Contempt Quote by Hilaire Belloc
“Writing itself is a bad enough trade, rightly held up to ridicule and contempt by the greater part of mankind, and especially by those who do real work, plowing, riding, sailing”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Art of Writing" by Hilaire Belloc, 1909
Writing is often seen as a lowly profession, mocked by those who value manual labor more highly.
In simple terms: Writing is undervalued compared to physical work.
Key Takeaway
Respect the craft of writing.
Themes
work
class perception
literature
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- teaching
- publishing
- journalism
- freelance writing
Key Concepts
cultural hierarchy
value of intellectual labor
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we devalue intellectual work?
- How can writers assert their worth?
A Different Perspective
Not all societies view writing as inferior; some cultures revere it.
![“For no one, in our long decline,So dusty, spiteful and divided,Had quite such pleasant friends as mine,Or loved them half as much as I did. [stanza 3]The library was most inviting:The books upon the crowded shelvesWere mainly of our private writing:We kept a school and taught ourselves. [stanza…” quote by Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/913/hilaire-belloc-2294_book_for-no-one-in-our-long-decline-so-dusty_140002.jpg)
![“Every person of any rank in the left, from voter on up to cabinet member to elected official in the Democrat Party, has contempt. We [Republicans] are the number one enemy. And they will put aside whatever differences they have.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08a/rush-limbaugh-28_cabinets_every-person-of-any-rank-in-the-left-fro_29974.jpg){kind=icon}