--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A great and frequent error in our…" description: "\"A great and frequent error in our judgment of human nature is to suppose that those sentiments and feelings have no existence, which may be only for a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/arthur-helps-5833_character_a-great-and-frequent-error-in-our-judgme_2232649.png" --- # A great and frequent error in our judgment of human nature… ![“A great and frequent error in our judgment of human nature is to suppose that those sentiments and feelings have no existence, which may be only for a time concealed. The precious metals are not found at the surface of the earth, except in sandy places.” quote by Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/arthur-helps-5833_character_a-great-and-frequent-error-in-our-judgme_2232649.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/arthur-helps-5833_character_a-great-and-frequent-error-in-our-judgme_2232649.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/arthur-helps-5833_character_a-great-and-frequent-error-in-our-judgme_2232649.png) > “A great and frequent error in our judgment of human nature is to suppose that those sentiments and feelings have no existence, which may be only for a time concealed. The precious metals are not found at the surface of the earth, except in sandy places.” [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests hidden truths and values are like deep minerals, not visible on the surface. **In simple terms:** Deep truths are hidden like minerals. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding. Themes philosophy perception truth Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - self‑reflection - psychology - spiritual practice - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts metaphor human nature Questions to Reflect On - What hidden values guide you? - How can we uncover deeper truths? A Different Perspective Surface observations can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Concealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concealed/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feelings Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-existence-1959173/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Metals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metals/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Precious metal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precious-metal/) [Precious Metals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precious-metals-575527/) [Sandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sandy/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Sentiments Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments-feelings-5028445/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We are overdone with banking institutions, which have banished the precious metals, and substituted a more fluctuating and unsafe medium... These have withdrawn capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-are-overdone-with-banking-institutions-which-have-banished-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [By multiplying the means of gratification, by promoting the introduction and circulation of the precious metals, those darling objects of human avarice and enterprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/by-multiplying-the-means-of-gratification-by-promoting-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [As in many countries precious metals belong to the crown, so here more precious natural objects of rare beauty should belong to the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-in-many-countries-precious-metals-belong-to-the-crown-so-here-more/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [President Marcos was investing in precious metals long before he entered politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/president-marcos-was-investing-in-precious-metals-long-before-he/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [Until government administrators can so identify the interests of government with those of the people and refrain from defrauding the masses through the device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elgin-groseclose/until-government-administrators-can-so-identify-the-interests-of/) [Elgin Groseclose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elgin-groseclose/) > [Society established gold and silver as a circulating medium and as a legal tender in order that exchanges of commodities might be facilitated; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-batchelder-greene/society-established-gold-and-silver-as-a-circulating-medium-and-as-a/) [William Batchelder Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-batchelder-greene/) > [If precious metals had been abundant, they would not have been precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/if-precious-metals-had-been-abundant-they-would-not-have-been-precious/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [“Life is but a moment to moment heartbeat intertwined with the feelings of existence in a physical body. With each breathe we take we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-g-space/life-is-but-a-moment-to-moment-heartbeat-intertwined-with-the/) [L.G. Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-g-space/) > [“... gold mould as if blisters of the body can become precious metals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-smith/gold-mould-as-if-blisters-of-the-body-can-become-precious-metals/) [Ali Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-smith/) > [I want to let people know why I have my precious metals I.R.A. with U.S. Money Reserve - they are the only company I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-woolery/i-want-to-let-people-know-why-i-have-my-precious-metals-i-r-a-with-u/) [Chuck Woolery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-woolery/) > [I have argued again and again that investors should hold some assets in precious metals as an alternative to cash. One of the functions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-faber/i-have-argued-again-and-again-that-investors-should-hold-some-assets/) [Marc Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-faber/) > [“The trifling economy of paper, as a cheaper medium, or its convenience for transmission, weighs nothing in opposition to the advantages of the precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goodwin/the-trifling-economy-of-paper-as-a-cheaper-medium-or-its-convenience-2/) [Mark Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goodwin/) > [Material bullshit comes and will always go, not anything to be taken by, a trick for the eyes that's only for show. Precious metals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sid/material-bullshit-comes-and-will-always-go-not-anything-to-be-taken/) [Tom Sid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sid/) > [The monopoly of a single bank is certainly an evil. The multiplication of them was intended to cure it; but it multiplied an influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-monopoly-of-a-single-bank-is-certainly-an-evil-the-multiplication/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is here a great melting pot in which we must compound a precious metal. That metal is the metal of nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/there-is-here-a-great-melting-pot-in-which-we-must-compound-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## More by Arthur Helps > [More than half the difficulties of the world would be allayed or removed by the exhibition of good temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/more-than-half-the-difficulties-of-the-world-would-be-allayed-or/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/the-very-best-financial-presentation-is-one-that-s-well-thought-out/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [Always win fools first. 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He who aspires to nothing, who learns nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/to-hear-always-to-think-always-to-learn-always-it-is-thus-that-we/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [No man who has not sat in the assemblies of men can know the light, odd and uncertain ways in which decisions are often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/no-man-who-has-not-sat-in-the-assemblies-of-men-can-know-the-light/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [What a blessing this smoking is! Perhaps the greatest that we owe to the discovery of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/what-a-blessing-this-smoking-is-perhaps-the-greatest-that-we-owe-to/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [It is better in some respects to be admired by those with whom you live than to be loved by them; and this not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/it-is-better-in-some-respects-to-be-admired-by-those-with-whom-you/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [Those who never philosophized until they met with disappointments, have mostly become disappointed philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/those-who-never-philosophized-until-they-met-with-disappointments/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) [Explore all 100 Arthur Helps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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