Betray Quote by Jean de la Bruyere
“A party spirit betrays the greatest men to act as meanly as the vulgar herd.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Les Caractères, 1688
Powerful individuals can be corrupted by the desire to appear superior, acting as cruelly as the masses they disdain.
In simple terms: Great men may act cruelly when trying to seem better than the crowd.
Key Takeaway
Beware pride that masks cruelty.
Themes
pride
corruption
social dynamics
Mood
cautionary
reflective
Type
moral
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- politics
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
human nature
ethics
status
Questions to Reflect On
- How does desire for superiority change behavior?
- When does imitation become oppression?
A Different Perspective
Even the noble can become tyrannical when seeking distinction.
![“The vulgar herd estimate friendship by its advantages. [Lat., Vulgus amicitias utilitate probat.]” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9da/ovid-276_advantage_the-vulgar-herd-estimate-friendship-by-i_2980189.jpg)
![“The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. [Fr., La cour est comme un edifice bati de marbre; je veux dire qu'elle est composee d'hommes fort durs mais fort polis.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fcf/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_built_the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marb_77288.jpg)
