--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: men crown the knave and scourge the tool…" description: "\"“men crown the knave and scourge the tool that did his will”\" — Edward Rowland Sill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/edward-rowland-sill-54761_knave_men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool_1841746.png" --- # men crown the knave and scourge the tool that did his will ![“men crown the knave and scourge the tool that did his will” quote by Edward Rowland Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/edward-rowland-sill-54761_knave_men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool_1841746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/edward-rowland-sill-54761_knave_men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool_1841746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/edward-rowland-sill-54761_knave_men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool_1841746.png) > ““men crown the knave and scourge the tool that did his will”” [Edward Rowland Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power structures often blame the powerless and vilify the tools that serve them. **In simple terms:** Those in power scapegoat the weak and the means. Key Takeaway Question authority and the narratives they create. Themes power justice responsibility Mood critical provocative Type analytical political When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - political discourse - media analysis Key Concepts political theory social critique Questions to Reflect On - Who benefits from the scapegoating? - How can we protect the tools that serve us? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all authority is corrupt, which may not always hold. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crown Knave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crown-knave-2354977/) [Knave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knave/) [Knave Scourge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knave-scourge-2354976/) [Men Crown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-crown-2354979/) [Scourge Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scourge-tool-2354978/) ## Related quotes > [Earth bears no balsams for mistakes; Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool That did his will: but thou, O Lord, Be merciful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/earth-bears-no-balsams-for-mistakes-men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge/) [Edward Rowland Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/) > [If yee would know a knave, give him a staffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/if-yee-would-know-a-knave-give-him-a-staffe/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [He that cheats another is a knave; but he that cheats himself is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-g-maeser/he-that-cheats-another-is-a-knave-but-he-that-cheats-himself-is-a-fool/) [Karl G. Maeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-g-maeser/) > [He who cheats others is a knave, but he who cheats himself is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-g-maeser/he-who-cheats-others-is-a-knave-but-he-who-cheats-himself-is-a-fool/) [Karl G. Maeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-g-maeser/) > [Very often, say what you will, a knave is only a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/very-often-say-what-you-will-a-knave-is-only-a-fool/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [There's never a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he's an arrant knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-s-never-a-villain-dwelling-in-all-denmark-but-he-s-an-arrant/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [You are not worth another word, else I'd call you knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-are-not-worth-another-word-else-i-d-call-you-knave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The same ambition can destroy or save, and make a patriot as it makes a knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-same-ambition-can-destroy-or-save-and-make-a-patriot-as-it-makes/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Though this knave came something saucily into this world before he was sent for, yet was is mother Fair; there was good sport at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-this-knave-came-something-saucily-into-this-world-before-he/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A crafty knave needs no broker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/a-crafty-knave-needs-no-broker/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [I am always afraid of a fool. One cannot be sure that he is not a knave as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/i-am-always-afraid-of-a-fool-one-cannot-be-sure-that-he-is-not-a/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [He who says there is no such thing as an honest man, you may be sure is himself a knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-berkeley/he-who-says-there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-honest-man-you-may-be-sure/) [George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-berkeley/) > [“LEIA Ah! Gov’nor Tarkin, scurvy knave art thou.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/leia-ah-gov-nor-tarkin-scurvy-knave-art-thou/) [Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/) > [There is not on earth so base a knave as the man who wins the love of a woman when he knows that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-is-not-on-earth-so-base-a-knave-as-the-man-who-wins-the-love-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Be afraid not of a fiend but of a knave friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olajobi-shade/be-afraid-not-of-a-fiend-but-of-a-knave-friend/) [Olajobi Shade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olajobi-shade/) ## More by Edward Rowland Sill > [We must do the best we can with what we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/we-must-do-the-best-we-can-with-what-we-have/) [Edward Rowland Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/) > [At the punch-bowl's brink, let the thirsty think, what they say in Japan: first the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/at-the-punch-bowl-s-brink-let-the-thirsty-think-what-they-say-in/) [Edward Rowland Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/) > [I send my thoughts afar, and let them paint your Christmas Day at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/i-send-my-thoughts-afar-and-let-them-paint-your-christmas-day-at-home/) [Edward Rowland Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/) > [Earth bears no balsams for mistakes; Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool That did his will: but thou, O Lord, Be merciful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/earth-bears-no-balsams-for-mistakes-men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge/) [Edward Rowland Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/) > [Be satisfied with nothing but your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/be-satisfied-with-nothing-but-your-best/) [Edward Rowland Sill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/) [Explore all 6 Edward Rowland Sill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/) ## More Knave quotes > [Be afraid not of a fiend but of a knave friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olajobi-shade/be-afraid-not-of-a-fiend-but-of-a-knave-friend/) [Olajobi Shade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olajobi-shade/) > [There is not on earth so base a knave as the man who wins the love of a woman when he knows that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-is-not-on-earth-so-base-a-knave-as-the-man-who-wins-the-love-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“LEIA Ah! Gov’nor Tarkin, scurvy knave art thou.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/leia-ah-gov-nor-tarkin-scurvy-knave-art-thou/) [Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/) > [He who says there is no such thing as an honest man, you may be sure is himself a knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-berkeley/he-who-says-there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-honest-man-you-may-be-sure/) [George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-berkeley/) > [I am always afraid of a fool. One cannot be sure that he is not a knave as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/i-am-always-afraid-of-a-fool-one-cannot-be-sure-that-he-is-not-a/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [A crafty knave needs no broker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/a-crafty-knave-needs-no-broker/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“Though this knave came something saucily into this world before he was sent for, yet was is mother Fair; there was good sport at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-this-knave-came-something-saucily-into-this-world-before-he/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The same ambition can destroy or save, and make a patriot as it makes a knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-same-ambition-can-destroy-or-save-and-make-a-patriot-as-it-makes/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [You are not worth another word, else I'd call you knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-are-not-worth-another-word-else-i-d-call-you-knave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There's never a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he's an arrant knave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-s-never-a-villain-dwelling-in-all-denmark-but-he-s-an-arrant/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Very often, say what you will, a knave is only a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/very-often-say-what-you-will-a-knave-is-only-a-fool/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [He who cheats others is a knave, but he who cheats himself is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-g-maeser/he-who-cheats-others-is-a-knave-but-he-who-cheats-himself-is-a-fool/) [Karl G. Maeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-g-maeser/) > [He that cheats another is a knave; but he that cheats himself is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-g-maeser/he-that-cheats-another-is-a-knave-but-he-that-cheats-himself-is-a-fool/) [Karl G. Maeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-g-maeser/) > [If yee would know a knave, give him a staffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/if-yee-would-know-a-knave-give-him-a-staffe/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Scracth a gentlemen and ull find a knave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harish-junior/scracth-a-gentlemen-and-ull-find-a-knave/) [Harish Junior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harish-junior/) [Browse all 31 Knave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knave/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“men crown the knave and scourge the tool that did his will”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Rowland Sill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool-that-did-his-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Knave" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool-that-did-his-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/edward-rowland-sill-54761_knave_men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool_1841746.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/edward-rowland-sill-54761_knave_men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool_1841746.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f84/edward-rowland-sill-54761_knave_men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool_1841746.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“men crown the knave and scourge the tool that did his will” — Edward Rowland Sill", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Rowland Sill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rowland-sill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“men crown the knave and scourge...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool-that-did-his-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rowland-sill/men-crown-the-knave-and-scourge-the-tool-that-did-his-will/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```