--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I. cannot stoop to reply to the folly and…" description: "\"I. cannot stoop to reply to the folly and the slander of every poor Tory partisan who assails me, and I should not have noticed you but for the fact th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/john-bright-17156_folly_i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and_2397752.jpg" --- # I. cannot stoop to reply to the folly and the slander of… ![“I. cannot stoop to reply to the folly and the slander of every poor Tory partisan who assails me, and I should not have noticed you but for the fact that you are a member of the House of Commons.” quote by John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/john-bright-17156_folly_i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and_2397752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/john-bright-17156_folly_i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and_2397752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/john-bright-17156_folly_i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and_2397752.jpg) > “I. cannot stoop to reply to the folly and the slander of every poor Tory partisan who assails me, and I should not have noticed you but for the fact that you are a member of the House of Commons.” [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He refuses to engage with the accusations of a Tory opponent, noting that he only noticed them because they are a member of Parliament. **In simple terms:** He declines to respond to slander, pointing out the political context. Key Takeaway Focus on constructive discourse, not petty attacks. Themes politics communication etiquette Mood formal critical Type political ethical When to use this quote - parliamentary debate - media interviews - public speaking Key Concepts public debate civility Questions to Reflect On - How can politicians maintain civility? - What impact does partisan slander have on public trust? A Different Perspective Political rivalry can distract from substantive issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Slander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slander/) ## Related quotes > [The common argument that crime is caused by poverty is a kind of slander on the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-common-argument-that-crime-is-caused-by-poverty-is-a-kind-of/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [We're not a democracy. It's a terrible misunderstandin g and a slander to the idea of democracy to call us that. In reality, we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/we-re-not-a-democracy-it-s-a-terrible-misunderstandin-g-and-a-slander/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) > [Slander reveals the greatest truth about the coward implementing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/slander-reveals-the-greatest-truth-about-the-coward-implementing-it/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [“Accusations are convictions in the public mind. You are guilty until proven innocent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coben/accusations-are-convictions-in-the-public-mind-you-are-guilty-until/) Coben > [“He made a pit and digged it. He was cunning in his plans and industrious in his labors. He stooped to the dirty work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/he-made-a-pit-and-digged-it-he-was-cunning-in-his-plans-and/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [The truth is no slander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/the-truth-is-no-slander/) Proverb > [Rumour is a pipe Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures And of so easy and so plain a stop That the blunt monster with uncounted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/rumour-is-a-pipe-blown-by-surmises-jealousies-conjectures-and-of-so/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Slugs crawl and crawl over our cabbages, like the world's slander over a good name. You may kill them, it is true; but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/slugs-crawl-and-crawl-over-our-cabbages-like-the-world-s-slander-over/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [On Rumor's tongue continual slanders ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/on-rumor-s-tongue-continual-slanders-ride/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The tongue of slander is too prompt with wanton malice to wound the stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-tongue-of-slander-is-too-prompt-with-wanton-malice-to-wound-the/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The most effective method of propaganda directed at the enemy forces is to release captured soldiers and give the wounded medical treatment... Whenever soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-most-effective-method-of-propaganda-directed-at-the-enemy-forces/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [“Slander does to a soul what cancer does to a cell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/slander-does-to-a-soul-what-cancer-does-to-a-cell/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/slander-is-a-poison-which-kills-charity-both-in-the-slanderer-and-the/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/ring-out-false-pride-in-place-and-blood-the-civic-slander-and-the/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) ## More by John Bright > [“What is a great love of books? It is something like a personal introduction to the great and good men of all past times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/what-is-a-great-love-of-books-it-is-something-like-a-personal/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [Well, will anybody deny now that the Government at Washington, as regards its own people, is the strongest government in the world at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/well-will-anybody-deny-now-that-the-government-at-washington-as/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [To have two Legislative Assemblies in the United Kingdom would, in my opinion, be an intolerable mischief; and I think no sensible man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/to-have-two-legislative-assemblies-in-the-united-kingdom-would-in-my/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [ The Aristocratic Institutions of England \[had\] acted much like the Slavery Institutions of America... \[in\] demoralis\[ing\] large classes outside their own special boundaries... \[in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/the-aristocratic-institutions-of-england-had-acted-much-like-the/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [Demand the ballot as the undeniable right of every man who is called to the poll, and take special care that the old constitutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/demand-the-ballot-as-the-undeniable-right-of-every-man-who-is-called/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [This