--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially…" description: "\"Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a smattering of learning, are the most likely to be opinionated. Only strong minds know how to correc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_abandon_mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-th_921716.jpg" --- # Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a… ![“Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a smattering of learning, are the most likely to be opinionated. Only strong minds know how to correct their opinions and abandon a bad position.” quote by Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_abandon_mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-th_921716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_abandon_mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-th_921716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_abandon_mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-th_921716.jpg) > “Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a smattering of learning, are the most likely to be opinionated. Only strong minds know how to correct their opinions and abandon a bad position.” [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mediocre, opinionated people often lack depth; strong minds correct opinions and let go of bad positions. **In simple terms:** Strong minds correct opinions, unlike opinionated mediocrities. Key Takeaway Seek intellectual humility. Themes intellectual honesty humility growth Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic debate - personal development - leadership coaching Key Concepts critical self‑assessment open‑mindedness learning from error Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify when an opinion is poorly founded? - What practices help revise entrenched beliefs? A Different Perspective May dismiss dissenting voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Likely Opinionated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likely-opinionated-1431791/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mean spirited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-spirited/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinionated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinionated/) [Opinionated Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinionated-strong-1431792/) [Opinions Abandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinions-abandon-1431793/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Spirited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirited/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-mind/) ## Related quotes > [Just because I am an opinionated and strong girl doesn't mean that I don't believe in vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumi-pednekar/just-because-i-am-an-opinionated-and-strong-girl-doesn-t-mean-that-i/) [Bhumi Pednekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumi-pednekar/) > [Honest and sincere acts mislead the wicked and cause them to lose their path to their own goals, because mean-spirited people usually believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/honest-and-sincere-acts-mislead-the-wicked-and-cause-them-to-lose/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [When an opinionated person starts to challenge something, his mind shuts out all that could clear up the matter. The argument irritates him, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/when-an-opinionated-person-starts-to-challenge-something-his-mind/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [“A strong mind is greater than a strong fist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-strong-mind-is-greater-than-a-strong-fist/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [A lot of fighters have skills, they have talent. The one thing that you can't train is a strong mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/a-lot-of-fighters-have-skills-they-have-talent-the-one-thing-that-you/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [“Change your focus, give power to the positive and starve the negative. We reduce our inner wisdom to think with logic that's been instilled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/change-your-focus-give-power-to-the-positive-and-starve-the-negative/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [“that whoever is strong in mind and spirit will have power over them. Anyone who is greatly daring is right in their eyes. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/that-whoever-is-strong-in-mind-and-spirit-will-have-power-over-them/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [If you can read this, you have a strong mind ~ 7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annonymous/if-you-can-read-this-you-have-a-strong-mind-7h15-m3554g3-53rv35-7o/) [Annonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annonymous/) > [You are strong but your mind is slow.You can fight but you can not plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-flores/you-are-strong-but-your-mind-is-slow-you-can-fight-but-you-can-not/) [Lara Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-flores/) > [I honestly believe that with a strong mind, you can literally 'will' the ball into the hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-floyd/i-honestly-believe-that-with-a-strong-mind-you-can-literally-will-the/) [Ray Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-floyd/) > [If you have a strong mind and plant in it a firm resolve, you can change your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-you-have-a-strong-mind-and-plant-in-it-a-firm-resolve-you-can/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“A thick-skinned person and a fool are oblivious to the ways of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-sippy/a-thick-skinned-person-and-a-fool-are-oblivious-to-the-ways-of-the/) [Haresh Sippy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-sippy/) > [True hope is based on the energy of character. A strong mind always hopes, and has always cause to hope, because it knows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ludwig-von-knebel/true-hope-is-based-on-the-energy-of-character-a-strong-mind-always/) [Karl Ludwig von Knebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ludwig-von-knebel/) > [Intelligence entails a strong mind, but genius entails a heart of a lion in tune with a strong mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/intelligence-entails-a-strong-mind-but-genius-entails-a-heart-of-a/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. You have to be sure about yourself and about your work and your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/in-my-business-you-should-be-very-strong-in-mind-you-have-to-be-sure/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) ## More by Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable > [There are petty-minded people who cannot endure to be reminded of their ignorance because, since they are usually quite blind to all things, quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-are-petty-minded-people-who-cannot-endure-to-be-reminded-of/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [There is no one who cannot derive great help and great benefit from learning; but there are also only a few people who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-is-no-one-who-cannot-derive-great-help-and-great-benefit-from/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Sometimes we praise the way things used to be in order to blame the