--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Distinction doesn't consist in the facile…" description: "\"“Distinction doesn't consist in the facile use of a contemptible set of conventions, but in being numbered among those whose are true, and honest, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/thomas-hardy-410_distinction_distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facil_624188.jpg" --- # Distinction doesn't consist in the facile use of a… ![“Distinction doesn't consist in the facile use of a contemptible set of conventions, but in being numbered among those whose are true, and honest, and just, and pure, and lovely, and of good report” quote by Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/thomas-hardy-410_distinction_distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facil_624188.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/thomas-hardy-410_distinction_distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facil_624188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/thomas-hardy-410_distinction_distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facil_624188.jpg) > ““Distinction doesn't consist in the facile use of a contemptible set of conventions, but in being numbered among those whose are true, and honest, and just, and pure, and lovely, and of good report”” [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True distinction comes from moral character and integrity, not from cleverness with superficial rules. **In simple terms:** Real worth is moral, not superficial. Key Takeaway Cultivate honesty and virtue. Themes integrity character honor authenticity Mood reflective thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - public service - education Key Concepts moral philosophy ethical standards Questions to Reflect On - How do you define true distinction? - What values guide your actions? A Different Perspective Superficial cleverness can be mistaken for merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conventions Numbered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventions-numbered-5044945/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Distinction Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction-doesn-5044944/) [Good Report](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-report-1292081/) [Honest Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-just-373543/) ## Related quotes > [Every time you go to the doctor and get a good report, the odds keep staking more in your favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-drescher/every-time-you-go-to-the-doctor-and-get-a-good-report-the-odds-keep/) [Fran Drescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-drescher/) > [I've got to be honest, and I'm not just saying this because the majority of you reading this live there, but I love the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-ve-got-to-be-honest-and-i-m-not-just-saying-this-because-the/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [To be honest, I just love the character of Circuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arshad-warsi/to-be-honest-i-just-love-the-character-of-circuit/) [Arshad Warsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arshad-warsi/) > [It's very hard to be honest with yourself when something's just not working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/it-s-very-hard-to-be-honest-with-yourself-when-something-s-just-not/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [I'm not rude, I'm honest. I just speak whats on my mind even if most cant handle the truth..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-rude-i-m-honest-i-just-speak-whats-on-my-mind-even-if-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For my diet, I really am not on anything strict to be honest. I just do what makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porsha-williams/for-my-diet-i-really-am-not-on-anything-strict-to-be-honest-i-just-do/) [Porsha Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porsha-williams/) > [To be honest with you, I just loved making videos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/to-be-honest-with-you-i-just-loved-making-videos/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [There are two ways of knowing if something ends badly: If you're honest with yourself, you just kind of know it. And then there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gilligan/there-are-two-ways-of-knowing-if-something-ends-badly-if-you-re/) [Vince Gilligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gilligan/) > [If you sit there and you know that rule #1 is just that everything you do is honest and is just a natural and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/if-you-sit-there-and-you-know-that-rule-1-is-just-that-everything-you/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [To be honest for me I just love acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/to-be-honest-for-me-i-just-love-acting/) [Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/) > [I'm not rude, I'm honest. I just speak what's on my mind even if most can't handle the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udigwe-vinsnt/i-m-not-rude-i-m-honest-i-just-speak-what-s-on-my-mind-even-if-most/) [Udigwe Vinsnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udigwe-vinsnt/) > [You can film me 24 hours a day and you'll get a very accurate picture of who I am. You see the funny side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-vanderpump/you-can-film-me-24-hours-a-day-and-you-ll-get-a-very-accurate-picture/) [Lisa Vanderpump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-vanderpump/) > [I just have always felt as long as I'm 100 percent honest, then it's just me. It's a lot easier to sleep at night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/i-just-have-always-felt-as-long-as-i-m-100-percent-honest-then-it-s/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [I've gotta say that there's very little that I miss about being a beast, if I'm being totally honest. It's just not a fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sendhil-ramamurthy/i-ve-gotta-say-that-there-s-very-little-that-i-miss-about-being-a/) [Sendhil Ramamurthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sendhil-ramamurthy/) > [I would describe my music as very honest. I just rap about myself, and not in a narcissistic way. I feel like I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-would-describe-my-music-as-very-honest-i-just-rap-about-myself-and/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) ## More by Thomas Hardy > [“He grew away from old associations, and saw something new in life and humanity. Secondarily, he made close acquaintance with phenomena which he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/he-grew-away-from-old-associations-and-saw-something-new-in-life-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“She was in a sound sleep, Jude, dying of anxiety lest she should have caught a chill which might permanently injure her, was glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/she-was-in-a-sound-sleep-jude-dying-of-anxiety-lest-she-should-have/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [You