--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To condescend effectively it is clearly…" description: "\"“To condescend effectively it is clearly necessary to adhere to a narrow definition of relevant data.”\" — Marilynne Robinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/marilynne-robinson-602_condescend_to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly_1481705.png" --- # To condescend effectively it is clearly necessary to… ![“To condescend effectively it is clearly necessary to adhere to a narrow definition of relevant data.” quote by Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/marilynne-robinson-602_condescend_to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly_1481705.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/marilynne-robinson-602_condescend_to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly_1481705.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/marilynne-robinson-602_condescend_to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly_1481705.png) > ““To condescend effectively it is clearly necessary to adhere to a narrow definition of relevant data.”” [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective condescension requires limiting what counts as relevant information, focusing narrowly on selected facts. **In simple terms:** Narrow focus makes condescension work. Key Takeaway Limit data to what matters. Themes communication power persuasion Mood critical analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - academic lectures - political speeches - media commentary Key Concepts epistemology authority selective focus Questions to Reflect On - How does narrowing data affect credibility? - When is selective focus justified? A Different Perspective Over‑narrow data can ignore important context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clearly Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly-necessary-5401501/) [Condescend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condescend/) [Condescend Effectively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condescend-effectively-5401500/) [Effectively Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effectively-clearly-5401502/) [Relevant Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevant-data-5401503/) ## Related quotes > [“The past is relevant only as data.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-past-is-relevant-only-as-data/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“...when we condescend, when we act consistently with a sense of the character of people in general which demeans them, we impoverish them AND…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/when-we-condescend-when-we-act-consistently-with-a-sense-of-the/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Never, ever condescend to the reader. Assume you are writing for someone better and smarter than you are. This will protect you from conventionalism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/never-ever-condescend-to-the-reader-assume-you-are-writing-for/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [People in Hollywood can condescend to the way a lot of other people are living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/people-in-hollywood-can-condescend-to-the-way-a-lot-of-other-people/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [We make a mistake to condescend to the past as if it were preparatory to our own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow/we-make-a-mistake-to-condescend-to-the-past-as-if-it-were-preparatory/) [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) > [Very well." He sat cross-legged on the floor of the cage. "You haven't run off so you want to talk. I will hear your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/very-well-he-sat-cross-legged-on-the-floor-of-the-cage-you-haven-t/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Nobody keeps a cat. They condescend to live with you is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shannon/nobody-keeps-a-cat-they-condescend-to-live-with-you-is-all/) [Del Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shannon/) > [“I don't purchase people with money, or hiss like a snake to attract their attention, all i do is to rest on my couch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-don-t-purchase-people-with-money-or-hiss-like-a-snake-to-attract/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The young can exasperate, of course, and frighten, and condescend, and insult, and cut you with their still unrounded edges. But they can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moriarty/the-young-can-exasperate-of-course-and-frighten-and-condescend-and/) [Laura Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moriarty/) > [Many persons think a prophet must be a good deal better than anybody else. Suppose I would condescend - yes, I will call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/many-persons-think-a-prophet-must-be-a-good-deal-better-than-anybody/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [Before a cat will condescend to treat you as a trusted friend, some little token of esteem is needed, like a dish of cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/before-a-cat-will-condescend-to-treat-you-as-a-trusted-friend-some/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [“there is scarce any man, how much soever he may despise the character of a flatterer, but will condescend in the meanest manner to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/there-is-scarce-any-man-how-much-soever-he-may-despise-the-character/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [People who, not being in love themselves, feel that a clever man should only be unhappy about a person who is worth his while;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/people-who-not-being-in-love-themselves-feel-that-a-clever-man-should/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [And it's wrong of you to think that love leaves room for nothing else. It's possible to love something and still condescend to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/and-it-s-wrong-of-you-to-think-that-love-leaves-room-for-nothing-else/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“Who would condescend to strike down the mere things he does not fear? Who would debase himself to be merely brave, like any common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/who-would-condescend-to-strike-down-the-mere-things-he-does-not-fear/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) ## More by Marilynne Robinson > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [For our purposes as human beings, the mind is the center of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/for-our-purposes-as-human-beings-the-mind-is-the-center-of-everything/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“I think sometimes there might be an advantage in making people aware how worn and stale these old transgressions are. It might take some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-think-sometimes-there-might-be-an-advantage-in-making-people-aware/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [There are two occasions when the sacred beauty of Creation becomes dazzlingly apparent, and they occur together. One is when we feel our mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/there-are-two-occasions-when-the-sacred-beauty-of-creation-becomes/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“You can know a thing to death and be for all purposes completely ignorant of it. A man can know his father, or his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/you-can-know-a-thing-to-death-and-be-for-all-purposes-completely/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I listen to Bach a great deal. In general I like to listen to hymns and liturgical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-listen-to-bach-a-great-deal-in-general-i-like-to-listen-to-hymns/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Every writer I know, when asked how to become a writer, responds with one word:Read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/every-writer-i-know-when-asked-how-to-become-a-writer-responds-with/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Faith for her was habit and family loyalty, a reverence for the Bible which was also literary, admiration for her mother and father. