---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is worth thought what kind of mind or…"
description: "\"It is worth thought what kind of mind or condition or disposition is open to flattery; for poison would not be spread if the rats ate it not.\" — James ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/james-vila-blake-28845_conditions_it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or_746977.jpg"
---

#  It is worth thought what kind of mind or condition or…

![“It is worth thought what kind of mind or condition or disposition is open to flattery; for poison would not be spread if the rats ate it not.” quote by James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/james-vila-blake-28845_conditions_it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or_746977.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/james-vila-blake-28845_conditions_it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or_746977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/james-vila-blake-28845_conditions_it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or_746977.jpg)

> “It is worth thought what kind of mind or condition or disposition is open to flattery; for poison would not be spread if the rats ate it not.”

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Consider what mindset allows flattery; poison spreads only if rats eat it.

**In simple terms:** Only certain minds accept flattery; poison spreads if consumed.

Key Takeaway

Guard against flattery that can be harmful.

Themes

morality psychology influence

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- political persuasion
- marketing
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

Susceptibility critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- What signs reveal insincere praise?
- How can you build resistance to manipulation?

A Different Perspective

Flattery can be subtle, making detection hard.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Disposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disposition/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Flattery Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery-poison-5819295/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mind/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rats/) [Rats Ate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rats-ate-1847737/) [Spread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread/) [Spread Rats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread-rats-5819296/) [Thought Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-kind-261550/) [Worth Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth-thought-3800140/)

## Related quotes

> [Personal success or personal satisfaction are not worth another thought if one does achieve them, or worth worrying about if they evade one or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/personal-success-or-personal-satisfaction-are-not-worth-another/)

[Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/)

> [I haven't had this much fun since the rats ate my baby sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bloch/i-haven-t-had-this-much-fun-since-the-rats-ate-my-baby-sister/)

[Robert Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bloch/)

> [“Later I had to raise the baby rats she ate, and why I thought one creature was my beloved pet while the other creatures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/later-i-had-to-raise-the-baby-rats-she-ate-and-why-i-thought-one/)

[Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/)

> [I thought that would be kind of cool, to make a bad guy look sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-atkins/i-thought-that-would-be-kind-of-cool-to-make-a-bad-guy-look/)

[Christopher Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-atkins/)

> [“He is not to them what he is to me,' I thought: 'he is not of their kind. I believe he is of mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/he-is-not-to-them-what-he-is-to-me-i-thought-he-is-not-of-their-kind/)

[Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [“I am a tea, he thought. I am some kind of tea. And I have wishes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-somerville/i-am-a-tea-he-thought-i-am-some-kind-of-tea-and-i-have-wishes/)

[Patrick Somerville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-somerville/)

> [I was struck by an awful thought, the kind that cannot be taken back once it escapes into the open air of consciousness; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-was-struck-by-an-awful-thought-the-kind-that-cannot-be-taken-back/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [Up until I was eleven years old, I thought I was the only one of my kind in the world. I couldn't find anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hay/up-until-i-was-eleven-years-old-i-thought-i-was-the-only-one-of-my/)

[Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/)

> [I always thought of myself as a kind of literary bureaucrat. And that was never going to be enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-kind-of-literary-bureaucrat-and-that/)

[Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/)

> [“I thought we had the kind of love that could do anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-norris/i-thought-we-had-the-kind-of-love-that-could-do-anything/)

[Elizabeth Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-norris/)

> [“She thought it was some kind of compensation from Kyle,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-d-davis/she-thought-it-was-some-kind-of-compensation-from-kyle/)

[L.D. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-d-davis/)

> [First Impression by almost everyone to me? Well, they thought I'm kind. But then they never knew, impression sometimes don't lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-impression-by-almost-everyone-to-me-well-they-thought-i-m-kind/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [I take up the standpoint that the tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man, and I come back now to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/i-take-up-the-standpoint-that-the-tendency-to-aggression-is-an-innate/)

[Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/)

