--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing so aggravates an earnest person…" description: "\"Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance.\" — Herman Melville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/herman-melville-162_earnest_nothing-so-aggravates-an-earnest-person_492662.jpg" --- # Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive… ![“Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/herman-melville-162_earnest_nothing-so-aggravates-an-earnest-person_492662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/herman-melville-162_earnest_nothing-so-aggravates-an-earnest-person_492662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/herman-melville-162_earnest_nothing-so-aggravates-an-earnest-person_492662.jpg) > “Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance.” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Passive resistance frustrates earnest effort, highlighting the tension between action and in. **In simple terms:** Passive resistance hinders earnest people. Key Takeaway Address passive obstacles directly. Themes frustration effort conflict Mood reflective critical Type philosophical social When to use this quote - team projects - personal goals - social movements - leadership Key Concepts human behavior motivation Questions to Reflect On - When is passive resistance justified? - How can you transform passive resistance into constructive dialogue? A Different Perspective Passive resistance can be a strategic choice, not just a hindrance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Passive resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive-resistance/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) ## Related quotes > [If an earnest person has roused himself, if he is not forgetful, if his deeds are pure, if he acts with consideration, if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-muller/if-an-earnest-person-has-roused-himself-if-he-is-not-forgetful-if-his/) [Max Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-muller/) > [“I'll take an earnest person over a hip person every time, because hip is short term. Earnest is long term.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-ll-take-an-earnest-person-over-a-hip-person-every-time-because-hip-2/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“I'll take an earnest person over a hip person any time, because hip is short-term. Earnest is long-term.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-ll-take-an-earnest-person-over-a-hip-person-any-time-because-hip-is/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Personally, if I like someone I'm pretty earnest with that one person. So I've dated only a few over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taeyang/personally-if-i-like-someone-i-m-pretty-earnest-with-that-one-person/) [Taeyang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taeyang/) > [“I’LL TAKE an earnest person over a hip person every time, because hip is short-term. Earnest is long-term. Earnestness is highly underestimated. It comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-ll-take-an-earnest-person-over-a-hip-person-every-time-because-hip/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“What keeps a person passive and compliant,” he explained, “is fear of repercussions, but once you let go of your attachment to things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/what-keeps-a-person-passive-and-compliant-he-explained-is-fear-of/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“To listen to a person is not passive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/to-listen-to-a-person-is-not-passive/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [“so many people judge the value of their actions not on the basis of the action itself, but on the basis of how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/so-many-people-judge-the-value-of-their-actions-not-on-the-basis-of/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Nowadays I'd describe myself as earnest, terribly earnest. I'm the person who wants everybody in the room to feel important and happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/america-ferrera/nowadays-i-d-describe-myself-as-earnest-terribly-earnest-i-m-the/) [America Ferrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/america-ferrera/) > [“People don’t like to have somebody knowing more than they do. It aggravates them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/people-don-t-like-to-have-somebody-knowing-more-than-they-do-it/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I'm a very spontaneous person. If someone aggravates me, I'm going to go after them. 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It only aggravates the pain and the hurt on every side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranab-mukherjee/no-problems-are-ever-resolved-by-violence-it-only-aggravates-the-pain/) [Pranab Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranab-mukherjee/) > [Who shrinks from knowledge of his calamities but aggravates his fear; troubles half seen, shall torture all the more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/who-shrinks-from-knowledge-of-his-calamities-but-aggravates-his-fear/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I'll take an earnest person over a hip person every day, because hip is short term. Earnest is long term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-ll-take-an-earnest-person-over-a-hip-person-every-day-because-hip/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Earnest quotes > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The family circle has widened. 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I shall then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-most-earnest-wish-is-to-see-the-republican-element-of-popular/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends forth to you an earnest appeal. Open your doors to the missionaries. Open your minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-sends-forth-to-you-an/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Extension work is not exhortation. Nor is it exploitation of the people, or advertising of an institution, or publicity work for securing students. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-hyde-bailey/extension-work-is-not-exhortation-nor-is-it-exploitation-of-the/) [Liberty Hyde Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-hyde-bailey/) > [If we with earnest effort could succeed To make our life one long, connected prayer, As lives of some, perhaps, have been and are;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/if-we-with-earnest-effort-could-succeed-to-make-our-life-one-long/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [Deemest thou laborOnly is earnest?Grave is all beauty,Solemn is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-watson/deemest-thou-laboronly-is-earnest-grave-is-all-beauty-solemn-is-joy/) [William Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-watson/) > [He who says he hates all kinds of flattery, and says so in earnest, has undoubtedly not as yet become acquainted with all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/he-who-says-he-hates-all-kinds-of-flattery-and-says-so-in-earnest-has/) [Georg C. 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