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Venerable to me is the hard hand,--crooked…

“Venerable to me is the hard hand,--crooked, coarse,--wherein, notwithstanding, lies a cunning virtue, indispensably royal as of the sceptre of the planet.” quote by Thomas Carlyle
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“Venerable to me is the hard hand,--crooked, coarse,--wherein, notwithstanding, lies a cunning virtue, indispensably royal as of the sceptre of the planet.”

Thomas Carlyle

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A hard, imperfect hand can possess a noble virtue essential to the world’s order.

In simple terms: Roughness can hide essential noble virtue.

Key Takeaway

Value hidden strengths despite flaws.

Themes

virtue imperfection authority

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • political leadership
  • personal growth
  • ethical decisions

Key Concepts

moral philosophy leadership

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you discern virtue in harsh leaders?
  • Can imperfection coexist with authority?
A Different Perspective

Hardness may be mistaken for cruelty.

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