--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... for when a man's spirit has been…" description: "\"“... for when a man's spirit has been thoroughly crushed, he may be peevish at small offenses, but never resentful of great ones.”\" — Nathaniel Hawthorne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attitude_for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroug_1947878.jpg" --- # ... for when a man's spirit has been thoroughly crushed… ![“... for when a man's spirit has been thoroughly crushed, he may be peevish at small offenses, but never resentful of great ones.” quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attitude_for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroug_1947878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attitude_for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroug_1947878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attitude_for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroug_1947878.jpg) > ““... for when a man's spirit has been thoroughly crushed, he may be peevish at small offenses, but never resentful of great ones.”” [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a person is deeply demoralized, they become irritable over minor slights yet indifferent to major wrongs. **In simple terms:** Crushed spirit leads to petty anger, not deep resentment. Key Takeaway Recognize how deep hurt skews perspective. Themes psychological resilience humility Mood reflective somber Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal loss - workplace conflict - relationship strain Key Concepts emotional injury coping mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - How does deep disappointment affect your reactions to minor problems? - Can you differentiate between petty irritation and genuine grievance? A Different Perspective May overlook serious issues due to focus on trivialities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Crushed Peevish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crushed-peevish-3143062/) [Gloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gloom/) [House-of-the-seven-gables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-of-the-seven-gables-84792/) [Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low/) [Man Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-spirit-297319/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Offenses Resentful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offenses-resentful-3143060/) [Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Resentful Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resentful-great-3143063/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Small Offenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-offenses-3143061/) ## Related quotes > [“It is very queer, but not the less true, that people are generally quite as vain, or even more so, of their deficiencies than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/it-is-very-queer-but-not-the-less-true-that-people-are-generally-2/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [I can't be a man. But I can embrace the head of a man, the intelligence of a man, the spirit of a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-hunt/i-can-t-be-a-man-but-i-can-embrace-the-head-of-a-man-the-intelligence/) [Linda Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-hunt/) > [“It is easy-terribly easy-to shake a man's faith in himself. To take advantage of that to to break a man's spirit is Devil's work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/it-is-easy-terribly-easy-to-shake-a-man-s-faith-in-himself-to-take/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“How did you wage a battle for a man’s spirit when the man himself wasn’t sure he wanted you to win?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-allred/how-did-you-wage-a-battle-for-a-man-s-spirit-when-the-man-himself/) [Katherine Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-allred/) > [I'm not a politician, I'm a musician. I care about giving people a place where they can go to enjoy themselves and to begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-m-not-a-politician-i-m-a-musician-i-care-about-giving-people-a/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [This process, this method necessary to man's survival and prosperity upon the earth, has often been derided as unduly or exclusively "materialistic." But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/this-process-this-method-necessary-to-man-s-survival-and-prosperity/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [No totalitarians, no wars, no fears, famines or perils of any kind can really break a man's spirit until he breaks it himself by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-s-brightman/no-totalitarians-no-wars-no-fears-famines-or-perils-of-any-kind-can/) [Edgar S. Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-s-brightman/) > [Sometimes a man's spirit just ain't strong enough to withstand the ghosts from his past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirina-joanna-cowman/sometimes-a-man-s-spirit-just-ain-t-strong-enough-to-withstand-the/) [Kirina Joanna Cowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirina-joanna-cowman/) > [“For my part, I think that to a man of spirit there is no other aim and end of his labours except the labours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jayaswal/for-my-part-i-think-that-to-a-man-of-spirit-there-is-no-other-aim-and/) [Dr Jayaswal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-jayaswal/) > [Our sense of power is more vivid when we break a man's spirit than when we win his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-sense-of-power-is-more-vivid-when-we-break-a-man-s-spirit-than/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-coward-is-much-more-exposed-to-quarrels-than-a-man-of-spirit/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [All art is the expression of one and the same thing- the relation of the spirit of man to the spirit of other men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/all-art-is-the-expression-of-one-and-the-same-thing-the-relation-of/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [You know, that man has a spirit, that each man and woman is unique, that we have duty to promote our unalienable rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-that-man-has-a-spirit-that-each-man-and-woman-is-unique-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Man is spirit--that is all man needs to know; and spirit is triumphant over matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/white-eagle/man-is-spirit-that-is-all-man-needs-to-know-and-spirit-is-triumphant/) [White Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/white-eagle/) > [“i don't believe i've ever been more certain than I am now that the development and understanding of man's workmanship is the fundamental need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-edsel/i-don-t-believe-i-ve-ever-been-more-certain-than-i-am-now-that-the/) [Robert M. Edsel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-edsel/) ## More by Nathaniel Hawthorne > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [The trees reflected in the river - they are unconscious of a spiritual world so near to them. So are we.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-trees-reflected-in-the-river-they-are-unconscious-of-a-spiritual/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“The dismaying thing about the classic totalitarian mind is that any given gear, though mutilated, will have at its circumference unbroken sequences of teeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-dismaying-thing-about-the-classic-totalitarian-mind-is-that-any/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“My heart was a habitation large enough for many guests, but lonely and chill, and without a household fire, I longed to kindle one!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/my-heart-was-a-habitation-large-enough-for-many-guests-but-lonely-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Wherever there is a heart and an intellect, the diseases of the physical frame are tinged with the peculiarities of these.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/wherever-there-is-a-heart-and-an-intellect-the-diseases-of-the/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-founders-of-a-new-colony-whatever-utopia-of-human-virtue-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Generosity is the flower of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/generosity-is-the-flower-of-justice/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“he seemed to be in quest for mental food, not heart sustenance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/he-seemed-to-be-in-quest-for-mental-food-not-heart-sustenance/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“Unfathomable to mere mortals is the lore of fiends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/unfathomable-to-mere-mortals-is-the-lore-of-fiends/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“Possibly, he was in a state of second growth and recovery, and was constantly assimilating nutriment for his spirit and intellect from sights, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/possibly-he-was-in-a-state-of-second-growth-and-recovery-and-was/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“What wonder, then, should we be frightened by the aspect of a monster, which, after all,—though we can point to every feature of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/what-wonder-then-should-we-be-frightened-by-the-aspect-of-a-monster/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [As the architecture of a country always follows the earliest structures, American architecture should be a refinement of the log-house. The Egyptian is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/as-the-architecture-of-a-country-always-follows-the-earliest/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [What we call real estate - the solid ground to build a house on - is the broad foundation on which nearly all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/what-we-call-real-estate-the-solid-ground-to-build-a-house-on-is-the/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“The bookworm of great libraries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-bookworm-of-great-libraries/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [There are many things in this world that a child must not ask about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-are-many-things-in-this-world-that-a-child-must-not-ask-about/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) [Explore all 526 Nathaniel Hawthorne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“... for when a man's spirit has been thoroughly crushed, he may be peevish at small offenses, but never resentful of great ones.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathaniel Hawthorne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroughly-crushed-he-may-be-peevish/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroughly-crushed-he-may-be-peevish/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attitude_for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroug_1947878.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attitude_for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroug_1947878.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attitude_for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroug_1947878.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“... for when a man's spirit has been thoroughly crushed, he may be peevish at small offenses, but never…” — Nathaniel Hawthorne", "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": "Nathaniel Hawthorne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“... for when a man's spirit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroughly-crushed-he-may-be-peevish/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/for-when-a-man-s-spirit-has-been-thoroughly-crushed-he-may-be-peevish/#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 } } ] } ```