--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I look upon the vulgar observation, 'That…" description: "\"I look upon the vulgar observation, 'That the devil often deserts his friends, and leaves them in the lurch,' to be a great abuse on that gentleman's c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/henry-fielding-1358_abuse_i-look-upon-the-vulgar-observation-that_1081282.png" --- # I look upon the vulgar observation, 'That the devil often… ![“I look upon the vulgar observation, 'That the devil often deserts his friends, and leaves them in the lurch,' to be a great abuse on that gentleman's character. Perhaps he may sometimes desert those who are only his cup acquaintance; or who, at most, are but half his; but he generally stands by…” quote by Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/henry-fielding-1358_abuse_i-look-upon-the-vulgar-observation-that_1081282.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/henry-fielding-1358_abuse_i-look-upon-the-vulgar-observation-that_1081282.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/henry-fielding-1358_abuse_i-look-upon-the-vulgar-observation-that_1081282.png) > “I look upon the vulgar observation, 'That the devil often deserts his friends, and leaves them in the lurch,' to be a great abuse on that gentleman's character. Perhaps he may sometimes desert those who are only his cup acquaintance; or who, at most, are but half his; but he generally stands by those who are thoroughly his servants, and helps them off in all extremities, till their bargain expires.” [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that the devil’s abandonment is a metaphor for unreliable friends, but true loyalty persists among genuine servants. **In simple terms:** He compares unreliable friends to a deserting devil, yet true servants stay loyal. Key Takeaway Value and recognize genuine loyalty. Themes friendship loyalty trust betrayal Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace - community - historical context Key Concepts social contracts human nature Questions to Reflect On - What defines a true servant? - How do you differentiate acquaintance from loyalty? A Different Perspective Loyalty can be tested by circumstance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) [Bargains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargains/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Desert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Vulgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulgar/) ## Related quotes > [Very often the law of extremity demands an attention to irrelevance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/very-often-the-law-of-extremity-demands-an-attention-to-irrelevance/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [I hasten to say to snobs from the Surrey pine-and-sand country that no invention since the corn plaster or the electric toothbrush has brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/i-hasten-to-say-to-snobs-from-the-surrey-pine-and-sand-country-that/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [He who loathes war, and will do everything in his power to avert it, but who will, in the last extremity, encounter its perils,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stevens-cabot-abbott/he-who-loathes-war-and-will-do-everything-in-his-power-to-avert-it/) [John Stevens Cabot Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stevens-cabot-abbott/) > [About the greatest virtue a friend can have, is to be able to hold her tongue; and through this, like all virtues carried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/about-the-greatest-virtue-a-friend-can-have-is-to-be-able-to-hold-her/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [A biologist, if he wishes to know how many toes a cat has, does not "frame the hypothesis that the number of feline digital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-standen/a-biologist-if-he-wishes-to-know-how-many-toes-a-cat-has-does-not/) [Anthony Standen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-standen/) > [I do not admire a virtue like valour when it is pushed to excess, if I do not see at the same time the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-do-not-admire-a-virtue-like-valour-when-it-is-pushed-to-excess-if-i/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Stories about vicars are always being told because they're at the heart of our society. 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