Contempt Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““Perhaps his taciturnity hid a contempt for the human race which had abandoned the great dreams of his youth and now wallowed in sluggish ease; or perhaps these thirty years of revolution had taught him that men are unfit for liberty, and he thought that he had spent his life in the pursuit of that which was not worth the finding. Or maybe he was tired out and waited only with indifference for the release of death.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Of Human Bondage, 1915
A weary man reflects on disillusionment, seeing humanity as unfit for freedom and feeling indifferent toward death.
In simple terms: Disillusioned, indifferent, weary of life.
Key Takeaway
Accept limits, seek meaning.
Themes
existential
disillusionment
indifference
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- philosophical contemplation
- creative writing
Key Concepts
human nature
freedom
mortality
Questions to Reflect On
- What gives you hope amid disillusionment?
- Can purpose be found despite indifference?
A Different Perspective
The view may overgeneralize humanity’s capacity.
![“[...] perhaps these thirty years of revolution had taught him that men are unfit for liberty, and he thought that he had spent his life in the pursuit of that which was not worth the finding.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/36a/w-somerset-maugham-237_freedom_perhaps-these-thirty-years-of-revolution_628650.jpg)
![“Every person of any rank in the left, from voter on up to cabinet member to elected official in the Democrat Party, has contempt. We [Republicans] are the number one enemy. And they will put aside whatever differences they have.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08a/rush-limbaugh-28_cabinets_every-person-of-any-rank-in-the-left-fro_29974.jpg){kind=icon}