--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The artificial noble shrinks into a dwarf…" description: "\"The artificial noble shrinks into a dwarf before the noble of nature; and in the few instances (for there are some in all countries) in whom nature, as..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/thomas-paine-267_aristocracy_the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwar_2149782.png" --- # The artificial noble shrinks into a dwarf before the noble… ![“The artificial noble shrinks into a dwarf before the noble of nature; and in the few instances (for there are some in all countries) in whom nature, as by a miracle, has survived in aristocracy, those men despise it.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/thomas-paine-267_aristocracy_the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwar_2149782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/thomas-paine-267_aristocracy_the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwar_2149782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/thomas-paine-267_aristocracy_the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwar_2149782.png) > “The artificial noble shrinks into a dwarf before the noble of nature; and in the few instances (for there are some in all countries) in whom nature, as by a miracle, has survived in aristocracy, those men despise it.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human-made hierarchies shrink when natural merit shines, and those rare natural aristocrats often reject artificial status. **In simple terms:** Natural talent outshines forced titles. Key Takeaway Value genuine ability over imposed rank. Themes meritocracy aristocracy human nature Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical political When to use this quote - workplace promotions - political leadership - academic recognition - family dynamics Key Concepts social hierarchy authenticity exceptionalism Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize authentic talent? - What risks arise when challenging established hierarchies? A Different Perspective True merit may be hidden or ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Aristocracy Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy-men-3450643/) [Artificial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificial/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Despise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despise/) [Dwarf Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarf-noble-4514618/) [Dwarfs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarfs/) [Dwarves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwarves/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Despise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-despise-1011116/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Noble Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble-shrinks-4514616/) [Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinks/) [Shrinks Dwarf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinks-dwarf-4514617/) [Survived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survived/) ## Related quotes > [There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-a-natural-aristocracy-among-men-the-grounds-of-this-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Codfish aristocracy' is what they call us. Men who've made a fortune in business, but are common-born." "Why codfish?" "It used to refer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/codfish-aristocracy-is-what-they-call-us-men-who-ve-made-a-fortune-in/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [The aristocracy in the future is not one of wealth or university education, but the aristocracy of the men who have done something for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/the-aristocracy-in-the-future-is-not-one-of-wealth-or-university/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [Real men despise battle, but will never run from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/real-men-despise-battle-but-will-never-run-from-it/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Men despise great projects when they do not feel themselves capable of great successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/men-despise-great-projects-when-they-do-not-feel-themselves-capable/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [There are truths which some men despise because they have not examined, and which they will not examine because they despise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/there-are-truths-which-some-men-despise-because-they-have-not-2/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/men-despise-religion-they-hate-it-and-are-afraid-it-may-be-true/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There are truths which some men despise because they have not examined, and which they will not examine because they despise. There is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/there-are-truths-which-some-men-despise-because-they-have-not/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Men despise one another and flatter one another; and men wish to raise themselves above one another, and crouch before one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/men-despise-one-another-and-flatter-one-another-and-men-wish-to-raise/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [There are more things to admire in men then to despise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/there-are-more-things-to-admire-in-men-then-to-despise/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [There are more things to admire in men than to despise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/there-are-more-things-to-admire-in-men-than-to-despise/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true. The cure for this is first to show that religion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/men-despise-religion-they-hate-it-and-are-afraid-it-may-be-true-the/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [No men who really think deeply about women retain a high opinion of them; men either despise women or they have never thought seriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/no-men-who-really-think-deeply-about-women-retain-a-high-opinion-of/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [A dwarf can stand on a mountain, he's no taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-dwarf-can-stand-on-a-mountain-he-s-no-taller/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [He had quite liked the dwarfs. He often had no idea what they were talking about, but for a group of homicidal, class-obsessed small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/he-had-quite-liked-the-dwarfs-he-often-had-no-idea-what-they-were/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power … but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a-2/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/books-are-the-treasured-wealth-of-the-world-and-the-fit-inheritance/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The artificial noble shrinks into a dwarf before the noble of nature; and in the few instances (for there are some in all countries) in whom nature, as by a miracle, has survived in aristocracy, those men despise it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Paine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwarf-before-the-noble-of-nature/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aristocracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwarf-before-the-noble-of-nature/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/thomas-paine-267_aristocracy_the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwar_2149782.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/thomas-paine-267_aristocracy_the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwar_2149782.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/thomas-paine-267_aristocracy_the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwar_2149782.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The artificial noble shrinks into a dwarf before the noble of nature; and in the few instances (for there…” — Thomas Paine", "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 Paine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The artificial noble shrinks into a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwarf-before-the-noble-of-nature/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwarf-before-the-noble-of-nature/#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 } } ] } ```