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Unfortunately Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunately-regard-553401/) ## Related quotes > [“In other words, I mean the formal aspect of a work that has made it possible for critics of all affiliations (Marxist, feminist, postcolonial,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sianne-ngai/in-other-words-i-mean-the-formal-aspect-of-a-work-that-has-made-it/) [Sianne Ngai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sianne-ngai/) > [Its better to keep a honest enemy instead of a good friend, because it hurts when a friend backstabs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghav-singh/its-better-to-keep-a-honest-enemy-instead-of-a-good-friend-because-it/) [Raghav Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghav-singh/) > [Number one, that it is smart to communicate and negotiate with your enemy instead of just waging war with bombs and weapons of mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-c-sorensen/number-one-that-it-is-smart-to-communicate-and-negotiate-with-your/) [Theodore C. Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-c-sorensen/) > [The critic is a man who prefers the indolence of opinion to the trials of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mason-brown/the-critic-is-a-man-who-prefers-the-indolence-of-opinion-to-the/) [John Mason Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mason-brown/) > [The critic is the only independent source of information. The rest is advertising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/the-critic-is-the-only-independent-source-of-information-the-rest-is/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [To be a critic, you have to have maybe three percent education, five percent intelligence, two percent style, and 90 percent gall and egomania…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-crist/to-be-a-critic-you-have-to-have-maybe-three-percent-education-five/) [Judith Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-crist/) > [The television critic, whatever his pretensions, does not labour in the same vineyard as those he criticizes; his grapes are all sour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/the-television-critic-whatever-his-pretensions-does-not-labour-in-the/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [I remember the early 1980s, when I first got one of these fabulous film critic jobs. The downside was sitting through 'Splatteria III: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunter/i-remember-the-early-1980s-when-i-first-got-one-of-these-fabulous/) [Stephen Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunter/) > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [If I weren't an actor, I'd either be a teacher or a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/if-i-weren-t-an-actor-i-d-either-be-a-teacher-or-a-critic/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I am my biggest critic. Even in films where people said they liked me, I have disliked myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-akkineni/i-am-my-biggest-critic-even-in-films-where-people-said-they-liked-me/) [Samantha Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-akkineni/) > [Critics are biased, and so are readers. (Indeed, a critic is a bundle of biases held loosely together by a sense of taste.) But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-balliett/critics-are-biased-and-so-are-readers-indeed-a-critic-is-a-bundle-of/) [Whitney Balliett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-balliett/) > [I am absolutely my own biggest critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/i-am-absolutely-my-own-biggest-critic/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) ## More by Wilhelm Steinitz > [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/) > [In the ending the king is a powerful piece for assisting his own pawns, or stopping the adverse pawns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/in-the-ending-the-king-is-a-powerful-piece-for-assisting-his-own/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if he puts it in my mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-may-be-an-old-lion-but-i-can-still-bite-someone-s-hand-off-if-he/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Only the player with the initiative has the right to attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/only-the-player-with-the-initiative-has-the-right-to-attack/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is not for the faint-hearted; it absorbs a person entirely. To get to the bottom of this game, he has to give himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted-it-absorbs-a-person-entirely-to/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is intellectual gymnastics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-intellectual-gymnastics/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [When you have an advantage, you are obliged to attack; otherwise you are endangered to lose the advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/when-you-have-an-advantage-you-are-obliged-to-attack-otherwise-you/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [No great player blundered oftener than I done. I was champion of the world for twenty-eight years because I was twenty years ahead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/no-great-player-blundered-oftener-than-i-done-i-was-champion-of-the/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is so inspiring that I do not believe a good player is capable of having an evil thought during the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-so-inspiring-that-i-do-not-believe-a-good-player-is-capable/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is difficult, it demands work, serious reflection and zealous research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-difficult-it-demands-work-serious-reflection-and-zealous/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Have you ever seen a monkey examining a watch?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/have-you-ever-seen-a-monkey-examining-a-watch/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I do not believe a good player is capable of having an evil thought during the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-do-not-believe-a-good-player-is-capable-of-having-an-evil-thought/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I would rather die in America than live in England. I would rather lose a match in America than win one in England. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-would-rather-die-in-america-than-live-in-england-i-would-rather/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Chess is not for timid souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/chess-is-not-for-timid-souls/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [I am not a chess historian - I myself am a piece of chess history, which no one can avoid. I will not write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/i-am-not-a-chess-historian-i-myself-am-a-piece-of-chess-history-which/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Explore all 26 Wilhelm Steinitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead of seeing him as a guide to the truth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wilhelm Steinitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as-an-enemy-instead-of-seeing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chess" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as-an-enemy-instead-of-seeing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_chess_unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as_2448944.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_chess_unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as_2448944.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/wilhelm-steinitz-23501_chess_unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as_2448944.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead of seeing him as a guide to the truth.” — Wilhelm Steinitz", "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": "Wilhelm Steinitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Unfortunately, many regard the critic as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as-an-enemy-instead-of-seeing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as-an-enemy-instead-of-seeing/#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 } } ] } ```