--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many take pleasure in spreading abroad…" description: "\"Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character.\" — Richard Steele" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/richard-steele-8781_character_many-take-pleasure-in-spreading-abroad-t_480372.png" --- # Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an… ![“Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character.” quote by Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/richard-steele-8781_character_many-take-pleasure-in-spreading-abroad-t_480372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/richard-steele-8781_character_many-take-pleasure-in-spreading-abroad-t_480372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/richard-steele-8781_character_many-take-pleasure-in-spreading-abroad-t_480372.png) > “Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character.” [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) ## 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 exposing the flaws of those in high status, often for entertainment or to feel superior. **In simple terms:** People like to reveal the weak points of the powerful. Key Takeaway Be wary of gossip that targets leaders. Themes social dynamics power humility criticism Mood critical observational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - office politics - online forums - public debates Key Concepts ethics psychology political science Questions to Reflect On - What motivates this behavior? - How can criticism be directed constructively? A Different Perspective Can also be a form of constructive accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abroad Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abroad-weakness-4132313/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Exalted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exalted/) [Exalted Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exalted-character-4132311/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Spreading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-spreading-4132312/) [Spreading Abroad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spreading-abroad-4132310/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness Exalted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-exalted-4132309/) ## Related quotes > [Such is the weakness of our nature, that when men are a little exalted in their condition they immediately conceive they have additional senses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/such-is-the-weakness-of-our-nature-that-when-men-are-a-little-exalted/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [I have no wish to be remembered as a painter, for I never was a painter; my idea of that profession was perhaps too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-morse/i-have-no-wish-to-be-remembered-as-a-painter-for-i-never-was-a/) [Samuel Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-morse/) > [I think teaching should be an exalted profession, not a picked-on profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-teaching-should-be-an-exalted-profession-not-a-picked-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When those deserving of Paradise would enter Paradise, the Blessed and the Exalted would ask: Do you wish Me to give you anything more?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/when-those-deserving-of-paradise-would-enter-paradise-the-blessed-and/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [Sexual pleasure, wisely used and not abused, may prove the stimulus and liberator of our finest and most exalted activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/sexual-pleasure-wisely-used-and-not-abused-may-prove-the-stimulus-and/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [WRATH, n. Anger of a superior quality and degree, appropriate to exalted characters and momentous occasions; as, "the wrath of God," "the day of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/wrath-n-anger-of-a-superior-quality-and-degree-appropriate-to-exalted/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The fate of war is to be exalted in the morning, and low enough at night! There is but one step from triumph to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-fate-of-war-is-to-be-exalted-in-the-morning-and-low-enough-at/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I think the term poet is a very exalted term and should be applied to a man at the end of his work. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-think-the-term-poet-is-a-very-exalted-term-and-should-be-applied-to/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I really do not see much use in exalting the humble and meek; they do not remain humble and meek long when they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/i-really-do-not-see-much-use-in-exalting-the-humble-and-meek-they-do/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Exalted Manna, gladness of the best, Heaven in ordinary, man well drest,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/exalted-manna-gladness-of-the-best-heaven-in-ordinary-man-well-drest/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I will prove that the world is wrong, by showing what God is...God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-will-prove-that-the-world-is-wrong-by-showing-what-god-is-god/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [It is not our exalted feelings, it is our sentiments that build the necessary home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/it-is-not-our-exalted-feelings-it-is-our-sentiments-that-build-the/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/for-what-higher-more-exalted-and-more-compelling-goal-can-there-be/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [I want to make exalted art. A successful image has pictorial lift. I am looking for whatever is up there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/i-want-to-make-exalted-art-a-successful-image-has-pictorial-lift-i-am/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [To seek yourself in this world is to be lost; and to be humble is to be exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-seek-yourself-in-this-world-is-to-be-lost-and-to-be-humble-is-to/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) ## More by Richard Steele > [“And I pray mark how he begins: he sets not up trophies to himself, but triumphs in his God-- "I will love thee, O…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/and-i-pray-mark-how-he-begins-he-sets-not-up-trophies-to-himself-but/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Pride destroys all symmetry and grace, and affectation is a more terrible enemy to fine faces than the small-pox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/pride-destroys-all-symmetry-and-grace-and-affectation-is-a-more/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [People spend their lives in the service of their passions instead of employing their passions in the service of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/people-spend-their-lives-in-the-service-of-their-passions-instead-of/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [A fool is in himself the object of pity, until he is flattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/a-fool-is-in-himself-the-object-of-pity-until-he-is-flattered/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [The world is grown so full of dissimulation and compliment, that men's words are hardly any signification of their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/the-world-is-grown-so-full-of-dissimulation-and-compliment-that-men-s/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [It is a certain sign of an ill heart to be inclined to defamation. They who are harmless and innocent can have no gratification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/it-is-a-certain-sign-of-an-ill-heart-to-be-inclined-to-defamation/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [I was going home two hours ago, but was met by Mr. Griffith, who has kept me ever since. . . . I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/i-was-going-home-two-hours-ago-but-was-met-by-mr-griffith-who-has/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [I love to consider an Infidel, whether distinguished by the title of deist, atheist, or free-thinker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/i-love-to-consider-an-infidel-whether-distinguished-by-the-title-of/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [It is an impertinent and unreasonable fault in conversation for one man to take up all the discourse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/it-is-an-impertinent-and-unreasonable-fault-in-conversation-for-one/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [It is a secret known but to few, yet of no small use in the conduct of life, that when you fall into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/it-is-a-secret-known-but-to-few-yet-of-no-small-use-in-the-conduct-of/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Simplicity of all things is the hardest to be copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/simplicity-of-all-things-is-the-hardest-to-be-copy/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Whether a pretty woman grants or withholds her favors, she always likes to be asked for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/whether-a-pretty-woman-grants-or-withholds-her-favors-she-always/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Since our persons are not of our own making, when they are such as appear defective or uncomely, it is, methinks, an honest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/since-our-persons-are-not-of-our-own-making-when-they-are-such-as/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Vanity makes people ridiculous, pride odious, and ambition terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/vanity-makes-people-ridiculous-pride-odious-and-ambition-terrible/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Praise from an enemy is the most pleasing of all commendations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/praise-from-an-enemy-is-the-most-pleasing-of-all-commendations/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) [Explore all 78 Richard Steele quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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