--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not shun this maxim because it is…" description: "\"Do not shun this maxim because it is common-place. On the contrary, take the closest heed of what observant men, who would probably like to show origin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/836/arthur-helps-5833_closest_do-not-shun-this-maxim-because-it-is-com_714041.png" --- # Do not shun this maxim because it is common-place. On the… ![“Do not shun this maxim because it is common-place. On the contrary, take the closest heed of what observant men, who would probably like to show originality, are yet constrained to repeat. Therein lies the marrow of the wisdom of the world.” quote by Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/836/arthur-helps-5833_closest_do-not-shun-this-maxim-because-it-is-com_714041.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/836/arthur-helps-5833_closest_do-not-shun-this-maxim-because-it-is-com_714041.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/836/arthur-helps-5833_closest_do-not-shun-this-maxim-because-it-is-com_714041.png) > “Do not shun this maxim because it is common-place. On the contrary, take the closest heed of what observant men, who would probably like to show originality, are yet constrained to repeat. Therein lies the marrow of the wisdom of the world.” [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. Observing common wisdom, even from those seeking originality, reveals deep truths. **In simple terms:** Common ideas often hold deep insight. Key Takeaway Pay attention to widely repeated ideas. Themes wisdom observation originality commonplace Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - education - strategic planning - cultural analysis - critical thinking Key Concepts social learning collective intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What common belief have you ignored? - How can you test its validity? A Different Perspective Popular ideas may be oversimplified or misapplied. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Closest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closest/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Heed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heed/) [Like Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-originality-5626044/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Marrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marrow/) [Maxim Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxim-common-5626045/) [Maxims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxims/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Observant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observant/) [Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality/) [Originality Constrained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality-constrained-5626043/) [Quotations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quotations/) [Repeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeats/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“For the discovery of self we have to overcome the fear of self, so as to find the marrow ‘within’ and disclose our ‘true’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/for-the-discovery-of-self-we-have-to-overcome-the-fear-of-self-so-as/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Of course, just because we've heard a spine-chilling, blood-curdling scream of the sort to make your very marrow freeze in your bones doesn't automatically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/of-course-just-because-we-ve-heard-a-spine-chilling-blood-curdling/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [ They \[rulers\] must act like a good physician who, when gangrene has set in proceeds without mercy to cut, saw, and burn flesh, veins,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/they-rulers-must-act-like-a-good-physician-who-when-gangrene-has-set/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Resistance to team play seemed to pour like wet cement through my bones, displacing supple marrow, until I was ballasted with my own contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/resistance-to-team-play-seemed-to-pour-like-wet-cement-through-my/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [... you must hasten to oppose pernicious pride of mind, before it penetrates into the marrow of your bones. Resist it, curb the quickness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-scupoli/you-must-hasten-to-oppose-pernicious-pride-of-mind-before-it/) [Lorenzo Scupoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-scupoli/) > [I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-went-to-the-woods-because-i-wished-to-live-deliberately-to-front/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I have always loved kids. They are little adults with so much personality, and it is fun to work with that. Whether that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/i-have-always-loved-kids-they-are-little-adults-with-so-much/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are and where we came from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/in-all-of-us-there-is-a-hunger-marrow-deep-to-know-our-heritage-to/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [I want women and girls everywhere to know - deep in their bone marrow - that girls are born special, whole, and perfect, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/i-want-women-and-girls-everywhere-to-know-deep-in-their-bone-marrow/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [“...and this morning I am without fire, my marrow is ash, I am very sad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-ne-cixous/and-this-morning-i-am-without-fire-my-marrow-is-ash-i-am-very-sad/) [Hélène Cixous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-ne-cixous/) > [Feather to fire,fire to blood Blood to bone,bone to marrow Marrow to ashes,ashes to snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-colbert/feather-to-fire-fire-to-blood-blood-to-bone-bone-to-marrow-marrow-to/) [Gregory Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-colbert/) > [When we consider the weak and nerveless periods of some literary men, who perchance in feet and inches come up to the standard oftheir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-we-consider-the-weak-and-nerveless-periods-of-some-literary-men/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It would be hard to say that exactly, but antinatalism is a reality in my life, not just an interesting idea. I can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/it-would-be-hard-to-say-that-exactly-but-antinatalism-is-a-reality-in/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I bleed my bones, their marrow to bestowUpon that God who knows what I would know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roethke/i-bleed-my-bones-their-marrow-to-bestowupon-that-god-who-knows-what-i/) [Theodore Roethke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roethke/) > [Personally speaking, when everything is boiled down to the marrow, I think the reason Reddit tolerates the creepy forums has to do with money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/personally-speaking-when-everything-is-boiled-down-to-the-marrow-i/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## 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. They talk much, and what they have once uttered they will stick to; whereas there is always time, up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/always-win-fools-first-they-talk-much-and-what-they-have-once-uttered/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. 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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 Closest quotes > [I write about presidents. 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They will test you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/your-closest-and-your-most-dedicated-fans-will-be-your-ultimate-test/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [“The closest she got to pretence was politeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/the-closest-she-got-to-pretence-was-politeness/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [The first responsibility of the Muslim is as teacher. That is his job, to teach. His first school, his first classroom is within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/the-first-responsibility-of-the-muslim-is-as-teacher-that-is-his-job/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [One my closest friends doesn't care about sharing her clothes or jewelry, but she never shares her fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/one-my-closest-friends-doesn-t-care-about-sharing-her-clothes-or/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [Life’s a journey that goes round and round and the end is closest to the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/life-s-a-journey-that-goes-round-and-round-and-the-end-is-closest-to/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I keep a lot to myself, and I cherish the things that are for me and the people closest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/i-keep-a-lot-to-myself-and-i-cherish-the-things-that-are-for-me-and/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [I am not somebody who likes to give advice, or anything like that, unless it's my closest friends or family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-am-not-somebody-who-likes-to-give-advice-or-anything-like-that/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [On foreign policy, President Obama has kept our nation safe from terrorism and restored our standing in the world. 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Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/) [Browse all 695 Closest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do not shun this maxim because it is common-place. On the contrary, take the closest heed of what observant men, who would probably like to show originality, are yet constrained to repeat. 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