--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is very unfair in any writer to employ…" description: "\"It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and malice together, because it gives his answerer double work.\" — Jonathan Swift" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/jonathan-swift-433_controversy_it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-emplo_2429515.jpg" --- # It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and… ![“It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and malice together, because it gives his answerer double work.” quote by Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/jonathan-swift-433_controversy_it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-emplo_2429515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/jonathan-swift-433_controversy_it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-emplo_2429515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/jonathan-swift-433_controversy_it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-emplo_2429515.jpg) > “It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and malice together, because it gives his answerer double work.” [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using ignorance and malice together forces the reader to work twice as hard to understand the writer's point. **In simple terms:** Bad writing creates extra effort for readers. Key Takeaway Avoid combining ignorance and malice. Themes writing communication ethics Mood frustrated reflective Type advice critical When to use this quote - academic critique - editing - teaching writing - public discourse Key Concepts critical thinking clarity Questions to Reflect On - How can you simplify complex ideas without condescension? - What responsibilities do writers have to their audience? A Different Perspective Even with ignorance, clarity can be achieved through careful explanation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Malice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malice/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If I should say anything that is not in conformity with what is held by the Holy Roman Catholic Church, it will be through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-should-say-anything-that-is-not-in-conformity-with-what-is-held/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The other thing that I would say about writer's block is that it can be very, very subjective. By which I mean, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-other-thing-that-i-would-say-about-writer-s-block-is-that-it-can/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Whence proceeds this weight we lay On what detracting people say? Their utmost malice cannot make Your head, or tooth, or finger ache; Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/whence-proceeds-this-weight-we-lay-on-what-detracting-people-say/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity, but don't rule out malice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/never-attribute-to-malice-that-which-can-be-adequately-explained-by/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Stupidity without malice isn't horrible; some people can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/stupidity-without-malice-isn-t-horrible-some-people-can-t-help-it/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [ \[Dada is\] perfectly kindhearted malice, alongside exact photography the only legitimate pictorial form of communication and balance in shared experience. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-hausmann/dada-is-perfectly-kindhearted-malice-alongside-exact-photography-the/) Raoul Hausmann > [A noble heart cannot suspect in others the pettiness and malice that it has never felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/a-noble-heart-cannot-suspect-in-others-the-pettiness-and-malice-that/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [You long for one true friend? You have one. And because you do, you have a choice. You can... ponder the malice of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-long-for-one-true-friend-you-have-one-and-because-you-do-you-have/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Malice sucks up the greatest part of its own venom, and poisons itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/malice-sucks-up-the-greatest-part-of-its-own-venom-and-poisons-itself/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to assume that their president, hostile to the principles that formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shapiro/when-in-the-course-of-human-events-it-becomes-necessary-for-one/) [David Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shapiro/) > [“Monsters don’t exist. It’s men you should be afraid of, not monsters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccol-ammaniti/monsters-don-t-exist-it-s-men-you-should-be-afraid-of-not-monsters/) [Niccolò Ammaniti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccol-ammaniti/) > [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/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I realize more and more how instinctively pessimistic I am of all human kindness -- since I am always so bowled over by it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-powell/i-realize-more-and-more-how-instinctively-pessimistic-i-am-of-all/) [Dawn Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-powell/) > [“Koch believed that what the famed economist Joseph Schumpeter called "creative destruction" was so critical to the health of the capitalist system that empathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/koch-believed-that-what-the-famed-economist-joseph-schumpeter-called/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) ## More by Jonathan Swift > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“He said, he knew no reason why those who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public should be obliged to change, or should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/he-said-he-knew-no-reason-why-those-who-entertain-opinions/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [A forward critic often dupes us With sham quotations peri hupsos, And if we have not read Longinus, Will magisterially outshine us. Then, lest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-forward-critic-often-dupes-us-with-sham-quotations-peri-hupsos-and/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [May you live every day of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/may-you-live-every-day-of-your-life/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Ale is meat, drink and cloth; it will make a cat speak and a wise man dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/ale-is-meat-drink-and-cloth-it-will-make-a-cat-speak-and-a-wise-man/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; it is like spending this year part of the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/all-fits-of-pleasure-are-balanced-by-an-equal-degree-of-pain-or/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“When a great genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign; that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/when-a-great-genius-appears-in-the-world-you-may-know-him-by-this/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-have-ever-hated-all-nations-professions-and-communities-and-all-my/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/so-endless-and-exorbitant-are-the-desires-of-men-that-they-will-grasp/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) [Explore all 535 Jonathan Swift quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## More Controversy quotes > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [ As we have seen after every other \[Donald\] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [My pride is the length of time I have worked in the industry without any major controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/my-pride-is-the-length-of-time-i-have-worked-in-the-industry-without/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [Controversy equalizes fools and wise men in the same way - and the fools know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/controversy-equalizes-fools-and-wise-men-in-the-same-way-and-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-2/) > [Some people want to have controversy between the races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/some-people-want-to-have-controversy-between-the-races/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [Controversy for the sake of controversy is sin. Controversy for the sake of truth is a divine command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-martin/controversy-for-the-sake-of-controversy-is-sin-controversy-for-the/) [Walter Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-martin/) > [Sometimes as a player you do not want to get into a controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/sometimes-as-a-player-you-do-not-want-to-get-into-a-controversy/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [Science does not enter a chaotic society to put order into it anymore, to simplify its composition, and to put an end to controversies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-latour/science-does-not-enter-a-chaotic-society-to-put-order-into-it-anymore/) [Bruno Latour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-latour/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [My stress on the truth in sexual stereotypes and on the biologic basis of sex differences is sure to cause controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/my-stress-on-the-truth-in-sexual-stereotypes-and-on-the-biologic/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Controversy sells, politics sell, all that type of stuff sells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/controversy-sells-politics-sell-all-that-type-of-stuff-sells/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [Please don't think that I got married on TV for publicity. I already enjoyed a huge fan following, courtesy my character in Bidaai.' Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/please-don-t-think-that-i-got-married-on-tv-for-publicity-i-already/) [Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/) > [There's a lot of controversy online, some people say i'm a genius and other say i'm hugely talented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/there-s-a-lot-of-controversy-online-some-people-say-i-m-a-genius-and/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [Gossip is never fatal until it is denied. Gossip goes on about every human being alive and about all the dead that are alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/gossip-is-never-fatal-until-it-is-denied-gossip-goes-on-about-every/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [I think controversy is an interesting thing in that it usually goes hand in hand with starting conversations that surround taboo or under-discussed topics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sharp/i-think-controversy-is-an-interesting-thing-in-that-it-usually-goes/) [Alex Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sharp/) [Browse all 604 Controversy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and malice together, because it gives his answerer double work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Swift" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-employ-ignorance-and-malice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Controversy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-employ-ignorance-and-malice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/jonathan-swift-433_controversy_it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-emplo_2429515.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/jonathan-swift-433_controversy_it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-emplo_2429515.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/634/jonathan-swift-433_controversy_it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-emplo_2429515.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is very unfair in any writer to employ ignorance and malice together, because it gives his answerer…” — Jonathan Swift", "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": "Jonathan Swift", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is very unfair in any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-employ-ignorance-and-malice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/it-is-very-unfair-in-any-writer-to-employ-ignorance-and-malice/#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 } } ] } ```