--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us honor if we can the vertical man…" description: "\"Let us honor if we can the vertical man, though we value none but the horizontal one\" — W. H. Auden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/w-h-auden-856_honor_let-us-honor-if-we-can-the-vertical-man_1318549.png" --- # Let us honor if we can the vertical man, though we value… ![“Let us honor if we can the vertical man, though we value none but the horizontal one” quote by W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/w-h-auden-856_honor_let-us-honor-if-we-can-the-vertical-man_1318549.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/w-h-auden-856_honor_let-us-honor-if-we-can-the-vertical-man_1318549.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/w-h-auden-856_honor_let-us-honor-if-we-can-the-vertical-man_1318549.png) > “Let us honor if we can the vertical man, though we value none but the horizontal one” [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A call to value both the upright, conventional “horizontal” individuals and the visionary, unconventional “vertical” ones, urging balanced respect. **In simple terms:** Recognize both practical and visionary people equally. Key Takeaway Appreciate diverse contributions. Themes balance recognition individuality society Mood thoughtful balanced inspirational Type philosophical social commentary. When to use this quote - workplace evaluations - educational curricula - cultural awards - public policy Key Concepts philosophy social values human potential Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions honor both types equally? - What barriers prevent recognition of unconventional thinkers? A Different Perspective Societal focus often skews toward the familiar, neglecting the visionary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor Vertical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-vertical-4385553/) [Let Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-honor-1227713/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Value Horizontal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-horizontal-4385555/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Vertical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vertical/) [Vertical Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vertical-man-4385554/) ## Related quotes > [Let honor be to us as strong an obligation as necessity is to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/let-honor-be-to-us-as-strong-an-obligation-as-necessity-is-to-others/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [Since Time is not a person we can overtake when he is gone, let us honor him with mirth and cheerfulness of heart while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/since-time-is-not-a-person-we-can-overtake-when-he-is-gone-let-us/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us honor the Holy Ghost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/let-us-honor-the-holy-ghost/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [“Let’s honor a man or woman who was there, but never a war itself and those who start it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-anderson/let-s-honor-a-man-or-woman-who-was-there-but-never-a-war-itself-and/) [Steve Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-anderson/) > [“No matter the source of our creation let us give honor to that source.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/no-matter-the-source-of-our-creation-let-us-give-honor-to-that-source/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [On this International Day of Peace, let us all honor those who have suffered from violence. Let us hold in our hearts the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/on-this-international-day-of-peace-let-us-all-honor-those-who-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Let us honor the blood of Jesus Christ every moment of our lives, and we will be sweet in our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-seymour/let-us-honor-the-blood-of-jesus-christ-every-moment-of-our-lives-and/) [William J. Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-seymour/) > [Charity, vertical, humiliates. Solidarity, horizontal, helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/charity-vertical-humiliates-solidarity-horizontal-helps/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [I read once about the concepts of a lateral idea and the vertical idea. If you dig a hole and it’s in the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-chwast/i-read-once-about-the-concepts-of-a-lateral-idea-and-the-vertical/) [Seymour Chwast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-chwast/) > [It is really important for us that people understand what the strategy is and that the real approach is to make everything social, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/it-is-really-important-for-us-that-people-understand-what-the/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [The dance, just as the performance of the actor, is kinesthetic art, art of the muscle sense. The awareness of tension and relaxation within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-arnheim/the-dance-just-as-the-performance-of-the-actor-is-kinesthetic-art-art/) [Rudolf Arnheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-arnheim/) > [I love to read about the exploits of technical mountain climbers, but I've never done any vertical climbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hobbs/i-love-to-read-about-the-exploits-of-technical-mountain-climbers-but/) [Will Hobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hobbs/) > [Nest is one vertical implementation of a set of smart products for the home. But we will support other peoples smart products for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sundar-pichai/nest-is-one-vertical-implementation-of-a-set-of-smart-products-for/) [Sundar Pichai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sundar-pichai/) > [Emphasis was usually put on the horizontal acceleration factor, for the simple reason that ordinary structures