regard for the liberties of Europe, this care at one time for the protestant interest, this excessive love for the balance of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/this-regard-for-the-liberties-of-europe-this-care-at-one-time-for-the/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [Training and development: The best development programmes change the way people see themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/training-and-development-the-best-development-programmes-change-the/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [So then because some towns in England are not represented, America is to have no representative at all. They are our children; but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/so-then-because-some-towns-in-england-are-not-represented-america-is/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [Be the measure great or small, let it be honest in every part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/be-the-measure-great-or-small-let-it-be-honest-in-every-part/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [As to the Income Tax, my opinion is that the needful revenue would be fairly and most fairly raised if paid by property, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/as-to-the-income-tax-my-opinion-is-that-the-needful-revenue-would-be/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [ This old aristocracy and Church-ridden, and tradition-ridden country will never grow wiser. Whilst we are fighting for supremacy in Europe, the \[United\] States are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/this-old-aristocracy-and-church-ridden-and-tradition-ridden-country/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [If this phrase of the 'balance of power' is to be always an argument for war, the pretext for war will never be wanting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/if-this-phrase-of-the-balance-of-power-is-to-be-always-an-argument/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [The angel of death has been abroad throughout the land; you may almost hear the beating of his wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/the-angel-of-death-has-been-abroad-throughout-the-land-you-may-almost/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [ Had they \[the Tories\] been in the wilderness they would have complained of the Ten Commandments. Remark. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/had-they-the-tories-been-in-the-wilderness-they-would-have-complained/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [“I would prefer to have one comfortable room well stocked with books to all you could give me in the way of decoration which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/i-would-prefer-to-have-one-comfortable-room-well-stocked-with-books/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) [Explore all 38 John Bright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) ## More Folly quotes > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [“Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverbs-16-22-bible-kjv/understanding-is-a-wellspring-of-life-unto-him-that-hath-it-but-the/) Proverbs 16:22 Bible KJV > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [Tis easy to break an idol, very easy: to regard the self as easy to subdue is folly, folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/tis-easy-to-break-an-idol-very-easy-to-regard-the-self-as-easy-to/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [You are my inspiration and my folly. You are my light across the sea, my million nameless joys, and my day's wage. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-are-my-inspiration-and-my-folly-you-are-my-light-across-the-sea/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [What curious little corners of folly are to be found in even the sanest brain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-of-romania/what-curious-little-corners-of-folly-are-to-be-found-in-even-the/) [Marie of Romania](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-of-romania/) > [Unnecessary hustle is one of the American follies. We hustle at both work and play, and consequently enjoy neither to the utmost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/unnecessary-hustle-is-one-of-the-american-follies-we-hustle-at-both/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Democracy is the worst form of government. It is the most inefficient, the most clumsy, the most unpractical… It reduces wisdom to impotence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-briffault/democracy-is-the-worst-form-of-government-it-is-the-most-inefficient/) [Robert Briffault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-briffault/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [One's conscience reproaches one much more stingingly for one's follies than one's crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-jewsbury/one-s-conscience-reproaches-one-much-more-stingingly-for-one-s/) [Geraldine Jewsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-jewsbury/) > [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [We are more heavily taxed by our idleness, pride and folly than we are taxed by government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/we-are-more-heavily-taxed-by-our-idleness-pride-and-folly-than-we-are/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Browse all 1,246 Folly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I. cannot stoop to reply to the folly and the slander of every poor Tory partisan who assails me, and I should not have noticed you but for the fact that you are a member of the House of Commons.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Bright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and-the-slander-of-every-poor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Folly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and-the-slander-of-every-poor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/john-bright-17156_folly_i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and_2397752.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/john-bright-17156_folly_i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and_2397752.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/john-bright-17156_folly_i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and_2397752.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I. cannot stoop to reply to the folly and the slander of every poor Tory partisan who assails me, and I…” — John Bright", "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": "John Bright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I. cannot stoop to reply to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and-the-slander-of-every-poor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/i-cannot-stoop-to-reply-to-the-folly-and-the-slander-of-every-poor/#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 } } ] } ```