--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once in a century a man may be ruined or…" description: "\"Once in a century a man may be ruined or made insufferable by praise. But surely once in a minute something generous dies for want of it.\" — John Masef..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/john-masefield-8924_century_once-in-a-century-a-man-may-be-ruined-or_1984723.jpg" --- # Once in a century a man may be ruined or made insufferable… ![“Once in a century a man may be ruined or made insufferable by praise. But surely once in a minute something generous dies for want of it.” quote by John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/john-masefield-8924_century_once-in-a-century-a-man-may-be-ruined-or_1984723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/john-masefield-8924_century_once-in-a-century-a-man-may-be-ruined-or_1984723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/john-masefield-8924_century_once-in-a-century-a-man-may-be-ruined-or_1984723.jpg) > “Once in a century a man may be ruined or made insufferable by praise. But surely once in a minute something generous dies for want of it.” [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Praise can elevate or destroy a person, yet true generosity often goes unrecognized and wasted. **In simple terms:** Praise can ruin or uplift; generosity often dies unnoticed. Key Takeaway Recognize and act on generosity before it fades. Themes praise generosity recognition Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - public speaking - personal relationships Key Concepts social influence human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance praise with realistic feedback? - What small acts of generosity can you practice today? A Different Perspective Excessive praise may create unrealistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) ## Related quotes > [The author of Biographia Literaria was already a ruined man. 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A man can be ruined but never conquered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesha-k-shah/a-man-is-never-made-for-vanquish-a-man-can-be-ruined-but-never/) [Aesha K Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesha-k-shah/) > [The poor man is ruined as soon as he begins to ape the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-poor-man-is-ruined-as-soon-as-he-begins-to-ape-the-rich/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The ordinary man is ruined by the flesh lusting against the spirit; the scholar by the spirit lusting too much against the flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/the-ordinary-man-is-ruined-by-the-flesh-lusting-against-the-spirit/) [Georg C. 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A thing of watery salt Held in cohesion by unresting cells, Which work they know not why, which never halt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-masefield/what-am-i-life-a-thing-of-watery-salt-held-in-cohesion-by-unresting/) [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) > [Men in a ship are always looking up, and men ashore are usually looking down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-masefield/men-in-a-ship-are-always-looking-up-and-men-ashore-are-usually/) [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) > [I have seen dawn and sunset on moors and windy hills Coming in solemn beauty like slow old tunes of Spain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-masefield/i-have-seen-dawn-and-sunset-on-moors-and-windy-hills-coming-in-solemn/) [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) > [I must go down to the sea again For the call of the running tide It's a wild call and a clear call that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-masefield/i-must-go-down-to-the-sea-again-for-the-call-of-the-running-tide-it-s/) [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) > [“(...) It,s hard not to be able. 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Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [For me, the melancholy of the late XXth Century is walking late at night by the Mont Blanc pen store and seeing these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/for-me-the-melancholy-of-the-late-xxth-century-is-walking-late-at/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 5,406 Century quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once in a century a man may be ruined or made insufferable by praise. 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