> [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

## More by James Vila Blake

> [Meditation is first quietness. We live in a great din. It is well to see (for who sees it not will have but narrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/meditation-is-first-quietness-we-live-in-a-great-din-it-is-well-to/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [Meditation ... must be power of will and strength of attention, being like a flight to great heights wherein wings must be plied hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/meditation-must-be-power-of-will-and-strength-of-attention-being-like/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [Democracy has become, unless I mistake, a kind of test or shibboleth, by which we try men and measures; and this is the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/democracy-has-become-unless-i-mistake-a-kind-of-test-or-shibboleth-by/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [Luck, good or bad, is the invisible play of mind upon affairs, the effect of mental aptitudes and habits which are not in sight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/luck-good-or-bad-is-the-invisible-play-of-mind-upon-affairs-the/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [As anger is a passion, it is to be ruled; as it is a weak passion, he is weak who rules it not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/as-anger-is-a-passion-it-is-to-be-ruled-as-it-is-a-weak-passion-he-is/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [An enemy will train us in watchfulness; for if he be wary to seize on every error and trip us, we shall be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/an-enemy-will-train-us-in-watchfulness-for-if-he-be-wary-to-seize-on/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [This is our great covenant: To dwell together in peace, To seek the truth in love, And to help one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/this-is-our-great-covenant-to-dwell-together-in-peace-to-seek-the/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [The greatness of common sense, and its title to reverence, appear in this, that it deals with vast complexity, that is, with the innumerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/the-greatness-of-common-sense-and-its-title-to-reverence-appear-in/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [Like all passions, anger has degrees, ascending from slight vexation through deepening clouds to rage, and finally to fury, which is a black and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/like-all-passions-anger-has-degrees-ascending-from-slight-vexation/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [when a great war has cut off the young men of a nation it never can be told thereafter what losses of scholars, poets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/when-a-great-war-has-cut-off-the-young-men-of-a-nation-it-never-can/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [The fear of death has been raised too much and set up on high, especially by preachers, like the brazen serpent in the wilderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/the-fear-of-death-has-been-raised-too-much-and-set-up-on-high/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [Now, if we understand what unlucky persons are, we shall see that they are to be shunned, or that we are to consort with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/now-if-we-understand-what-unlucky-persons-are-we-shall-see-that-they/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [As but a swift glance is enough to catch the glory of a great landscape, or only a little lingering is necessary to observe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/as-but-a-swift-glance-is-enough-to-catch-the-glory-of-a-great/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [Individuality in opinion, or, what is more, in thinking, is simply one with thinking at all; for he who thinks thereby looks at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/individuality-in-opinion-or-what-is-more-in-thinking-is-simply-one/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

> [Common sense is so just an understanding that it rises almost to a virtue; in truth, it involves virtues and their participation in judgment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/common-sense-is-so-just-an-understanding-that-it-rises-almost-to-a/)

[James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

[Explore all 19 James Vila Blake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/)

## More Conditions quotes

> [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/)

[Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/)

> [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/)

[Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/)

[Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/)

> [History is, in its essentials, the science of change. It knows and it teaches that it is impossible to find two events that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bloch/history-is-in-its-essentials-the-science-of-change-it-knows-and-it/)

[Marc Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bloch/)

> [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

> [It clearly follows that to make men moral it is necessary to make their social environment moral. And that can be done in only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/it-clearly-follows-that-to-make-men-moral-it-is-necessary-to-make/)

[Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/)

> [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/)

[Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/)

> [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/)

[Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/)

> [Experiences in order to be educative must lead out into an expanding world of subject matter, a subject matter of facts or information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/experiences-in-order-to-be-educative-must-lead-out-into-an-expanding/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [A social group can, indeed must, already exercise 'leadership' before winning governmental power (this is indeed one of the principal conditions for the winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/a-social-group-can-indeed-must-already-exercise-leadership-before/)

[Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/)

> [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/)

[Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/)

> [Changes in human conditions are brought about by the pioneering of the cleverest and most energetic men. They take the lead and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/changes-in-human-conditions-are-brought-about-by-the-pioneering-of/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

[Browse all 4,249 Conditions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is worth thought what kind of mind or condition or disposition is open to flattery; for poison would not be spread if the rats ate it not.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Vila Blake"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or-condition-or-disposition-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conditions"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or-condition-or-disposition-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/james-vila-blake-28845_conditions_it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or_746977.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/james-vila-blake-28845_conditions_it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or_746977.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c1/james-vila-blake-28845_conditions_it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or_746977.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is worth thought what kind of mind or condition or disposition is open to flattery; for poison would not…” — James Vila Blake",
                "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": "James Vila Blake",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is worth thought what kind...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or-condition-or-disposition-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vila-blake/it-is-worth-thought-what-kind-of-mind-or-condition-or-disposition-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
