Bent Quote by Van Wyck Brooks
“How delightful is the company of generous people, who overlook trifles and keep their minds instinctively fixed on whatever is good and positive in the world about them. People of small caliber are always carping. They are bent on showing their own superiority, their knowledge or prowess or good breeding. But magnanimous people have no vanity, they have no jealousy, and they feed on the true and the solid wherever they find it. And what is more, they find it everywhere.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Ordeal of the American Writer, 1935
Generous people focus on good and positive things, ignoring petty concerns, while small‑minded people criticize and seek superiority; magnanimity lacks vanity and jealousy, thriving on truth wherever it is found.
In simple terms: Kindness looks for good, while envy seeks to dominate.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate generosity and seek truth.
Themes
generosity
humility
vanity
truth
Mood
optimistic
inspirational
Type
motivational
reflective
When to use this quote
- leadership
- community building
- conflict resolution
- personal growth
Key Concepts
social psychology
ethics
character development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we encourage magnanimity in competitive settings?
- What practices help us stay humble?
A Different Perspective
Generosity can be challenged by competitive environments that reward self‑promotion.
