Able Quote by Thomas Harris
“There is a common emotion we all recognize and have not yet named -- the happy anticipation of being able to feel contempt.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Thomas Harris, 1992, Rolling Stone
People anticipate feeling contempt as a complex, uneasy emotion that mixes satisfaction with moral conflict.
In simple terms: Anticipating contempt is a strange, uneasy feeling.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and examine the roots of contempt.
Themes
emotion
anticipation
conflict
morality
Mood
analytical
introspective
Type
psychological
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- conflict resolution
- creative writing
- social analysis
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
human behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we seek the feeling of contempt?
- How can we transform contempt into constructive critique?
A Different Perspective
Contempt can be destructive if unexamined.
![“I occasionally feel contempt for that attitude [degree of sexual desire towards me] when I perceive it, but maybe that's not fair. By our culture we've been taught who is most valued and who is not.” quote by Cris Mazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b3c/cris-mazza-31701_attitude_i-occasionally-feel-contempt-for-that-at_489276.jpg)
![“[T]here is no consensus in the psychiatric community that Dr. Lecter should be termed a man. He has long been regarded by his professional peers in psychiatry, many of whom fear his acid pen in the professional journals, as something entirely Other. For convenience, they term him “monster”.” quote by Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/37c/thomas-harris-1874_quote_t-here-is-no-consensus-in-the-psychiatri_27085.jpg)
