Humiliating Quote by Salman Rushdie
“O the shame of it, the humiliating shame of being condescended to by dolts”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Midnight’s Children, 1981
Condescension from ignorant people causes deep shame and frustration.
In simple terms: Shame from being looked down on.
Key Takeaway
Guard your self‑esteem against others’ ignorance.
Themes
pride
shame
intellect
Mood
irritated
defensive
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- public speaking
- online criticism
Key Concepts
social hierarchy
ego
humiliation
Questions to Reflect On
- Why does condescension sting more than criticism?
- Can you separate the message from the messenger?
A Different Perspective
Some may view criticism as constructive rather than humiliating.
![“By needlessly provoking him [Vladimir Putin] and humiliating him, we empower far worse possibilities in Russia.” quote by Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/684/jill-stein-660_empowering_by-needlessly-provoking-him-vladimir-put_72917.jpg)
![“My father would never have come to visit, he detested Eva's [Braun] choice in a man and the fact [Adolf] Hitler had set her up in an apartment. To him it was deeply humiliating that she was living with a man at his own whim at an apartment he was paying for.” quote by Gretl Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2a7/gretl-braun-9500_apartment_my-father-would-never-have-come-to-visit_40016.jpg)