present, and we esteem what is no longer in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/sometimes-we-praise-the-way-things-used-to-be-in-order-to-blame-the/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Even the best-natured people, if uninstructed, are always blind and uncertain. We must take pains to instruct ourselves so that ignorance makes us neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/even-the-best-natured-people-if-uninstructed-are-always-blind-and/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [When an opinionated person starts to challenge something, his mind shuts out all that could clear up the matter. The argument irritates him, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/when-an-opinionated-person-starts-to-challenge-something-his-mind/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [It is a very common failing, never to be pleased with our fortune nor displeased with our character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/it-is-a-very-common-failing-never-to-be-pleased-with-our-fortune-nor/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Honest and sincere acts mislead the wicked and cause them to lose their path to their own goals, because mean-spirited people usually believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/honest-and-sincere-acts-mislead-the-wicked-and-cause-them-to-lose/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Good results are sometimes owing to a failure of judgment, because the faculty of judgment often hinders us from undertaking many things which would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/good-results-are-sometimes-owing-to-a-failure-of-judgment-because-the/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [One cannot always bestow all manner of things upon everybody. To refuse a request for just cause is as praiseworthy as to grant a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/one-cannot-always-bestow-all-manner-of-things-upon-everybody-to/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [The shame that comes to us as we see ourselves praised when we are unworthy of it often gives us the occasion to accomplish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/the-shame-that-comes-to-us-as-we-see-ourselves-praised-when-we-are/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Ignorance makes for weakness and fear; knowledge gives strength and confidence. Nothing surprises an intellect that knows all things with a sense of discrimination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/ignorance-makes-for-weakness-and-fear-knowledge-gives-strength-and/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [There are people so blind and self-absorbed in all matters that they always believe that, whatever they desire or think, they can impose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-are-people-so-blind-and-self-absorbed-in-all-matters-that-they/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Instead of taking care to acquaint ourselves with others, we only think of making ourselves known to them. It would be better to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/instead-of-taking-care-to-acquaint-ourselves-with-others-we-only/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [Wealth does not teach us to transcend the desire for wealth. The possession of many goods does not bring the repose of not desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/wealth-does-not-teach-us-to-transcend-the-desire-for-wealth-the/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [There is little advantage in pleasing ourselves when we please no one else, for our great self-love is often chastised by the scorn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-is-little-advantage-in-pleasing-ourselves-when-we-please-no-one/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) [Explore all 75 Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) ## More Abandon quotes > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/) [Kenan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-malik/) > [The purpose of a spirit filled life is to demonstrate the supernatural power of our living God so that the unsaved multitudes will abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-osborn/the-purpose-of-a-spirit-filled-life-is-to-demonstrate-the/) [T.L. Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-osborn/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I would leave at once, but it would be cruel to abandon a lady in a foreign land with a maniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-would-leave-at-once-but-it-would-be-cruel-to-abandon-a-lady-in-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [every subjective phenomenon is essentially connected with a single point of view, and it seems inevitable that an objective, physical theory will abandon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/every-subjective-phenomenon-is-essentially-connected-with-a-single/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Every great thing starts with an idea, followed by a doubt and finally a resolve to abandon or pursue. Victory is a treacherous journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/every-great-thing-starts-with-an-idea-followed-by-a-doubt-and-finally/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't give up because things are hard, but work harder, when you think of giving up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/don-t-give-up-because-things-are-hard-but-work-harder-when-you-think/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Sex is not the ultimate high, but the ultimate high hangs out around sex. The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I care so deeply about this matter that I'm willing to take on the legal penalties, to sit in this prison cell, to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-care-so-deeply-about-this-matter-that-i-m-willing-to-take-on-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I've been to unpretty places with the roles I've played, and I'm attracted to reckless abandon. I like being taken to the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/i-ve-been-to-unpretty-places-with-the-roles-i-ve-played-and-i-m/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) [Browse all 1,142 Abandon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a smattering of learning, are the most likely to be opinionated. Only strong minds know how to correct their opinions and abandon a bad position.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-those-with-a-smattering-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abandon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-those-with-a-smattering-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_abandon_mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-th_921716.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_abandon_mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-th_921716.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-d_abandon_mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-th_921716.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a smattering of learning, are the most likely to be…” — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable", "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": "Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-those-with-a-smattering-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/mean-spirited-mediocrities-especially-those-with-a-smattering-of/#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 } } ] } ```