--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However low he may fall, a man can never…" description: "\"“However low he may fall, a man can never deny himself the delight of feeling cleverer, more powerful or even better fed than his companions.”\" — Maxim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/maxim-gorky-6814_delight_however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never_837242.jpg" --- # However low he may fall, a man can never deny himself the… ![“However low he may fall, a man can never deny himself the delight of feeling cleverer, more powerful or even better fed than his companions.” quote by Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/maxim-gorky-6814_delight_however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never_837242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/maxim-gorky-6814_delight_however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never_837242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/maxim-gorky-6814_delight_however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never_837242.jpg) > ““However low he may fall, a man can never deny himself the delight of feeling cleverer, more powerful or even better fed than his companions.”” [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People enjoy feeling intellectually superior or more powerful than peers, even when they are lowly positioned. **In simple terms:** Feeling clever feels better than Key Takeaway . Themes Embrace humility and seek genuine growth. Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - social hierarchy - psychology Key Concepts pride comparison selfesteem Practical Applications - workplace - school - social gatherings Questions to Reflect On - Do you seek status over substance? - How does feeling superior affect your actions? A Different Perspective Pride can blind self‑awareness and harm relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cleverer Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverer-powerful-610943/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Delight Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight-feeling-610944/) [Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism/) [Feeling Cleverer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-cleverer-610942/) [Low Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low-fall-610945/) ## Related quotes > [“In literature mere egotism is delightful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-literature-mere-egotism-is-delightful/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [What's wrong with this egotism? If a man doesn't delight in himself and the force in him and feel that he and it are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/what-s-wrong-with-this-egotism-if-a-man-doesn-t-delight-in-himself/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [Peace is only possible if men cease to place their happiness in the possession of things "which cannot be shared," and if they raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-benda/peace-is-only-possible-if-men-cease-to-place-their-happiness-in-the/) [Julien Benda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-benda/) > [Do not feel that you are destined not to make that final liberation in this life. This is egotism in a reverse form. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/do-not-feel-that-you-are-destined-not-to-make-that-final-liberation/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Ego erodes the inner tank of wisdom and humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/ego-erodes-the-inner-tank-of-wisdom-and-humility/) [Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/) > [“Never allow your ego to diminish your ability to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/never-allow-your-ego-to-diminish-your-ability-to-listen/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [Honesty, I went through terrible, terrible times where I just took myself over the coals. I thought I must be the most impure person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/honesty-i-went-through-terrible-terrible-times-where-i-just-took/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [How dare you ever in ya life walk past me without acknowledging their man as God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/how-dare-you-ever-in-ya-life-walk-past-me-without-acknowledging-their/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [When Jerry Lewis and I were big, we used to go to parties, and everybody thought I was big-headed and stuck up, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/when-jerry-lewis-and-i-were-big-we-used-to-go-to-parties-and/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [Liberalism makes this mistake in regard to private property and Marxism makes it in regard to socialized property... The Marxist illusion is partly derived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/liberalism-makes-this-mistake-in-regard-to-private-property-and/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [We cannot be happy until we can love ourselves without egotism and our friends without tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/we-cannot-be-happy-until-we-can-love-ourselves-without-egotism-and/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [“The lower a human being descends, the more asleep and inhumane he becomes. Those beings that lack Compassion, Love, and Peace are the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-ripstein/the-lower-a-human-being-descends-the-more-asleep-and-inhumane-he/) [Jacqueline Ripstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-ripstein/) > [Elimination of Ego requires humility. EGO-LESS is the fuel to a wise mind and a truly positive reality!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-compton/elimination-of-ego-requires-humility-ego-less-is-the-fuel-to-a-wise/) [Bobby Compton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-compton/) > [“... a man doesn't like to have his ego popped, especially when he prides himself on his sagacity, and then to be proved wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/a-man-doesn-t-like-to-have-his-ego-popped-especially-when-he-prides/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [There's no ifs and buts or maybes, you're gonna miss, you're gonna miss my loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-rawls/there-s-no-ifs-and-buts-or-maybes-you-re-gonna-miss-you-re-gonna-miss/) [Lou Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-rawls/) ## More by Maxim Gorky > [An honest man is all right even if he's an idiot...but a crook must have brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/an-honest-man-is-all-right-even-if-he-s-an-idiot-but-a-crook-must/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [“In the monotony of everyday existence grief comes as a holiday, and a fire is an entertainment. A scratch embellishes an empty face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/in-the-monotony-of-everyday-existence-grief-comes-as-a-holiday-and-a/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [You can't do without philosophy, since everything has its hidden meaning which we must know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/you-can-t-do-without-philosophy-since-everything-has-its-hidden/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [There's a little book I'm thinking of writing - "Swan Song" is what I shall call it. The song of the dying. And my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/there-s-a-little-book-i-m-thinking-of-writing-swan-song-is-what-i/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [“...the more a human creature has tasted of bitter things the more it hungers after the sweet things of life. And we, wrapped round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/the-more-a-human-creature-has-tasted-of-bitter-things-the-more-it/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Every new time will give its law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/every-new-time-will-give-its-law/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [All human beings have gray little souls-and they all want to rouge them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/all-human-beings-have-gray-little-souls-and-they-all-want-to-rouge/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Processing the human raw material is naturally more complicated than processing lumber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/processing-the-human-raw-material-is-naturally-more-complicated-than/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Everywhere, within man and without, there is devastation, instability, chaos, and evidence of some prolonged rout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/everywhere-within-man-and-without-there-is-devastation-instability/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Everything which is good in me should be credited to books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/everything-which-is-good-in-me-should-be-credited-to-books/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [If it is true that only misfortune can awaken a man's soul, it is a bitter truth, one that is hard to hear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/if-it-is-true-that-only-misfortune-can-awaken-a-man-s-soul-it-is-a/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Jail doesn't teach anyone to do good, nor Siberia, but a man-yes! A man can teach another man to do good-believe me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/jail-doesn-t-teach-anyone-to-do-good-nor-siberia-but-a-man-yes-a-man/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [“He used to sit down beside her and embrace her. She was cold, returning his caresses but sparingly. Looking straight into her eyes, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/he-used-to-sit-down-beside-her-and-embrace-her-she-was-cold-returning/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [One word of praise from a woman is dearer to me than a whole ode from a man . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/one-word-of-praise-from-a-woman-is-dearer-to-me-than-a-whole-ode-from/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [When one loves somebody, everything is clear - where to go, what to do - it all takes care of itself and one doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/when-one-loves-somebody-everything-is-clear-where-to-go-what-to-do-it/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) [Explore all 94 Maxim Gorky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) ## More Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) [Rodney Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-clapp/) > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“However low he may fall, a man can never deny himself the delight of feeling cleverer, more powerful or even better fed than his companions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maxim Gorky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never-deny-himself-the-delight-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never-deny-himself-the-delight-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/maxim-gorky-6814_delight_however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never_837242.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/maxim-gorky-6814_delight_however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never_837242.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/maxim-gorky-6814_delight_however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never_837242.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“However low he may fall, a man can never deny himself the delight of feeling cleverer, more powerful or even…” — Maxim Gorky", "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": "Maxim Gorky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“However low he may fall, a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never-deny-himself-the-delight-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/however-low-he-may-fall-a-man-can-never-deny-himself-the-delight-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 } } ] } ```