have a built-in safety factor for the vertical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-francis-richter/emphasis-was-usually-put-on-the-horizontal-acceleration-factor-for/) [Charles Francis Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-francis-richter/) > [The print is devised so that I can cut the dresses on the bias, so they work around the body. It's not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galliano/the-print-is-devised-so-that-i-can-cut-the-dresses-on-the-bias-so/) [John Galliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galliano/) ## More by W. H. Auden > [Pleasure is by no means an infallible critical guide, but it is the least fallible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/pleasure-is-by-no-means-an-infallible-critical-guide-but-it-is-the/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Why doesn't the United States take over the monarchy and unite with England? England does have important assets. Naturally the longer you wait, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/why-doesn-t-the-united-states-take-over-the-monarchy-and-unite-with/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The commonest ivory tower is that of the average man, the state of passivity towards experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-commonest-ivory-tower-is-that-of-the-average-man-the-state-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/harrow-the-house-of-the-dead-look-shining-at-new-styles-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Most poetry is the utterance of a man in some state of passion, love, joy, grief, rage, etc., and no doubt this is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/most-poetry-is-the-utterance-of-a-man-in-some-state-of-passion-love/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/men-will-pay-large-sums-to-whores-for-telling-them-they-are-not-bores/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [If age, which is certainly Just as wicked as youth, look any wiser, It is only that youth is still able to believe It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/if-age-which-is-certainly-just-as-wicked-as-youth-look-any-wiser-it/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“Those to whom evil is done, do evil in return”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/those-to-whom-evil-is-done-do-evil-in-return/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn, Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/i-and-the-public-know-what-all-schoolchildren-learn-those-to-whom/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [One cannot walk through an assembly factory and not feel that one is in Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/one-cannot-walk-through-an-assembly-factory-and-not-feel-that-one-is/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [How happy the lot of the mathematician. He is judged solely by his peers, and the standard is so high that no colleague or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/how-happy-the-lot-of-the-mathematician-he-is-judged-solely-by-his/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Perhaps there is only one cardinal sin: impatience. Because of impatience we were driven out of Paradise, because of impatience we cannot return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/perhaps-there-is-only-one-cardinal-sin-impatience-because-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The windiest militant trash Important Persons shout Is not so crude as our wish: What mad Nijinsky wrote About Diaghilev Is true of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-windiest-militant-trash-important-persons-shout-is-not-so-crude/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Time and fevers burn away Individual beauty from Thoughtful children, and the grave Proves the child ephemeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/time-and-fevers-burn-away-individual-beauty-from-thoughtful-children/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [To hunt for symbols in a fairy tale is absolutely fatal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/to-hunt-for-symbols-in-a-fairy-tale-is-absolutely-fatal/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) [Explore all 344 W. H. Auden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) ## More Honor quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [This is what I say about the scorn of the media elite: I wear their scorn as a badge of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/this-is-what-i-say-about-the-scorn-of-the-media-elite-i-wear-their/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Just being in a video game is an honor, and being on the cover, I can't really describe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-judge/just-being-in-a-video-game-is-an-honor-and-being-on-the-cover-i-can-t/) [Aaron Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-judge/) > [Spade! Thou art a tool of honor in my hands. I press thee, through a yielding soil, with pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/spade-thou-art-a-tool-of-honor-in-my-hands-i-press-thee-through-a/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [“He put his forehead against hers. “Alannah, my heart is yours.” He said softly. “And yet, I must hand it over to someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-morin/he-put-his-forehead-against-hers-alannah-my-heart-is-yours-he-said/) [B.C. Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-morin/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I know my idea of beauty isn't what most people's is, and the fact that I'm getting the opportunity to show my beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-know-my-idea-of-beauty-isn-t-what-most-people-s-is-and-the-fact/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) [Browse all 5,016 Honor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us honor if we can the vertical man, though we value none but the horizontal one", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. 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