--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are men whose sense of humour is so…" description: "\"“There are men whose sense of humour is so ill developed that they still bear a grudge against Copernicus because he dethroned them from the central po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/w-somerset-maugham-237_affront_there-are-men-whose-sense-of-humour-is-s_2626416.jpg" --- # There are men whose sense of humour is so ill developed… ![“There are men whose sense of humour is so ill developed that they still bear a grudge against Copernicus because he dethroned them from the central position in the universe. They feel it a personal affront that they can no longer consider themselves the pivot upon which turns the whole of created…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/w-somerset-maugham-237_affront_there-are-men-whose-sense-of-humour-is-s_2626416.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/w-somerset-maugham-237_affront_there-are-men-whose-sense-of-humour-is-s_2626416.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/w-somerset-maugham-237_affront_there-are-men-whose-sense-of-humour-is-s_2626416.jpg) > ““There are men whose sense of humour is so ill developed that they still bear a grudge against Copernicus because he dethroned them from the central position in the universe. They feel it a personal affront that they can no longer consider themselves the pivot upon which turns the whole of created things.”” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People cling to outdated egos when scientific discoveries dethrone them, turning intellectual shifts into personal affronts. **In simple terms:** Ego threatens cause resentment when challenged. Key Takeaway Stay open to new ideas and let go of ego. Themes ego science humility change knowledge Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - academic debate - career transition - personal growth - learning new concepts Key Concepts philosophy history of science psychology Questions to Reflect On - What belief of yours feels threatened by new information? - How can you respond constructively to intellectual challenges? A Different Perspective Not all ego clashes are about science; some stem from deeper insecurities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affront](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affront/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copernicus/) [Copernicus Dethroned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copernicus-dethroned-2153549/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Grudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grudge/) [Grudge Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grudge-copernicus-2153548/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Sense Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-humour/) [Sense of humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humour/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [Any man will admit if need be that his sight is not good, or that he cannot swim or shoots badly with a rifle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/any-man-will-admit-if-need-be-that-his-sight-is-not-good-or-that-he/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [“Life is really very fantastic, and one has to have a peculiar sense of humour to see the fun of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/life-is-really-very-fantastic-and-one-has-to-have-a-peculiar-sense-of-2/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [ Life is really very fantastic, and one has to have a peculiar sense of humour to see the fun of it. \[Virtue\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/life-is-really-very-fantastic-and-one-has-to-have-a-peculiar-sense-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I have a good sense of humour, and that's what kept me for the 30 years I was locked up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ray-hinton/i-have-a-good-sense-of-humour-and-that-s-what-kept-me-for-the-30/) [Anthony Ray Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ray-hinton/) > [Common sense and a sense of humour are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humour is just common sense, dancing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/common-sense-and-a-sense-of-humour-are-the-same-thing-moving-at/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Anupam can make you feel good in any situation. His sense of humour and connection with people makes him special. We both are real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirron-kher/anupam-can-make-you-feel-good-in-any-situation-his-sense-of-humour/) [Kirron Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirron-kher/) > [Don't be friends with people who don't have a sense of humour. They will kill yours..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/don-t-be-friends-with-people-who-don-t-have-a-sense-of-humour-they/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The most important quality in a partner is a sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-balding/the-most-important-quality-in-a-partner-is-a-sense-of-humour/) [Clare Balding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-balding/) > [Rod has such a wicked sense of humour. I loved him very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hunter/rod-has-such-a-wicked-sense-of-humour-i-loved-him-very-much/) [Rachel Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hunter/) > [Northern Irish people tend to have this sharp, dark sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-bea/northern-irish-people-tend-to-have-this-sharp-dark-sense-of-humour/) [Aisling Bea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-bea/) > [I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-inherited-my-father-s-sense-of-humour-about-myself-it-s-a-lot/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [It is rare to find learned men who are clean, do not stink and have a sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/it-is-rare-to-find-learned-men-who-are-clean-do-not-stink-and-have-a/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [When you see 'MHN,' you will see that the film is based on relationships which are serious, but there is a sense of humour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/when-you-see-mhn-you-will-see-that-the-film-is-based-on-relationships/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [My wife is way funnier than I am. As much as I don't really feel I share a sense of humour with my family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/my-wife-is-way-funnier-than-i-am-as-much-as-i-don-t-really-feel-i/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [“A reasonable looking guy with a sense of humour to go to parties with: surely that´s not too much to ask, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-alexander/a-reasonable-looking-guy-with-a-sense-of-humour-to-go-to-parties-with/) [Nick Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-alexander/) ## More by W. Somerset Maugham > [“A man thinks it quite natural that he should fall out of love with a woman, but it never strikes him for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-thinks-it-quite-natural-that-he-should-fall-out-of-love-with-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A man's work reveals him. In social intercourse he gives you the surface that he wishes the world to accept, but in his book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-s-work-reveals-him-in-social-intercourse-he-gives-you-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The world is hard and cruel. We are here none knows why, and we go none knows whither. We must be very humble. