Dishonest Quote by Charlotte Brontë
““and there is dishonest men plenty to guide them to the devil, scoundrels that reckons to be the ‘people’s friends,’ and that knows nought about the people, and is as insincere as Lucifer. I’ve lived aboon forty year in the world, and I believe that ‘the people’ will never have any true friends but theirseln and them two or three good folk i’ different stations that is friends to all the world. Human natur’, taking it i’ th’ lump, is nought but selfishness. It is but excessive few, it is but just an exception here and there, now and then, sich as ye two young uns and me, that, being in a different sphere, can understand t’ one t’ other, and be friends wi’out slavishness o’ one hand or pride o’ t’ other. Them that reckons to be friends to a lower class than their own fro’ political motives is never to be trusted; they always try to make their inferiors tools. For my own part, I will neither be patronized nor misled for no man’s pleasure. I’ve had overtures made to me lately that I saw were treacherous, and I flung ’em back i’ the faces o’ them that offered ‘em.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Unknown, 19th century (possible unpublished manuscript)
The passage argues that true friendship is rare, often corrupted by selfish motives, and that genuine connections are scarce among people.
In simple terms: True friends are rare; many are selfish.
Seek authentic, selfless relationships.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- community building
- political activism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What qualities define a true friend?
- How can we foster trust across classes?
It generalizes humanity and may ignore altruistic examples.