--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is so contemptible as the…" description: "\"Nothing is so contemptible as the sentiments of the mob.\" — Seneca the Younger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/seneca-the-younger-219_funny_nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentim_1707323.jpg" --- # Nothing is so contemptible as the sentiments of the mob. ![“Nothing is so contemptible as the sentiments of the mob.” quote by Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/seneca-the-younger-219_funny_nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentim_1707323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/seneca-the-younger-219_funny_nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentim_1707323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/seneca-the-younger-219_funny_nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentim_1707323.jpg) > “Nothing is so contemptible as the sentiments of the mob.” [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The crowd’s emotions are often shallow and unworthy of respect. **In simple terms:** Mob sentiment is contemptible. Key Takeaway Question the wisdom of popular opinion. Themes politics criticism human nature Mood skeptical critical thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - public debates - media consumption - political rallies - social media trends Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - When have you trusted a crowd’s view? - Can mob sentiment ever be justified? A Different Perspective Popular opinion can sometimes be insightful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contemptible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemptible/) [Contemptible Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemptible-sentiments-1210651/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Sentiments Mob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments-mob-1210650/) ## Related quotes > [The idea of equality is a by-product of the sentiment of envy. Since it must always prove beyond human ower to raise the inferior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/the-idea-of-equality-is-a-by-product-of-the-sentiment-of-envy-since/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-who-lets-himself-be-bored-is-even-more-contemptible-than-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-something-feeble-and-a-little-contemptible-about-a-man-who-2/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [An ignorant man is insignificant and contemptible; nobody cares for his company, and he can just be said to live, and that is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/an-ignorant-man-is-insignificant-and-contemptible-nobody-cares-for/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [It was better, he thought, to fail in attempting exquisite things than to succeed in the department of the utterly contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/it-was-better-he-thought-to-fail-in-attempting-exquisite-things-than/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [To my eye Rubens' colouring is most contemptible. His shadows are a filthy brown somewhat the colour of excrement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/to-my-eye-rubens-colouring-is-most-contemptible-his-shadows-are-a/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [As men neither fear nor respect what has been made contemptible, all honor to him who makes oppression laughable as well as detestable. Armies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/as-men-neither-fear-nor-respect-what-has-been-made-contemptible-all/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [The unanimously applauded, self-congratulatory bromides of a Soviet Party Congress seemed contemptible. The unanimity of the sanctimonious, reality-concealing rhetoric spouted by American officials and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-unanimously-applauded-self-congratulatory-bromides-of-a-soviet/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“For it was intelligence that was the thin line between endearing rapscallion and idiot bastard. - Éibhear the Contemptible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-aiken/for-it-was-intelligence-that-was-the-thin-line-between-endearing/) [G.A. Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-aiken/) > [Nothing that is not a real crime makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconsistency, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nothing-that-is-not-a-real-crime-makes-a-man-appear-so-contemptible/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Contemptuous people are sure to be contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/contemptuous-people-are-sure-to-be-contemptible/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [None but the contemptible are apprehensive of contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/none-but-the-contemptible-are-apprehensive-of-contempt/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“It is a difficult choice sometimes whether to feel revolted at the male sex or merely to dismiss them as contemptible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-a-difficult-choice-sometimes-whether-to-feel-revolted-at-the/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [We gave him a hearty welcome, for there was nearly half as much of the entertaining as of the contemptible about the man..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/we-gave-him-a-hearty-welcome-for-there-was-nearly-half-as-much-of-the/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [There is no being so poor and so contemptible, who does not think there is somebody still poorer, and still more contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-is-no-being-so-poor-and-so-contemptible-who-does-not-think/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Seneca the Younger > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Leisure without study is death, and the grave of a living man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/leisure-without-study-is-death-and-the-grave-of-a-living-man/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [To rule yourself is the ultimate power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/to-rule-yourself-is-the-ultimate-power/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The road by precepts is tedious, by example, short and efficacious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-road-by-precepts-is-tedious-by-example-short-and-efficacious/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He who does not want to die should not want to live. For life is tendered to us with the proviso of death. