--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man must either imitate the vicious or…" description: "\"A man must either imitate the vicious or hate them.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/michel-de-montaigne-142_comparison_a-man-must-either-imitate-the-vicious-or_1251367.jpg" --- # A man must either imitate the vicious or hate them. ![“A man must either imitate the vicious or hate them.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/michel-de-montaigne-142_comparison_a-man-must-either-imitate-the-vicious-or_1251367.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/michel-de-montaigne-142_comparison_a-man-must-either-imitate-the-vicious-or_1251367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77e/michel-de-montaigne-142_comparison_a-man-must-either-imitate-the-vicious-or_1251367.jpg) > “A man must either imitate the vicious or hate them.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must either emulate the vicious or oppose them, suggesting a binary choice in moral stance toward wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Choose to mimic or despise the vicious. Key Takeaway Decide your moral alignment. Themes ethics choice morality Mood critical philosophical Type essay ethical When to use this quote - political activism - personal ethics - social behavior Key Concepts philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - What are alternatives to imitation or hatred? - Can you transform viciousness into something positive? A Different Perspective Moral choices are often more nuanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Imitate Vicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitate-vicious-3945175/) [Man Imitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-imitate-1215082/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Vicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vicious/) [Vicious Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vicious-hate-3945174/) ## Related quotes > [There is religion in everything around us, - a calm and holy religion in the unbreathing things of Nature, which man would do well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/there-is-religion-in-everything-around-us-a-calm-and-holy-religion-in/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [This time we'll hate, alright - but we'll hate the enemy - the vicious gang of colored scum attackers and Jewish-Communist traitors - rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lincoln-rockwell/this-time-we-ll-hate-alright-but-we-ll-hate-the-enemy-the-vicious/) [George Lincoln Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lincoln-rockwell/) > [Okay, well, I guess I'm still a kid. 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