--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though he had both esteem and admiration…" description: "\"“Though he had both esteem and admiration for the sensibility of the human race, he had little respect for their intelligence: man has always found it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/w-somerset-maugham-237_admiration_though-he-had-both-esteem-and-admiration_120835.jpg" --- # Though he had both esteem and admiration for the… ![“Though he had both esteem and admiration for the sensibility of the human race, he had little respect for their intelligence: man has always found it easier to sacrifice his life than to learn the multiplication table. [Mr Harrington's washing]” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/w-somerset-maugham-237_admiration_though-he-had-both-esteem-and-admiration_120835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/w-somerset-maugham-237_admiration_though-he-had-both-esteem-and-admiration_120835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/w-somerset-maugham-237_admiration_though-he-had-both-esteem-and-admiration_120835.jpg) > ““Though he had both esteem and admiration for the sensibility of the human race, he had little respect for their intelligence: man has always found it easier to sacrifice his life than to learn the multiplication table. \[Mr Harrington's washing\]”” [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. The author admires humanity’s sensibility but criticizes its lack of intellect, noting people prefer dying over learning basic arithmetic. **In simple terms:** Humans value feeling over simple knowledge. Key Takeaway Intelligence is undervalued compared to sentiment. Themes human nature intelligence education critique Mood skeptical wry Type philosophical observation social critique When to use this quote - educational reform debates - philosophical discussions Key Concepts cognitive laziness cultural critique Practical Applications - highlighting need for basic education Questions to Reflect On - Why do people resist simple learning? - How does sentiment hinder rationality? A Different Perspective Overgeneralizes; many value education highly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Admiration Sensibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration-sensibility-1409965/) [Esteem Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem-admiration-1409966/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-man-554569/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Little Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-respect-314921/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [She who only finds her self-esteem In others' admiration, begs an alms; Depends on others for her daily food, And is the very servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-baillie/she-who-only-finds-her-self-esteem-in-others-admiration-begs-an-alms/) [Joanna Baillie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-baillie/) > [In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems unfair that He did not also limit his stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-adenauer/in-view-of-the-fact-that-god-limited-the-intelligence-of-man-it-seems/) [Konrad Adenauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-adenauer/) > [We regard intelligence as man's main characteristic and we know that there is no superiority which intelligence cannot confer on us, no inferiority for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/we-regard-intelligence-as-man-s-main-characteristic-and-we-know-that/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/it-has-well-been-said-that-the-arch-flatterer-with-whom-all-petty/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“There is no need for intelligence of few man if everybody else is mad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mer-seyfettin/there-is-no-need-for-intelligence-of-few-man-if-everybody-else-is-mad/) [Ömer Seyfettin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mer-seyfettin/) > [The arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-arch-flatterer-with-whom-all-the-petty-flatterers-have/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The degree of intelligence that a man or a machine can show depends on many qualities of the ways that knowledge, goals, and problem-solving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-minsky/the-degree-of-intelligence-that-a-man-or-a-machine-can-show-depends/) [Marvin Minsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-minsky/) > [Fusion of the 5 elements to search for the higher intelligence, man walk around celebant, believing in relevant..the most benevolent king. -RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wu-tang/fusion-of-the-5-elements-to-search-for-the-higher-intelligence-man/) [Wu Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wu-tang/) > [The accidental causes of science are only accidents relatively to the intelligence of a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/the-accidental-causes-of-science-are-only-accidents-relatively-to-the/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [It is true intelligence for a man to take a subject that is mysterious and great in itself and to unfold and simplify it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/it-is-true-intelligence-for-a-man-to-take-a-subject-that-is/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [Man becomes man only by his intelligence, but he is man only by his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/man-becomes-man-only-by-his-intelligence-but-he-is-man-only-by-his/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [No matter how strong our resolve, we eventually find ourselves enslaved by the compulsive preference for one particular woman. 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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 Admiration quotes > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [The older you've gotten, the more respect and admiration you've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-older-you-ve-gotten-the-more-respect-and-admiration-you-ve/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [I still don't feel I know Hitchcock at all. I find that the more one looks, the more elusive he becomes. 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