--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the greatest thing ye can…" description: "\"“What is the greatest thing ye can experience? It is the hour of great contempt. The hour in which even your happiness becometh loathsome unto you, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/anonymous-1_happiness_what-is-the-greatest-thing-ye-can-experi_1595088.jpg" --- # What is the greatest thing ye can experience? It is the… ![“What is the greatest thing ye can experience? It is the hour of great contempt. The hour in which even your happiness becometh loathsome unto you, and so also your reason and virtue. The hour when ye say: "What good is my happiness! It is poverty and pollution and wretched self-complacency. But my…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/anonymous-1_happiness_what-is-the-greatest-thing-ye-can-experi_1595088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/anonymous-1_happiness_what-is-the-greatest-thing-ye-can-experi_1595088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/anonymous-1_happiness_what-is-the-greatest-thing-ye-can-experi_1595088.jpg) > ““What is the greatest thing ye can experience? It is the hour of great contempt. The hour in which even your happiness becometh loathsome unto you, and so also your reason and virtue. The hour when ye say: "What good is my happiness! It is poverty and pollution and wretched self-complacency. But my happiness should justify existence itself!" The hour when ye say: "What good is my reason! Doth it long for knowledge as the lion for his food? It is poverty and pollution and wretched self-complacency!" The hour when ye say: "What good is my virtue! As yet it hath not made me passionate. How weary I am of my good and my bad! It is all poverty and pollution and wretched self-complacency!" The hour when ye say: "What good is my justice! I do not see that I am fervour and fuel. The just, however, are fervour and fuel!" The hour when ye say: "What good is my pity! Is not pity the cross on which he is nailed who loveth man? But my pity is not a crucifixion.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage critiques the pursuit of happiness, reason, virtue, justice, and pity when they become self‑serving, arguing they can turn into hollow, polluted concepts. **In simple terms:** Seeking meaning can become self‑absorbed. Key Takeaway Beware of empty virtues. Themes philosophy self‑reflection critique existential morality Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - personal journaling - ethical debates - philosophy classes - spiritual counseling Key Concepts nihilism self‑deception moral fatigue Questions to Reflect On - What drives your pursuit of virtue? - When does self‑reflection become self‑criticism? A Different Perspective It may overlook genuine joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-contempt-1100643/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Crucifixion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-crucifixion-6053102/) [Pity Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-pity-554041/) [Unto Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unto-reason-6053103/) ## Related quotes > [“If reason is a rebel unto faith, so is passion unto reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/if-reason-is-a-rebel-unto-faith-so-is-passion-unto-reason/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [Compassion and pity are not the same: pity is looking down on someone, feeling sorry for them and offering nothing; compassion is seeing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasinda-wilder/compassion-and-pity-are-not-the-same-pity-is-looking-down-on-someone/) [Jasinda Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasinda-wilder/) > [The recognition of pain and fear in others give rise in us to pity, and in our pity is our humanity, our redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/the-recognition-of-pain-and-fear-in-others-give-rise-in-us-to-pity/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“What a pity Bilbo did not stab the vile creature, when he had a chance! Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/what-a-pity-bilbo-did-not-stab-the-vile-creature-when-he-had-a-chance/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [It will become a pity when you fail to carry out your responsibility as a mortal human being, that Mr. pity can never pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my/it-will-become-a-pity-when-you-fail-to-carry-out-your-responsibility/) [My](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/my/) > [“Pity me'--the unspoken words upon a nation's lips--'because I am indeed pitiable. I have been deprived of freedom--yes, of course, all that. And of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/pity-me-the-unspoken-words-upon-a-nation-s-lips-because-i-am-indeed/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [“Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/pity-it-was-pity-that-stayed-his-hand-pity-and-mercy-not-to-strike/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“People can only get to know each other up to a point and then they make up the rest, until one day, seeing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabahattin-ali/people-can-only-get-to-know-each-other-up-to-a-point-and-then-they/) [Sabahattin Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabahattin-ali/) > [What is the greatest thing ye can experience? It is the hour of great contempt. The hour in which even your happiness becometh loathsome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-is-the-greatest-thing-ye-can-experience-it-is-the-hour-of-great/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nothing-says-longinus-can-be-great-the-contempt-of-which-is-great/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [It is possible to indulge too great contempt for mere success, which is frequently attended with all the practical advantages of merit itself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-benton-clulow/it-is-possible-to-indulge-too-great-contempt-for-mere-success-which/) [William Benton Clulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-benton-clulow/) > [“He gave me a look of great contempt; as I supposed, for venturing, even by implication, to draw a parallel between a lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/he-gave-me-a-look-of-great-contempt-as-i-supposed-for-venturing-even/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [Herein is not only a great vanity, but a great contempt of God's good gifts, that the sweetness of man's breath, being a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-james-i/herein-is-not-only-a-great-vanity-but-a-great-contempt-of-god-s-good/) [King James I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-james-i/) > [“All she felt was pity, and pity was death to desire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/all-she-felt-was-pity-and-pity-was-death-to-desire/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“In the strangely simple economy of the world people only get what they give, and to those who have not enough imagination to penetrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-the-strangely-simple-economy-of-the-world-people-only-get-what/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. 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I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. 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