Despise Quote by Jean de la Bruyere
“The Great slight the men of wit, who have nothing but wit; the men of wit despise the Great, who have nothing but greatness; the good man pities them both, if with greatness or wit they have not virtue.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Les Caractères, 1688
Wit and greatness are both hollow without virtue; true value lies in moral character.
In simple terms: Wit and greatness need virtue to matter.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate virtue over show.
Themes
virtue
humility
wisdom
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- leadership
- social interactions
- public speaking
- creative work
Key Concepts
ethics
classical literature
Questions to Reflect On
- What virtues guide your actions?
- How can you use wit responsibly?
A Different Perspective
Wit can be useful without virtue; balance humor with integrity.
![“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)