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/he-who-does-not-want-to-die-should-not-want-to-live-for-life-is/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Let us not seek our disease out of ourselves; 'tis in us, and planted in our bowels; and the mere fact that we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/let-us-not-seek-our-disease-out-of-ourselves-tis-in-us-and-planted-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [After death there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/after-death-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Adversity finds at last the man whom she has often passed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/adversity-finds-at-last-the-man-whom-she-has-often-passed-by/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Hesitation is the best cure for anger. The first blows of anger are heavy, but if it waits, it will think again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/hesitation-is-the-best-cure-for-anger-the-first-blows-of-anger-are/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) [Explore all 872 Seneca the Younger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## More Contemptible quotes > [A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-who-lets-himself-be-bored-is-even-more-contemptible-than-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [We gave him a hearty welcome, for there was nearly half as much of the entertaining as of the contemptible about the man..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/we-gave-him-a-hearty-welcome-for-there-was-nearly-half-as-much-of-the/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“It is a difficult choice sometimes whether to feel revolted at the male sex or merely to dismiss them as contemptible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-a-difficult-choice-sometimes-whether-to-feel-revolted-at-the/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [None but the contemptible are apprehensive of contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/none-but-the-contemptible-are-apprehensive-of-contempt/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Contemptuous people are sure to be contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/contemptuous-people-are-sure-to-be-contemptible/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Nothing that is not a real crime makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconsistency, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nothing-that-is-not-a-real-crime-makes-a-man-appear-so-contemptible/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“For it was intelligence that was the thin line between endearing rapscallion and idiot bastard. - Éibhear the Contemptible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-aiken/for-it-was-intelligence-that-was-the-thin-line-between-endearing/) [G.A. Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-aiken/) > [The unanimously applauded, self-congratulatory bromides of a Soviet Party Congress seemed contemptible. The unanimity of the sanctimonious, reality-concealing rhetoric spouted by American officials and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-unanimously-applauded-self-congratulatory-bromides-of-a-soviet/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [As men neither fear nor respect what has been made contemptible, all honor to him who makes oppression laughable as well as detestable. Armies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/as-men-neither-fear-nor-respect-what-has-been-made-contemptible-all/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [To my eye Rubens' colouring is most contemptible. His shadows are a filthy brown somewhat the colour of excrement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/to-my-eye-rubens-colouring-is-most-contemptible-his-shadows-are-a/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [It was better, he thought, to fail in attempting exquisite things than to succeed in the department of the utterly contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/it-was-better-he-thought-to-fail-in-attempting-exquisite-things-than/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [An ignorant man is insignificant and contemptible; nobody cares for his company, and he can just be said to live, and that is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/an-ignorant-man-is-insignificant-and-contemptible-nobody-cares-for/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-something-feeble-and-a-little-contemptible-about-a-man-who-2/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no being so poor and so contemptible, who does not think there is somebody still poorer, and still more contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-is-no-being-so-poor-and-so-contemptible-who-does-not-think/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Not one word was said by Moses or Aaron as to the wickedness of depriving a human being of his liberty. Not a word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/not-one-word-was-said-by-moses-or-aaron-as-to-the-wickedness-of/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Browse all 52 Contemptible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemptible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing is so contemptible as the sentiments of the mob.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seneca the Younger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentiments-of-the-mob/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contemptible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentiments-of-the-mob/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/seneca-the-younger-219_funny_nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentim_1707323.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/seneca-the-younger-219_funny_nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentim_1707323.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/seneca-the-younger-219_funny_nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentim_1707323.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing is so contemptible as the sentiments of the mob.” — Seneca the Younger", "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": "Seneca the Younger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing is so contemptible as the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentiments-of-the-mob/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nothing-is-so-contemptible-as-the-sentiments-of-the-mob/#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 } } ] } ```