--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must subdue our detestable habit of…" description: "\"“We must subdue our detestable habit of shaking hands with prosperous rascals and fawning upon the merely rich.”\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/ambrose-bierce-140_habits_we-must-subdue-our-detestable-habit-of-s_274933.jpg" --- # We must subdue our detestable habit of shaking hands with… ![“We must subdue our detestable habit of shaking hands with prosperous rascals and fawning upon the merely rich.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/ambrose-bierce-140_habits_we-must-subdue-our-detestable-habit-of-s_274933.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/ambrose-bierce-140_habits_we-must-subdue-our-detestable-habit-of-s_274933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b40/ambrose-bierce-140_habits_we-must-subdue-our-detestable-habit-of-s_274933.jpg) > ““We must subdue our detestable habit of shaking hands with prosperous rascals and fawning upon the merely rich.”” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We should avoid flattering the wealthy and instead focus on moral character. **In simple terms:** Don’t praise the rich for wealth alone. Key Takeaway Value integrity over status. Themes ethics social critique wealth Mood skeptical wry Type satire philosophical When to use this quote - political commentary - social media - networking events Key Concepts morality class dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize genuine merit? - When is it appropriate to challenge wealth‑based admiration? A Different Perspective Critique may be seen as cynicism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Detestable Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detestable-habit-2678850/) [Habit Shaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-shaking-2678851/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Hands Prosperous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-prosperous-2678852/) [Prosperous Rascals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperous-rascals-2678853/) [Shaking hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaking-hands/) ## Related quotes > [As I grow older, I regret to say that a detestable habit of thinking seems to be getting a hold of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rider-haggard/as-i-grow-older-i-regret-to-say-that-a-detestable-habit-of-thinking/) [H. Rider Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rider-haggard/) > [I never know if the person I'm shaking hands with is coming to kill me. That's something you have to live with when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-never-know-if-the-person-i-m-shaking-hands-with-is-coming-to-kill/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Shaking hands with the Queen of England was a long way from being forced to sit in the colored section of the bus going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/shaking-hands-with-the-queen-of-england-was-a-long-way-from-being/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I'm a bit of an introvert, so after talking for an hour and then shaking hands and taking pictures with the people who came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shaffir/i-m-a-bit-of-an-introvert-so-after-talking-for-an-hour-and-then/) [Ari Shaffir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shaffir/) > [I'm not going to be one of those guys who changes, and all of a sudden I'm shaking hands and kissing babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-ziggler/i-m-not-going-to-be-one-of-those-guys-who-changes-and-all-of-a-sudden/) [Dolph Ziggler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-ziggler/) > [And I think to myself what a wonderful world. Oh, yeah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/and-i-think-to-myself-what-a-wonderful-world-oh-yeah/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I remember very clearly someone saying, 'Don't shake hands with the cactus,' and I thought, 'Well, why not? What could possibly go wrong?' Shaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-remember-very-clearly-someone-saying-don-t-shake-hands-with-the/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I -- I alone know how to mourn for him as he deserves.' But while we were still shaking hands, such a look of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-i-alone-know-how-to-mourn-for-him-as-he-deserves-but-while-we-were/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people goin' by I see friends shaking hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-colors-of-the-rainbow-so-pretty-in-the-sky-are-also-on-the-faces/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [Judge not man by his outward manifestation of faith; for some there are who tremblingly reach out shaking hands to the guidance of faith;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/judge-not-man-by-his-outward-manifestation-of-faith-for-some-there/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Your mind must always go, even while you're shaking hands and going through all the maneuvers. I developed the ability long ago to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/your-mind-must-always-go-even-while-you-re-shaking-hands-and-going/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [People started shaking hands with strangers to show that neither was holding a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-started-shaking-hands-with-strangers-to-show-that-neither-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We just finished shaking hands with all of the fans. I feel very good. They are cute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onew/we-just-finished-shaking-hands-with-all-of-the-fans-i-feel-very-good/) [Onew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onew/) > [ You can't believe any picture nowadays, if it's digital. You can't really believe. If you see me shaking hands with Mr. \[Barack\] Obama, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/you-can-t-believe-any-picture-nowadays-if-it-s-digital-you-can-t/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [A Relationship Doesnt Shine By Just Shaking Hands In Best Times.. But, It Blossoms By Holding Hands Firmly In Critical Times..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-relationship-doesnt-shine-by-just-shaking-hands-in-best-times-but/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Habits quotes > [“Malchut is also the Alma D’Itgalya, “the Revealed World.” Here our latent potential is actualized through behavior and expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laibl-wolf/malchut-is-also-the-alma-d-itgalya-the-revealed-world-here-our-latent/) [Laibl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laibl-wolf/) > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. 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