--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The term condescension is used in two…" description: "\"“The term condescension is used in two significantly different ways in contemporary discourse. It evokes negative emotions when it is used in the sense..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/glenn-r-kreider-32599_condescension_the-term-condescension-is-used-in-two-si_332968.jpg" --- # The term condescension is used in two significantly… ![“The term condescension is used in two significantly different ways in contemporary discourse. It evokes negative emotions when it is used in the sense of “a patronizing attitude or behavior,” but the connotation is much different when it indicates “voluntary descent from one’s rank or dignity in…” quote by Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/glenn-r-kreider-32599_condescension_the-term-condescension-is-used-in-two-si_332968.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/glenn-r-kreider-32599_condescension_the-term-condescension-is-used-in-two-si_332968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/glenn-r-kreider-32599_condescension_the-term-condescension-is-used-in-two-si_332968.jpg) > ““The term condescension is used in two significantly different ways in contemporary discourse. It evokes negative emotions when it is used in the sense of “a patronizing attitude or behavior,” but the connotation is much different when it indicates “voluntary descent from one’s rank or dignity in relations with an inferior.”10”” [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term “condescension” can describe both a patronizing attitude and a voluntary lowering of rank, each carrying different emotional impacts. **In simple terms:** Condescension has two meanings: negative patronizing and voluntary humility. Key Takeaway Distinguish context to avoid misinterpretation. Themes language power communication Mood analytical thoughtful Type explanatory academic When to use this quote - professional meetings - public speaking - online debates - education Key Concepts semantic nuance social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - When is humility mistaken for condescension? - How does context shape perception? A Different Perspective Assuming one meaning can cause misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Condescension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condescension/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Negative emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-emotions/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [...In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/in-this-world-i-cannot-see-the-most-high-son-of-god-with-my-own-eyes/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [“His posture spoke of condescension, his expression disinterest. He was all brambles and icicles as he strode closer to her cage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/his-posture-spoke-of-condescension-his-expression-disinterest-he-was/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [Obama's Nobel Peace Prize is an exquisite act of condescension from Norwegians, a dog biscuit and a pat on the head to the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/obama-s-nobel-peace-prize-is-an-exquisite-act-of-condescension-from/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [“A number of years ago, when I was a freshly-appointed instructor, I met, for the first time, a certain eminent historian of science. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-number-of-years-ago-when-i-was-a-freshly-appointed-instructor-i-met/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [As God adds his ‘Yes’ to your ‘Yes,’ as he confirms your will with his will, and as he allows you, and approves of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-god-adds-his-yes-to-your-yes-as-he-confirms-your-will-with-his/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I would not preach tolerance, which seems to me another name for condescension and presupposes faults in those to be tolerated ... Nor do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-lawrence/i-would-not-preach-tolerance-which-seems-to-me-another-name-for/) [Josephine Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-lawrence/) > [“Now, how do the young prepare to meet the old? The same way the old prepare to meet the young: with a little condescension;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/now-how-do-the-young-prepare-to-meet-the-old-the-same-way-the-old/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [But the severe rules of discipline which the prudence of the bishops had instituted were relaxed by the same prudence in favour of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-severe-rules-of-discipline-which-the-prudence-of-the-bishops/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [the true art of the gods is the comic. The comic is a condescension of the divine to the world of man; it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/the-true-art-of-the-gods-is-the-comic-the-comic-is-a-condescension-of/) [Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/) > [When you are young, it's deeply annoying to be told that certain things are a condition of your youth. There's almost always some condescension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaan-alam/when-you-are-young-it-s-deeply-annoying-to-be-told-that-certain/) [Rumaan Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaan-alam/) > [Lisp is still #1 for key algorithmic techniques such as recursion and condescension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verity-stob/lisp-is-still-1-for-key-algorithmic-techniques-such-as-recursion-and/) Verity Stob > [“There is no point in fighting condescension with condescension.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitava-kumar/there-is-no-point-in-fighting-condescension-with-condescension/) [Amitava Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitava-kumar/) > [Good motives aside, white condescension does more damage than good. White condescension says to a black child, 'The rules used by other ethnic groups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-elder/good-motives-aside-white-condescension-does-more-damage-than-good/) [Larry Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-elder/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is almost a touch of condescension in the act of hiring friends that secretly afflicts them. The injury will come out slowly: A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/there-is-almost-a-touch-of-condescension-in-the-act-of-hiring-friends/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## More by Glenn R. Kreider > [“Forgiveness is extravagant. In fact, the more one has been forgiven, Jesus teaches, the more one will love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/forgiveness-is-extravagant-in-fact-the-more-one-has-been-forgiven/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“Because grace is unmerited favor, it cannot be earned or deserved. Thus, forgiveness can never be forced or mandated. Yet the Scriptures teach that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/because-grace-is-unmerited-favor-it-cannot-be-earned-or-deserved-thus/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“if God is most clearly revealed in his Son, and if this revelation is humble and sacrificial, and if God wants his followers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/if-god-is-most-clearly-revealed-in-his-son-and-if-this-revelation-is/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“If God is going to teach us about things we do not know by direct experience (such as his attributes), he has to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/if-god-is-going-to-teach-us-about-things-we-do-not-know-by-direct/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“In order to redeem humanity and to bring to completion the regeneration of all things, God himself came to earth, became a creature, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/in-order-to-redeem-humanity-and-to-bring-to-completion-the/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“only the last two chapters of Revelation are devoted to the new creation, although it is the goal toward which the biblical story is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/only-the-last-two-chapters-of-revelation-are-devoted-to-the-new/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“I suspect that the humility of God is difficult to accept because of the implications that such a doctrine would have for us. