--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A sneer is the weapon of the weak. Like…" description: "\"A sneer is the weapon of the weak. Like other devil's weapons, it is always cunningly ready to our hand, and there is more poison in the handle than in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/james-russell-lowell-561_devil_a-sneer-is-the-weapon-of-the-weak-like-o_2976242.png" --- # A sneer is the weapon of the weak. Like other devil's… ![“A sneer is the weapon of the weak. Like other devil's weapons, it is always cunningly ready to our hand, and there is more poison in the handle than in the point.” quote by James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/james-russell-lowell-561_devil_a-sneer-is-the-weapon-of-the-weak-like-o_2976242.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/james-russell-lowell-561_devil_a-sneer-is-the-weapon-of-the-weak-like-o_2976242.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/james-russell-lowell-561_devil_a-sneer-is-the-weapon-of-the-weak-like-o_2976242.png) > “A sneer is the weapon of the weak. Like other devil's weapons, it is always cunningly ready to our hand, and there is more poison in the handle than in the point.” [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mockery is a tool of those lacking true strength, often more harmful in its delivery than its content. **In simple terms:** Insults reveal weakness. Key Takeaway Avoid using sarcasm as a shield. Themes power communication weakness Mood critical defensive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - debates - online comments - conflict resolution Key Concepts rhetoric psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do people resort to sneering? - What are healthier ways to express criticism? A Different Perspective Clever insults can backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Weapon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapon/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [A sneer is the weapon of the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/a-sneer-is-the-weapon-of-the-weak/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Force is the weapon of the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammon-hennacy/force-is-the-weapon-of-the-weak/) [Ammon Hennacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammon-hennacy/) > [Disrespect is the weapon of the weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/disrespect-is-the-weapon-of-the-weak/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Terrorism is simply the weapon by which the weak engage the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/terrorism-is-simply-the-weapon-by-which-the-weak-engage-the-strong/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [Violence is the weapon of the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-abernathy/violence-is-the-weapon-of-the-weak/) [Ralph Abernathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-abernathy/) > [Criticising is a weapon of the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-alves/criticising-is-a-weapon-of-the-weak/) [Dani Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-alves/) > [Violence is the weapon of weak, non-violence that of the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/violence-is-the-weapon-of-weak-non-violence-that-of-the-strong/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Terrorism is the preferred weapon of weak and evil men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/terrorism-is-the-preferred-weapon-of-weak-and-evil-men/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Nonviolence is not a weapon of the weak. 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It has no conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-intellect-has-only-one-failing-which-to-be-sure-is-a-very/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) [Explore all 471 James Russell Lowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) ## More Devil quotes > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. 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