Contempt Quote by Charlotte Brontë
““They were not bound to regard with affection a thing that could not sympathise with one amongst them; a heterogeneous thing, opposed to them in temperament, in capacity, in propensities; a useless thing, incapable of serving their interest, or adding to their pleasure; a noxious thing, cherishing the germs of indignation at their treatment, of contempt of their judgment. I know that had I been a sanguine, brilliant, careless, exacting, handsome, romping child—though equally dependent and friendless—Mrs. Reed would have endured my presence more complacently; her children would have entertained...””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847
People reject those who differ in temperament or ability, seeing them as useless or threatening.
In simple terms: Differences cause fear and exclusion.
Key Takeaway
Embrace diversity and seek common ground.
Themes
prejudice
exclusion
diversity
Mood
critical
empathetic
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- workplace
- education
- community building
Key Concepts
social dynamics
empathy
in-group bias
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we label differences as threats?
- How can we foster inclusion?
A Different Perspective
Fear of the unknown can dominate rational judgment.
![“Every person of any rank in the left, from voter on up to cabinet member to elected official in the Democrat Party, has contempt. We [Republicans] are the number one enemy. And they will put aside whatever differences they have.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08a/rush-limbaugh-28_cabinets_every-person-of-any-rank-in-the-left-fro_29974.jpg){kind=icon}