--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All men, even the most surly are…" description: "\"All men, even the most surly are influenced by affection.\" — Samuel Taylor Coleridge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_affection_all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenc_1164829.jpg" --- # All men, even the most surly are influenced by affection. ![“All men, even the most surly are influenced by affection.” quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_affection_all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenc_1164829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_affection_all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenc_1164829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_affection_all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenc_1164829.jpg) > “All men, even the most surly are influenced by affection.” [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Affection subtly guides even those who appear hostile, shaping behavior and decisions. **In simple terms:** Love influences even the toughest people. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture affection in relationships. Themes relationships influence human nature Mood reflective empathetic Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - conflict resolution - personal growth - team dynamics Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How does affection change a hostile person's actions? - Can you identify hidden affection in a difficult relationship? A Different Perspective Affection may be ignored or misinterpreted, limiting its impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Famous love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famous-love/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Influenced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influenced/) [Influenced Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influenced-affection-3351361/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Surly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-surly-3351362/) [Surly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surly/) [Surly Influenced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surly-influenced-3351363/) ## Related quotes > [Such is man's nature, that he is very inactive and lazy unless he is influenced by some affection, either love or hatred, desire, hope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/such-is-man-s-nature-that-he-is-very-inactive-and-lazy-unless-he-is/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Where true Love burns Desire is Love's pure flame; It is the reflex of our earthly frame, That takes its meaning from the nobler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/where-true-love-burns-desire-is-love-s-pure-flame-it-is-the-reflex-of/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The Scots are poor, cries surly English pride; True is the charge, nor by themselves denied. Are they not then in strictest reason clear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/the-scots-are-poor-cries-surly-english-pride-true-is-the-charge-nor/) [Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/) > [Winter is on the road to spring. Some think it a surly road. I do not. A primrose road to spring were not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-alfred-quayle/winter-is-on-the-road-to-spring-some-think-it-a-surly-road-i-do-not-a/) [William Alfred Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-alfred-quayle/) > [Very slowly, she peeked around the tree trunk. Saw a slim, petite figure, flanked by two very large, very dangerous-looking soldier of fortune types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/very-slowly-she-peeked-around-the-tree-trunk-saw-a-slim-petite-figure/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [Books are savaged and careers destroyed by surly snots who write anonymous reviews and publishers can't be bothered to protest this institutionalized corruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-murphy/books-are-savaged-and-careers-destroyed-by-surly-snots-who-write/) [Warren Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-murphy/) > [Understand me: I wish to be a man from somewhere, a man among men. You see, a slave, when he passes by, weary and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/understand-me-i-wish-to-be-a-man-from-somewhere-a-man-among-men-you/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Wish and learn to smooth away the surly wrinkles, to raise your lids frankly, and change the fiends to confident, innocent angels, suspecting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/wish-and-learn-to-smooth-away-the-surly-wrinkles-to-raise-your-lids/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Nature is no sentimentalist, - does not cosset or pamper us. We must see that the world is rough and surly, and will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-is-no-sentimentalist-does-not-cosset-or-pamper-us-we-must-see/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I want my team to have my personality: surly, obnoxious, and arrogant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-mcguire/i-want-my-team-to-have-my-personality-surly-obnoxious-and-arrogant/) [Al McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-mcguire/) > [When chill November's surly blast Made fields and forests bare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/when-chill-november-s-surly-blast-made-fields-and-forests-bare/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [I was kind of like the Rhea Perlman of the bar. I was like Carla on 'Cheers.' People were more afraid of me. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rauch/i-was-kind-of-like-the-rhea-perlman-of-the-bar-i-was-like-carla-on/) [Melissa Rauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rauch/) > [I have been called a curmudgeon, which my obsolescent dictionary defines as a 'surly, ill-mannered, bad-tempered fellow'. Nowadays, curmudgeon is likely to refer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/i-have-been-called-a-curmudgeon-which-my-obsolescent-dictionary/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [A ward, and still in bonds, one day I stole abroad; It was high spring, and all the way Primrosed and hung with shade;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/a-ward-and-still-in-bonds-one-day-i-stole-abroad-it-was-high-spring/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [It's a dirty little secret that most New Yorkers are pleasant, thoughtful, patient, and polite. The Chamber of Commerce must work overtime to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-kelman/it-s-a-dirty-little-secret-that-most-new-yorkers-are-pleasant/) [Judith Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-kelman/) ## More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge > [Humor is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/humor-is-consistent-with-pathos-whilst-wit-is-not/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathies with their just feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-first-duty-of-a-wise-advocate-is-to-convince-his-opponents-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Facts are not truths; they are not conclusions; they are not even premises, but in the nature and parts of premises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/facts-are-not-truths-they-are-not-conclusions-they-are-not-even/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I do not wish you to act from these truths; no, still and always act from your feelings; only meditate often on these truths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/i-do-not-wish-you-to-act-from-these-truths-no-still-and-always-act/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [A poet ought not to pick nature's pocket. Let him borrow, and so borrow as to repay by the very act of borrowing. Examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/a-poet-ought-not-to-pick-nature-s-pocket-let-him-borrow-and-so-borrow/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [With no other privilege than that of sympathy and sincere good wishes, I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/with-no-other-privilege-than-that-of-sympathy-and-sincere-good-wishes/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Ignorance seldom vaults into knowledge...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/ignorance-seldom-vaults-into-knowledge/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee, Whether the summer clothe the general earth With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing Betwixt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/therefore-all-seasons-shall-be-sweet-to-thee-whether-the-summer/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Why are not more gems from our great authors scattered over the country? Great books are not in everybody's reach; and though it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/why-are-not-more-gems-from-our-great-authors-scattered-over-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Life went a-maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/life-went-a-maying-with-nature-hope-and-poesy-when-i-was-young/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [No voice; but oh - the silence sank Like music on my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/no-voice-but-oh-the-silence-sank-like-music-on-my-heart/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The three great ends which a statesman ought to propose to himself in the government of a nation, are 1. Security to possessors; 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-three-great-ends-which-a-statesman-ought-to-propose-to-himself-in/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“We in ourselves rejoice! And thence flows all that charms or ear or sight, All melodies the echoes of that voice, All colours a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/we-in-ourselves-rejoice-and-thence-flows-all-that-charms-or-ear-or/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) [Explore all 570 Samuel Taylor Coleridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## More Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Affection! Affection is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/affection-affection-is-false/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/if-you-live-in-a-material-universe-where-acquiring-things-is-very/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Georgia O’Keeffe moved to rural New Mexico, from which she would sign her letters to the people she loved, “from the faraway nearby.” It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/georgia-o-keeffe-moved-to-rural-new-mexico-from-which-she-would-sign/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) [Browse all 2,465 Affection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All men, even the most surly are influenced by affection.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Taylor Coleridge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenced-by-affection/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affection" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenced-by-affection/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_affection_all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenc_1164829.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_affection_all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenc_1164829.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/295/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_affection_all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenc_1164829.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All men, even the most surly are influenced by affection.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge", "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": "Samuel Taylor Coleridge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All men, even the most surly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenced-by-affection/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/all-men-even-the-most-surly-are-influenced-by-affection/#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 } } ] } ```