--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are some persons in this world…" description: "\"There are some persons in this world, who, unable to give better proof of being wise, take a strange delight in showing what they think they have sagac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/herman-melville-162_delight_there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who_1441759.jpg" --- # There are some persons in this world, who, unable to give… ![“There are some persons in this world, who, unable to give better proof of being wise, take a strange delight in showing what they think they have sagaciously read in mankind by uncharitable suspicions of them.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/herman-melville-162_delight_there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who_1441759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/herman-melville-162_delight_there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who_1441759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/herman-melville-162_delight_there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who_1441759.jpg) > “There are some persons in this world, who, unable to give better proof of being wise, take a strange delight in showing what they think they have sagaciously read in mankind by uncharitable suspicions of them.” [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. People who cannot prove wisdom often flaunt pretentious readings, driven by envy. **In simple terms:** Pretentiousness hides insecurity. Key Takeaway Seek genuine wisdom. Themes intellect pretension envy Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academia - social media - debates - personal growth Key Concepts literary criticism human nature Questions to Reflect On - Why do people boast without substance? - How can humility be encouraged? A Different Perspective Such displays can erode trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Strange, to see what delight we married people have to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition, every man and wife gazing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/strange-to-see-what-delight-we-married-people-have-to-see-these-poor/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [I flush with heaving passion's strange delight, Yet find contentment lost in appetite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/i-flush-with-heaving-passion-s-strange-delight-yet-find-contentment/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [There is a certain unique and strange delight about walking down an empty street alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/there-is-a-certain-unique-and-strange-delight-about-walking-down-an/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“His mind swarmed with superstitious suspicions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/his-mind-swarmed-with-superstitious-suspicions/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [If I had been downright honest with myself, I would have seen very plainly in my heart that I did but half fancy being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-i-had-been-downright-honest-with-myself-i-would-have-seen-very/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [But when a man suspects any wrong it sometimes happens that if he be already involved in the matter he insensibly strives to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-when-a-man-suspects-any-wrong-it-sometimes-happens-that-if-he-be/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“All the world used her ill, said this young misanthropist, ... and we may be pretty certain that persons whom all the world treats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/all-the-world-used-her-ill-said-this-young-misanthropist-and-we-may/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [There are two persons in the world we never see as they are, one's self and one's other self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-houssaye/there-are-two-persons-in-the-world-we-never-see-as-they-are-one-s/) [Arsene Houssaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-houssaye/) > [“It means that every man, woman, and child over the age, let us say, of twentyone or thirty, at the very outside, should never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/it-means-that-every-man-woman-and-child-over-the-age-let-us-say-of/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [I desire that there be as many different persons in the world as possible; I would have each one be very careful to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-desire-that-there-be-as-many-different-persons-in-the-world-as/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The most popular persons are those who take the world as it is who find the least fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/the-most-popular-persons-are-those-who-take-the-world-as-it-is-who/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [“I desire that there may be as many different persons in the world as possible; but I would have each one be very careful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-desire-that-there-may-be-as-many-different-persons-in-the-world-as/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“There are sufficient and suitable accommodations for all the different sorts of persons that are in the world: for great and small, for high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/there-are-sufficient-and-suitable-accommodations-for-all-the/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“There are not so many kind persons in the world to let them go so easy. The best ones stay with us forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladislav-trofimov/there-are-not-so-many-kind-persons-in-the-world-to-let-them-go-so/) Vladislav Trofimov > [“In all your years as a priest, I’m sure you’ve been asked this many times: ‘Why does he do this if he loves us?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/in-all-your-years-as-a-priest-i-m-sure-you-ve-been-asked-this-many/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) ## 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 Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) Aaron Betsky > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) Rodney Clapp > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are some persons in this world, who, unable to give better proof of being wise, take a strange delight in showing what they think they have sagaciously read in mankind by uncharitable suspicions of them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who-unable-to-give-better-proof/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who-unable-to-give-better-proof/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/herman-melville-162_delight_there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who_1441759.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/herman-melville-162_delight_there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who_1441759.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/herman-melville-162_delight_there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who_1441759.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are some persons in this world, who, unable to give better proof of being wise, take a strange delight…” — Herman Melville", "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": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are some persons in this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who-unable-to-give-better-proof/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-some-persons-in-this-world-who-unable-to-give-better-proof/#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 } } ] } ```