--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men scanning the surface count the wicked…" description: "\"Men scanning the surface count the wicked happy; they see not the frightful dreams that crowd a bad man's pillow.\" — Martin Farquhar Tupper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_bad-man_men-scanning-the-surface-count-the-wicke_3106582.png" --- # Men scanning the surface count the wicked happy; they see… ![“Men scanning the surface count the wicked happy; they see not the frightful dreams that crowd a bad man's pillow.” quote by Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_bad-man_men-scanning-the-surface-count-the-wicke_3106582.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_bad-man_men-scanning-the-surface-count-the-wicke_3106582.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_bad-man_men-scanning-the-surface-count-the-wicke_3106582.png) > “Men scanning the surface count the wicked happy; they see not the frightful dreams that crowd a bad man's pillow.” [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People notice only obvious happiness, ignoring the hidden nightmares that plague the wicked. **In simple terms:** We see surface joy, missing deeper suffering. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances. Themes perception misjudgment inner life Mood reflective thoughtful Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - political - personal relationships - mental health - social media - leadership Key Concepts psychology illusion human nature Questions to Reflect On - What hidden struggles might you be overlooking? - How does focusing on appearances affect empathy? A Different Perspective Surface observations can be misleading without deeper inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Scanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scanning/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [An honest man's pillow is his peace of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-honest-man-s-pillow-is-his-peace-of-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To place your ideas and your dreams before the crowd is to risk being called naive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/to-place-your-ideas-and-your-dreams-before-the-crowd-is-to-risk-being/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Follow your dreams, not the crowd!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-ayscough/follow-your-dreams-not-the-crowd/) Jordan Ayscough > [To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule. To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-carayol/to-place-your-dreams-before-the-crowd-is-to-risk-ridicule-to-go/) Rene Carayol > [I walked over, my eyes scanning Luna Blu, my house, and Dave's. But it was the building behind them, that empty hotel, that had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-walked-over-my-eyes-scanning-luna-blu-my-house-and-dave-s-but-it/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [The not-knowing is crucial to art, is what permits art to be made. 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Once a means to an end, a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-carr/what-is-different-and-troubling-is-that-skimming-is-becoming-our/) [Nicholas Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-carr/) > [Essence of newspaper is the large size. You are a reader you're an eagle flying over the desert, you're scanning. You see the rabbit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-wilcox/essence-of-newspaper-is-the-large-size-you-are-a-reader-you-re-an/) Russ Wilcox ## More by Martin Farquhar Tupper > [Man liveth from hour to hour, and knoweth not what may happen; Influences circle him on all sides, and yet must he answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/man-liveth-from-hour-to-hour-and-knoweth-not-what-may-happen/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Hatred is the atmosphere of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/hatred-is-the-atmosphere-of-hell/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Mind is a kingdom to the man who gathereth his pleasure from ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/mind-is-a-kingdom-to-the-man-who-gathereth-his-pleasure-from-ideas/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Be understood in thy teaching, and instruct to this measure of capacity; precepts and rules are repulsive to a child, but happy illustration winneth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/be-understood-in-thy-teaching-and-instruct-to-this-measure-of/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [True wisdom, laboring to expound, heareth others readily; False wisdom, sturdy to deny, closeth up her mind to argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/true-wisdom-laboring-to-expound-heareth-others-readily-false-wisdom/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Power is seldom innocent, and envy is the yokefellow of eminence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/power-is-seldom-innocent-and-envy-is-the-yokefellow-of-eminence/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [There is a limit to enjoyment, though the sources of wealth be boundlessAnd the choicest pleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/there-is-a-limit-to-enjoyment-though-the-sources-of-wealth-be/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Solitude delighteth well to feed on many thoughts; There as thou sittest peaceful, communing with fancy, The precious poetry of life shall gild its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/solitude-delighteth-well-to-feed-on-many-thoughts-there-as-thou/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [God, from a beautiful necessity, is Love in all he doeth, Love, a brilliant fire, to gladden or consume: The wicked work their woe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/god-from-a-beautiful-necessity-is-love-in-all-he-doeth-love-a/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [A juggler's skill hath been long years alearning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/a-juggler-s-skill-hath-been-long-years-alearning/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [The seeds of first instructions are dropp'd into the deepest furrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/the-seeds-of-first-instructions-are-dropp-d-into-the-deepest-furrows/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [To-morrow is that lamp upon the marsh, which a traveller never reacheth; To-morrow, the rainbow's cup, coveted prize of ignorance; To-morrow, the shifting anchorage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/to-morrow-is-that-lamp-upon-the-marsh-which-a-traveller-never/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Speech is the golden harvest that followeth the flowering of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/speech-is-the-golden-harvest-that-followeth-the-flowering-of-thought/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Lay not the plummet to the line; religion hath no landmarks; no human keenness can discern the subtle shades of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/lay-not-the-plummet-to-the-line-religion-hath-no-landmarks-no-human/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Alike to the slave and his oppressor cometh night with sweet refreshment, and half of the life of the most wretched is gladdened by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/alike-to-the-slave-and-his-oppressor-cometh-night-with-sweet/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) [Explore all 116 Martin Farquhar Tupper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) ## More Bad man quotes > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. 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