Character Quote by Jean de la Bruyere
“Incivility is not a Vice of the Soul, but the effect of several Vices; of Vanity, Ignorance of Duty, Laziness, Stupidity, Distraction, Contempt of others, and Jealousy.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Les Caractères, 1688
Incivility stems from multiple personal flaws rather than a single moral failing.
In simple terms: Rudeness results from many bad habits.
Key Takeaway
Address underlying vices to improve behavior.
Themes
ethics
social conduct
character
vanity
ignorance
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
advice
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- workplace interactions
- public discourse
- family gatherings
- online communities
Key Concepts
moral psychology
social dynamics
personal development
Questions to Reflect On
- Which personal flaws most affect your interactions?
- How can you cultivate humility to reduce contempt?
A Different Perspective
Changing one habit may not curb incivility if other vices remain.
![“It's the rising tide of enmity in the country, Donald Trump attacking judges, Donald Trump attacking John McCain, Senator [Richard] Blumenthal, the town halls, the riots in Berkeley. You have got the incivility on the floor of the United States Senate. You have got just a rising tide, every single…” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/950/david-brooks-644_attacking_it-s-the-rising-tide-of-enmity-in-the-co_1528117.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)
