Contempt Quote by Mark Twain
“I felt it was my duty to praise all of God's works with fervent enthusiasm. At the same time I killed flies in my house in a spirit of hatred, exasperation and contempt. My praise to God for all his works was dishonest, the act of killing the fly was honest.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, 1899
Enthusiastic praise can be insincere, while honest negative actions reveal true character.
In simple terms: Praise may be false; honest actions show truth.
Key Takeaway
Align actions with sincere belief.
Themes
hypocrisy
honesty
faith
human nature
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
spiritual
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal worship
- daily conduct
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Moral Integrity
Psychology of Religion
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions reveal your true values?
- How can praise be authentic?
A Different Perspective
Praise can be genuine if coupled with honest self‑examination.
![“Every person of any rank in the left, from voter on up to cabinet member to elected official in the Democrat Party, has contempt. We [Republicans] are the number one enemy. And they will put aside whatever differences they have.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08a/rush-limbaugh-28_cabinets_every-person-of-any-rank-in-the-left-fro_29974.jpg){kind=icon}