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/faith-for-her-was-habit-and-family-loyalty-a-reverence-for-the-bible/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Prayer is a discipline in truthfulness, in honesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/prayer-is-a-discipline-in-truthfulness-in-honesty/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.’ There are pleasures to be found where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/the-full-soul-loatheth-an-honeycomb-but-to-the-hungry-soul-every/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I sometimes am discouraged by what seems to be a sort of conventional disparagement of humankind. I think often people feel that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-sometimes-am-discouraged-by-what-seems-to-be-a-sort-of-conventional/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Now that I look back, it seems to me that in all that deep darkness a miracle was preparing. So I am right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/now-that-i-look-back-it-seems-to-me-that-in-all-that-deep-darkness-a/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“My grandfather once told her if you couldn't read with cold feet, there wouldn't be a literate soul in the state of Maine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-grandfather-once-told-her-if-you-couldn-t-read-with-cold-feet/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Cranky old Leviticus gave us—gave Christ—not only “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” but also the rather forgotten “Thou shalt love the stranger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/cranky-old-leviticus-gave-us-gave-christ-not-only-thou-shalt-love-thy/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Explore all 450 Marilynne Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## More Condescend quotes > [“Who would condescend to strike down the mere things he does not fear? Who would debase himself to be merely brave, like any common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/who-would-condescend-to-strike-down-the-mere-things-he-does-not-fear/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [And it's wrong of you to think that love leaves room for nothing else. It's possible to love something and still condescend to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/and-it-s-wrong-of-you-to-think-that-love-leaves-room-for-nothing-else/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [People who, not being in love themselves, feel that a clever man should only be unhappy about a person who is worth his while;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/people-who-not-being-in-love-themselves-feel-that-a-clever-man-should/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“there is scarce any man, how much soever he may despise the character of a flatterer, but will condescend in the meanest manner to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/there-is-scarce-any-man-how-much-soever-he-may-despise-the-character/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Before a cat will condescend to treat you as a trusted friend, some little token of esteem is needed, like a dish of cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/before-a-cat-will-condescend-to-treat-you-as-a-trusted-friend-some/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [Many persons think a prophet must be a good deal better than anybody else. Suppose I would condescend - yes, I will call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/many-persons-think-a-prophet-must-be-a-good-deal-better-than-anybody/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [The young can exasperate, of course, and frighten, and condescend, and insult, and cut you with their still unrounded edges. But they can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moriarty/the-young-can-exasperate-of-course-and-frighten-and-condescend-and/) [Laura Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moriarty/) > [“I don't purchase people with money, or hiss like a snake to attract their attention, all i do is to rest on my couch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-don-t-purchase-people-with-money-or-hiss-like-a-snake-to-attract/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Nobody keeps a cat. They condescend to live with you is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shannon/nobody-keeps-a-cat-they-condescend-to-live-with-you-is-all/) [Del Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shannon/) > [Very well." He sat cross-legged on the floor of the cage. "You haven't run off so you want to talk. I will hear your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/very-well-he-sat-cross-legged-on-the-floor-of-the-cage-you-haven-t/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [We make a mistake to condescend to the past as if it were preparatory to our own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow/we-make-a-mistake-to-condescend-to-the-past-as-if-it-were-preparatory/) [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) > [Never, ever condescend to the reader. Assume you are writing for someone better and smarter than you are. This will protect you from conventionalism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/never-ever-condescend-to-the-reader-assume-you-are-writing-for/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [People in Hollywood can condescend to the way a lot of other people are living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/people-in-hollywood-can-condescend-to-the-way-a-lot-of-other-people/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [As I got older, I had to learn to not have people speak for me. It was the first time I recognized, 'Oh, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-williams/as-i-got-older-i-had-to-learn-to-not-have-people-speak-for-me-it-was/) [Jessica Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-williams/) > [“To live with tremendous and proud composure; always beyond —. To have and not to have one's affects, one's pro and con, at will;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-live-with-tremendous-and-proud-composure-always-beyond-to-have-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 26 Condescend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condescend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To condescend effectively it is clearly necessary to adhere to a narrow definition of relevant data.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marilynne Robinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly-necessary-to-adhere-to-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Condescend" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly-necessary-to-adhere-to-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/marilynne-robinson-602_condescend_to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly_1481705.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/marilynne-robinson-602_condescend_to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly_1481705.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/marilynne-robinson-602_condescend_to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly_1481705.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To condescend effectively it is clearly necessary to adhere to a narrow definition of relevant data.” — Marilynne Robinson", "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": "Marilynne Robinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To condescend effectively it is clearly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly-necessary-to-adhere-to-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/to-condescend-effectively-it-is-clearly-necessary-to-adhere-to-a/#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 } } ] } ```