--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are what you make them. A scornful…" description: "\"People are what you make them. A scornful look turns into a complete fool a man of average intelligence. A contemptuous indifference turns into an enem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/andre-maurois-3217_angel_people-are-what-you-make-them-a-scornful_2157609.jpg" --- # People are what you make them. A scornful look turns into… ![“People are what you make them. A scornful look turns into a complete fool a man of average intelligence. A contemptuous indifference turns into an enemy a woman who, well treated, might have been an angel.” quote by Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/andre-maurois-3217_angel_people-are-what-you-make-them-a-scornful_2157609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/andre-maurois-3217_angel_people-are-what-you-make-them-a-scornful_2157609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/andre-maurois-3217_angel_people-are-what-you-make-them-a-scornful_2157609.jpg) > “People are what you make them. A scornful look turns into a complete fool a man of average intelligence. A contemptuous indifference turns into an enemy a woman who, well treated, might have been an angel.” [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People’s behavior reflects how they are treated; scorn or contempt can degrade even intelligent individuals into foolishness or hostility. **In simple terms:** Treat others well to avoid negative outcomes. Key Takeaway Treat others with respect. Themes respect behavior psychology Mood thoughtful cautionary Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - leadership - education - conflict management Key Concepts social influence self‑fulfilling prophecy Questions to Reflect On - How does your behavior shape others? - Can you change someone’s perception of you? A Different Perspective Even respectful treatment may not prevent negative reactions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average/) [Contemptuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemptuous/) [Contemptuous Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemptuous-indifference-4564522/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Make Scornful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-scornful-4564521/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Scornful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scornful-322876/) [Scornful Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scornful-look-4564523/) [Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [the scornful force of his tone turned the word into a curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/the-scornful-force-of-his-tone-turned-the-word-into-a-curse/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [Charlotte leaned forward across the table. “The Dark Sisters never mentioned what use they intended to make of your abilities, did they?” “You know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/charlotte-leaned-forward-across-the-table-the-dark-sisters-never/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“ Miss Evans was a scornful Max Reinhardt saint. ... She left the room, her hips provocative and fluid. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-latimer/miss-evans-was-a-scornful-max-reinhardt-saint-she-left-the-room-her-2/) [Jonathan Latimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-latimer/) > [Untroubled, scornful, outrageous - that is how wisdom wants us to be: she is a woman and never loves anyone but a warrior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/untroubled-scornful-outrageous-that-is-how-wisdom-wants-us-to-be-she/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The English have a scornful insular way Of calling the French light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-english-have-a-scornful-insular-way-of-calling-the-french-light/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [“Cassie could be affectionate and scornful at the same time, and I always felt that if I wasn't careful, the scorn might win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/cassie-could-be-affectionate-and-scornful-at-the-same-time-and-i/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“...there were none so scornful as those who had had to learn the hard way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bear/there-were-none-so-scornful-as-those-who-had-had-to-learn-the-hard-way/) [Elizabeth Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bear/) > [He had not yet learned that the only safe male rebuke to a scornful female is to stay away from her - especially if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/he-had-not-yet-learned-that-the-only-safe-male-rebuke-to-a-scornful/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [Of all the grief's that harass the distressed; sure the most bitter is a scornful jest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/of-all-the-grief-s-that-harass-the-distressed-sure-the-most-bitter-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [we are so scornful when we are young!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/we-are-so-scornful-when-we-are-young/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [The only safe male rebuke to a scornful female is to stay away from her - especially if that is what she desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/the-only-safe-male-rebuke-to-a-scornful-female-is-to-stay-away-from/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [“She was scornful. “He talks to you personally?” “He talks to everyone personally. Most people just don’t bother to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/she-was-scornful-he-talks-to-you-personally-he-talks-to-everyone/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Not having time for a person, not being able to sit in silence together with somebody, that's the same as rejecting them, as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/not-having-time-for-a-person-not-being-able-to-sit-in-silence/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [Of all the griefs that harass the distressed, sure the most bitter is a scornful jest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/of-all-the-griefs-that-harass-the-distressed-sure-the-most-bitter-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The gods! long since they hold us in contempt, Scornful of gifts thus offered by the lost! Why should we fawn and flinch away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-gods-long-since-they-hold-us-in-contempt-scornful-of-gifts-thus/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) ## More by Andre Maurois > [Style is the outcome of constraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/style-is-the-outcome-of-constraint/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [To reason with poorly chosen words is like using a pair of scales with inaccurate weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/to-reason-with-poorly-chosen-words-is-like-using-a-pair-of-scales/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/no-one-can-be-profoundly-original-who-does-not-avoid-eccentricity/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [It is not events and the things one sees and enjoys that produce happiness, but a state of mind which can endow events with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-not-events-and-the-things-one-sees-and-enjoys-that-produce/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [One has very little influence upon one's children. Their characters are what they are and one can do nothing to change them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/one-has-very-little-influence-upon-one-s-children-their-characters/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [The art of growing old is the art of being regarded by the oncoming generations as a support and not as a stumbling-block...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-art-of-growing-old-is-the-art-of-being-regarded-by-the-oncoming/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“O mare dragoste nu este de ajuns pentru a lega de tine fiinta pe care o iubesti, daca nu te pricepi sa umpli viata…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/o-mare-dragoste-nu-este-de-ajuns-pentru-a-lega-de-tine-fiinta-pe-care/) [André Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Sincerity is glass, discretion is diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/sincerity-is-glass-discretion-is-diamond/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“Old age is far more than white hair, wrinkles, the feeling that it is too late and the game is finished, that the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/old-age-is-far-more-than-white-hair-wrinkles-the-feeling-that-it-is/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [It is often said that in prosperity we have many friends, but that we are usually neglected when things go badly. I disagree. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-have-many-friends-but-that-we/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Modesty and unselfishness - these are the virtues which men praise - and pass by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/modesty-and-unselfishness-these-are-the-virtues-which-men-praise-and/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Inspiration in matters of taste will not come twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/inspiration-in-matters-of-taste-will-not-come-twice/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-reading-of-a-fine-book-is-an-uninterrupted-dialogue-in-which-the/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“Doua fiinte umane ancorate una langa cealalta sunt ca doua corabii leganate de valuri; cocile lor se ciocnesc si gem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/doua-fiinte-umane-ancorate-una-langa-cealalta-sunt-ca-doua-corabii/) [André Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Among the idle rich, boredom is one of the most common causes of unhappiness. People who have difficulty in earning their living may suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/among-the-idle-rich-boredom-is-one-of-the-most-common-causes-of/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) [Explore all 128 Andre Maurois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) ## More Angel quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [If I wer an angel,i would make all your wishes come true..but I'm only a girl a girl who loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/if-i-wer-an-angel-i-would-make-all-your-wishes-come-true-but-i-m-only/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Behind my eyelids, I saw him dancing in spirals of coloured light, emerald, blue, and brilliant purple, enfolding him like the wings of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/behind-my-eyelids-i-saw-him-dancing-in-spirals-of-coloured-light/) [Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [I believe in UFOs, I believe in extraterrestrials, and I believe in angels. And maybe they'll protect all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-believe-in-ufos-i-believe-in-extraterrestrials-and-i-believe-in/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/) [Flower A. Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/) > [Hark the herald angels sing, 'Glory to the new-born king.' Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/hark-the-herald-angels-sing-glory-to-the-new-born-king-peace-on-earth/) [Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 4,625 Angel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People are what you make them. A scornful look turns into a complete fool a man of average intelligence. 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