ride well, but you don't kiss nicely at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/you-ride-well-but-you-don-t-kiss-nicely-at-all/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [You could sometimes see her twelfth year in her cheeks, or her ninth sparkling from her eyes; and even her fifth would flit over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/you-could-sometimes-see-her-twelfth-year-in-her-cheeks-or-her-ninth/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“It was mid-May time, bringing with it weather not, perhaps, quite so blooming as that assumed to be natural to the month by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/it-was-mid-may-time-bringing-with-it-weather-not-perhaps-quite-so/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [If Galileo had said in verse that the world moved, the inquisition might have let him alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-galileo-had-said-in-verse-that-the-world-moved-the-inquisition/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Some folk want their luck buttered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/some-folk-want-their-luck-buttered/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Measurement of life should be proportioned rather to the intensity of the experience than to its actual length.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/measurement-of-life-should-be-proportioned-rather-to-the-intensity-of/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“I was court-martialed in my absence, and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/i-was-court-martialed-in-my-absence-and-sentenced-to-death-in-my/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“It being the first time in his life that he had touched female fingers under water, Dick duly registered the sensation as rather a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/it-being-the-first-time-in-his-life-that-he-had-touched-female/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“As soon as she could discern the outline of the house, it had all its old effect upon Tess's imagination. Part of her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/as-soon-as-she-could-discern-the-outline-of-the-house-it-had-all-its/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [ The perfect woman, you see \[is\] a working-woman; not an idler; not a fine lady; but one who \[uses\] her hands and her head… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-perfect-woman-you-see-is-a-working-woman-not-an-idler-not-a-fine/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“The Sinister Spirit sneered: 'It had to be!' And again the Spirit of Pity whispered, 'Why?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-sinister-spirit-sneered-it-had-to-be-and-again-the-spirit-of-pity/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“Justice” was done, and the President of the Immortals (in Aeschylean phrase) had ended his sport with Tess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/justice-was-done-and-the-president-of-the-immortals-in-aeschylean/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) [Explore all 561 Thomas Hardy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) ## More Distinction quotes > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I make no distinction between writing and storytelling; I've always wanted to tell stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-make-no-distinction-between-writing-and-storytelling-i-ve-always/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [Where did you find that one?" "I have no idea. I'm a magnet for crazies, I guess." "They must be able to sense a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/where-did-you-find-that-one-i-have-no-idea-i-m-a-magnet-for-crazies-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike - and I don't think there really is a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/i-realized-early-on-that-the-academy-and-the-literary-world-alike-and/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/alfred-nobel-stipulated-that-no-distinction-of-race-or-colour-will/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [I think it is important for all those young out there - who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-think-it-is-important-for-all-those-young-out-there-who-someday/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. No actor wants to play to an empty house. We only do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-ve-always-longed-for-the-theatre-and-acting-to-be-popular-no-actor/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [There is no moral distinction between petty thievery and 'from each according to ability, to each according to need.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/there-is-no-moral-distinction-between-petty-thievery-and-from-each/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [People always make this totally artificial distinction between what is commercial and what is good. They quote that maxim "Nobody ever lost money underestimating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/people-always-make-this-totally-artificial-distinction-between-what/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [People should make distinctions between the office of the presidency and the person who occupies it. You can respect the office even as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-greenberg/people-should-make-distinctions-between-the-office-of-the-presidency/) [David Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-greenberg/) [Browse all 1,181 Distinction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Distinction doesn't consist in the facile use of a contemptible set of conventions, but in being numbered among those whose are true, and honest, and just, and pure, and lovely, and of good report”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Hardy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facile-use-of-a-contemptible-set/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Distinction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facile-use-of-a-contemptible-set/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/thomas-hardy-410_distinction_distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facil_624188.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/thomas-hardy-410_distinction_distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facil_624188.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/thomas-hardy-410_distinction_distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facil_624188.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Distinction doesn't consist in the facile use of a contemptible set of conventions, but in being numbered…” — Thomas Hardy", "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": "Thomas Hardy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Distinction doesn't consist in the facile...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facile-use-of-a-contemptible-set/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/distinction-doesn-t-consist-in-the-facile-use-of-a-contemptible-set/#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 } } ] } ```