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/i-suspect-that-the-humility-of-god-is-difficult-to-accept-because-of/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“Rather, the incarnation of the eternal Son of God was prefigured or foreshadowed in God’s appearances on earth, his active involvement in the created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/rather-the-incarnation-of-the-eternal-son-of-god-was-prefigured-or/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“it is not just the incarnation that reveals God by means of condescension. Any involvement of God in his world is an act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/it-is-not-just-the-incarnation-that-reveals-god-by-means-of/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“Forgiveness is rooted in the character of God. Jesus’ opponents correctly noted that no one can forgive sins except God (Mark 2:7). At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/forgiveness-is-rooted-in-the-character-of-god-jesus-opponents/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“In short, the self-sufficient, wholly other, transcendent, and holy God condescended to create a world and creatures, knowing that they would reject him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/in-short-the-self-sufficient-wholly-other-transcendent-and-holy-god/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“God was under no obligation to create and, when his creatures rebelled, he was under no obligation to continue to sustain them. His creatures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/god-was-under-no-obligation-to-create-and-when-his-creatures-rebelled/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“in his grace, God condescended to care for his creation. He has taken the initiative to bring healing. He entered into the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/in-his-grace-god-condescended-to-care-for-his-creation-he-has-taken/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“The third act of the biblical story is the completion of God’s work of redemption, the culmination of his plan for his creation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/the-third-act-of-the-biblical-story-is-the-completion-of-god-s-work/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) [Explore all 15 Glenn R. Kreider quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) ## More Condescension quotes > [...In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/in-this-world-i-cannot-see-the-most-high-son-of-god-with-my-own-eyes/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Good motives aside, white condescension does more damage than good. White condescension says to a black child, 'The rules used by other ethnic groups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-elder/good-motives-aside-white-condescension-does-more-damage-than-good/) [Larry Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-elder/) > [“There is no point in fighting condescension with condescension.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitava-kumar/there-is-no-point-in-fighting-condescension-with-condescension/) [Amitava Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitava-kumar/) > [Lisp is still #1 for key algorithmic techniques such as recursion and condescension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verity-stob/lisp-is-still-1-for-key-algorithmic-techniques-such-as-recursion-and/) Verity Stob > [When you are young, it's deeply annoying to be told that certain things are a condition of your youth. There's almost always some condescension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaan-alam/when-you-are-young-it-s-deeply-annoying-to-be-told-that-certain/) [Rumaan Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaan-alam/) > [the true art of the gods is the comic. The comic is a condescension of the divine to the world of man; it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/the-true-art-of-the-gods-is-the-comic-the-comic-is-a-condescension-of/) [Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/) > [But the severe rules of discipline which the prudence of the bishops had instituted were relaxed by the same prudence in favour of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-severe-rules-of-discipline-which-the-prudence-of-the-bishops/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“Now, how do the young prepare to meet the old? The same way the old prepare to meet the young: with a little condescension;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/now-how-do-the-young-prepare-to-meet-the-old-the-same-way-the-old/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [I would not preach tolerance, which seems to me another name for condescension and presupposes faults in those to be tolerated ... Nor do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-lawrence/i-would-not-preach-tolerance-which-seems-to-me-another-name-for/) [Josephine Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-lawrence/) > [As God adds his ‘Yes’ to your ‘Yes,’ as he confirms your will with his will, and as he allows you, and approves of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-god-adds-his-yes-to-your-yes-as-he-confirms-your-will-with-his/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“A number of years ago, when I was a freshly-appointed instructor, I met, for the first time, a certain eminent historian of science. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-number-of-years-ago-when-i-was-a-freshly-appointed-instructor-i-met/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Obama's Nobel Peace Prize is an exquisite act of condescension from Norwegians, a dog biscuit and a pat on the head to the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/obama-s-nobel-peace-prize-is-an-exquisite-act-of-condescension-from/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [“His posture spoke of condescension, his expression disinterest. He was all brambles and icicles as he strode closer to her cage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/his-posture-spoke-of-condescension-his-expression-disinterest-he-was/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [There is almost a touch of condescension in the act of hiring friends that secretly afflicts them. The injury will come out slowly: A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/there-is-almost-a-touch-of-condescension-in-the-act-of-hiring-friends/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Browse all 91 Condescension quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condescension/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The term condescension is used in two significantly different ways in contemporary discourse. It evokes negative emotions when it is used in the sense of “a patronizing attitude or behavior,” but the connotation is much different when it indicates “voluntary descent from one’s rank or dignity in relations with an inferior.”10”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Glenn R. 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