--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing that more betrays a base…" description: "\"There is nothing that more betrays a base ungenerous spirit than the giving of secret stabs to a man's reputation. Lampoons and satires that are writte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/joseph-addison-377_betray_there-is-nothing-that-more-betrays-a-bas_700887.png" --- # There is nothing that more betrays a base ungenerous… ![“There is nothing that more betrays a base ungenerous spirit than the giving of secret stabs to a man's reputation. Lampoons and satires that are written with wit and spirit are like poisoned darts, which not only inflict a wound, but make it incurable.” quote by Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/joseph-addison-377_betray_there-is-nothing-that-more-betrays-a-bas_700887.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/joseph-addison-377_betray_there-is-nothing-that-more-betrays-a-bas_700887.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/joseph-addison-377_betray_there-is-nothing-that-more-betrays-a-bas_700887.png) > “There is nothing that more betrays a base ungenerous spirit than the giving of secret stabs to a man's reputation. Lampoons and satires that are written with wit and spirit are like poisoned darts, which not only inflict a wound, but make it incurable.” [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Secret attacks on reputation are the gravest betrayal; witty satire can be as harmful as a poisoned dart, causing lasting damage. **In simple terms:** Hidden insults damage reputation deeply. Key Takeaway Guard reputation against covert attacks. Themes integrity reputation communication Mood cautious reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - public relations - online discourse - political commentary Key Concepts ethics social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When does criticism become harmful? - How can wit be used responsibly? A Different Perspective Satire can be constructive if it avoids personal sabotage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) [Wounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounds/) ## Related quotes > [The world is so full of ill-nature that I have lampoons sent me by people who cannot spell, and satires composed by those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-world-is-so-full-of-ill-nature-that-i-have-lampoons-sent-me-by/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Satires and lampoons on particular people circulate more by giving copies in confidence to the friends of the parties, than by printing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/satires-and-lampoons-on-particular-people-circulate-more-by-giving/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze; but time and thunder pay respect to bays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/lampoons-like-squibs-may-make-a-present-blaze-but-time-and-thunder/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [I have seen lampoons of my work. And I have really enjoyed them. But I would never do another version of The Exorcist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/i-have-seen-lampoons-of-my-work-and-i-have-really-enjoyed-them-but-i/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [In the present state of the world it is difficult not to write lampoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/in-the-present-state-of-the-world-it-is-difficult-not-to-write/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Satires which the censor can understand are justly forbidden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/satires-which-the-censor-can-understand-are-justly-forbidden/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [For a young and presumptuous poet a disposition to write satires is one of the most dangerous he can encourage. It tempts him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/for-a-young-and-presumptuous-poet-a-disposition-to-write-satires-is/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [I think I will be just fine without your satires. They mock my progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crosby-kwaw/i-think-i-will-be-just-fine-without-your-satires-they-mock-my-progress/) [Crosby Kwaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crosby-kwaw/) > [All the satires of the stage should be viewed without discomfort. They are public mirrors, where we are never to admit that we seeourselves;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/all-the-satires-of-the-stage-should-be-viewed-without-discomfort-they/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [“The Wit of Cheats, the Courage of a Whore, Are what ten thousand envy and adore: All, all look up, with reverential Awe, At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-wit-of-cheats-the-courage-of-a-whore-are-what-ten-thousand-envy/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Smart writers never understand why their satires on our town are never successful. What they refuse to accept is that you can't satirize a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedda-hopper/smart-writers-never-understand-why-their-satires-on-our-town-are/) [Hedda Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedda-hopper/) > [The bitterest satires and noblest eulogies on married life have come from poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/the-bitterest-satires-and-noblest-eulogies-on-married-life-have-come/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [I have helped darts in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-sherrock/i-have-helped-darts-in-general/) [Fallon Sherrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-sherrock/) > [I'm not playing darts because I want attention. I just like to play darts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-part/i-m-not-playing-darts-because-i-want-attention-i-just-like-to-play/) [John Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-part/) > [When we're flat out playing darts, really that's my practice because we play practically every day of the week and then when I'm home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerwyn-price/when-we-re-flat-out-playing-darts-really-that-s-my-practice-because/) [Gerwyn Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerwyn-price/) ## More by Joseph Addison > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-nothing-touches-our-imagination-so-much-as-a-beautiful-woman/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/we-are-always-doing-something-for-posterity-but-i-would-fain-see/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Female Virtues are of a Domestick turn. The Family is the proper Province for Private Women to Shine in. 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We do not betray Marxism - Leninism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enver-hoxha/even-if-we-have-to-go-without-bread-we-albanians-do-not-violate/) [Enver Hoxha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enver-hoxha/) > [Stop holding onto people that treat you like crap. They might be nice sometimes, but the rest of the time they disrespect you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/stop-holding-onto-people-that-treat-you-like-crap-they-might-be-nice/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/now-the-brother-shall-betray-the-brother-to-death-and-the-father-the/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [One day you and I will have to have a little talk about this business called love. I still don't understand what it's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/one-day-you-and-i-will-have-to-have-a-little-talk-about-this-business/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“Sarai, you never know who might betray you until it’s too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/sarai-you-never-know-who-might-betray-you-until-it-s-too-late/) [J.A. 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