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-world-is-hard-and-cruel-we-are-here-none-knows-why-and-we-go-none/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“There is no more merit in having read a thousand books than in having ploughed a thousand fields.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/there-is-no-more-merit-in-having-read-a-thousand-books-than-in-having/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“I wanted to live again and again. I was willing to accept every sort of life, no matter what its pain and sorrow; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-wanted-to-live-again-and-again-i-was-willing-to-accept-every-sort/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [In Hollywood, the women are all peaches. It makes one long for an apple occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-hollywood-the-women-are-all-peaches-it-makes-one-long-for-an-apple/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/follow-your-inclinations-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“His love became a prison from which he longed to escape, but he had not the strength merely to open the door-that was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/his-love-became-a-prison-from-which-he-longed-to-escape-but-he-had/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I did not believe him capable of love. That is an emotion in which tenderness is an essential part, but Strickland had no tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-did-not-believe-him-capable-of-love-that-is-an-emotion-in-which/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If only the good were a little less heavy-footed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/if-only-the-good-were-a-little-less-heavy-footed/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/perfection-has-one-grave-defect-it-is-apt-to-be-dull/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“My dear, you used to be quite a dish; now you're quite a tureen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/my-dear-you-used-to-be-quite-a-dish-now-you-re-quite-a-tureen/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“When people say they do not care what others thing of them, for the most part they deceive themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-people-say-they-do-not-care-what-others-thing-of-them-for-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) [Explore all 840 W. Somerset Maugham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More Affront quotes > [Self-ruled Taiwan cannot be expected to accept such an affront to the legitimacy of its government and the self-determination of the Taiwanese people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-akin/self-ruled-taiwan-cannot-be-expected-to-accept-such-an-affront-to-the/) [Todd Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-akin/) > [Old, that's an affront no woman can well bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/old-that-s-an-affront-no-woman-can-well-bear/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [A government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/a-government-run-by-billionaires-for-billionaires-is-an-affront-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I'm achingly aware of my own limitations as both part of the human race and as an individual. I'm just, casting this out that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-m-achingly-aware-of-my-own-limitations-as-both-part-of-the-human/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Despite my best efforts, I'm not quite perfect. Let's just say I'm like one of those Hopi blankets where they leave a tiny flaw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/despite-my-best-efforts-i-m-not-quite-perfect-let-s-just-say-i-m-like/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [Torture anywhere is an affront to human dignity everywhere... I call on all governments to join with the United States and the community of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/torture-anywhere-is-an-affront-to-human-dignity-everywhere-i-call-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Black people in America have to, for their own protection, develop a defense mechanism, and I just grew terribly tired of it. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/black-people-in-america-have-to-for-their-own-protection-develop-a/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) > [The filibuster is an affront to commonly understood democratic norms, but then so is the Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly-understood-democratic-norms/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [He's never quite got the trick of conversation, tending to hear in dissenting views, however mild, a kind of affront, an invitation to mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-s-never-quite-got-the-trick-of-conversation-tending-to-hear-in/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [And old affront will stir the heart Through years of rankling pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ingelow/and-old-affront-will-stir-the-heart-through-years-of-rankling-pain/) [Jean Ingelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ingelow/) > [The first and last lesson of religion is, 'The things that are seen are temporal; the things that are not seen are eternal.' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-first-and-last-lesson-of-religion-is-the-things-that-are-seen-are/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Usitukane kamwe. Pigana itakapobidi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/usitukane-kamwe-pigana-itakapobidi/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“Any path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/any-path-is-only-a-path-and-there-is-no-affront-to-oneself-or-to/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“It is an affront to our present, and it is a bad prescription for our future. History cannot be changed. It cannot be moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-landrieu/it-is-an-affront-to-our-present-and-it-is-a-bad-prescription-for-our/) [Mitch Landrieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-landrieu/) > [A great mind will neither give an affront nor bear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/a-great-mind-will-neither-give-an-affront-nor-bear-it/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) [Browse all 106 Affront quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affront/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are men whose sense of humour is so ill developed that they still bear a grudge against Copernicus because he dethroned them from the central position in the universe. They feel it a personal affront that they can no longer consider themselves the pivot upon which turns the whole of created things.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. 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