I have so great a contempt and detestation for meanness…
“I have so great a contempt and detestation for meanness, that I could sooner make a friend of one who had committed murder, than of a person who could be capable, in any instance, of the former vice. Under meanness, I comprehend dishonesty; under dishonesty, ingratitude; under ingratitude, irreligion; and under this latter, every species of vice and immorality in human nature.”
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 despises meanness, linking it to a chain of vices, and would rather befriend a murderer than a meanness person.
In simple terms: Meanness leads to many evils; the author prefers a murderer over a meanness individual.
Key Takeaway
Beware how small vices can spiral into greater immorality.
Themes
morality
vice
human nature
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- ethical debates
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
ethical decay
character flaws
philosophical reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What vices do we overlook in everyday life?
- Can someone be good despite minor flaws?
A Different Perspective
The extreme comparison may exaggerate moral judgments.